Blazing Crescendo MTG Card

Card advantage and instant speed make Blazing Crescendo a strategic must-have in many MTG decks. Disposal of a hand card and specific mana costs can be drawbacks in some play scenarios. Versatility and meta relevance ensure its place in competitive and casual MTG collections.

Blazing Crescendo - Phyrexia: All Will Be One

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2023-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Set code	ONE
Number	123
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tiffany Turrill

Text of card

Target creature gets +3/+1 until end of turn. Exile the top card of your library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play that card.

"They call themselves the Quiet Furnace? Ironic." —Tyvar

Cards like Blazing Crescendo

Blazing Crescendo enters the ever-expanding arena of burn spells in Magic: The Gathering with its own twist. This spell echoes the intent of cards like Lightning Bolt, providing direct damage to any target. What gives Blazing Crescendo an edge is its potential to scale up the damage based on a particular game state, unlike the fixed damage from Lightning Bolt. However, the latter stands out with its lower cost and instant speed, offering swifter and more efficient gameplay impact.

Another peer in this category is Fiery Confluence, which allows for a broader range of options and can deal damage to multiple targets. Blazing Crescendo doesn’t have this flexibility, but it compensates with the possibility of increased damage under the right conditions. Comparatively, Electrify requires more mana and only targets a creature. It lacks the versatility Blazing Crescendo offers when going for the win by targeting an opponent directly.

Evaluating these choices, Blazing Crescendo finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s burn spells. It has the unique potential for a powerful late-game push, making it a card that can turn the tides of a game when played strategically.

Cards similar to Blazing Crescendo by color, type and mana cost

Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Blazing Crescendo. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Mono-Red Aggro	Standard	Mono-Red Aggro	BOP! Standard Open
Naya Feather	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 13 2024
Naya Aggro	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024
Rogue Decklists	Pauper	Izzet Synthesizer	Nacional Pauper 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blazing Crescendo can be a turning point in match play, allowing you to potentially eliminate a crucial threat on the board. The ability to sweep away weaker creatures and sometimes draw a card if you control a modified creature ensures you stay ahead in resource count.

Resource Acceleration: While Blazing Crescendo doesn’t produce additional resources directly, clearing the board of smaller creatures can pave the way for your more potent spells to dominate the game unhindered, effectively accelerating your strategy.

Instant Speed: The flexibility offered by Blazing Crescendo’s instant speed cannot be overstated. This allows players to remain reactive, using the spell during an opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans or as a surprise factor that can swing the game state, especially during combat or in response to an opponent’s spell.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blazing Crescendo necessitates the player to forfeit a card from their hand, which might not be ideal during late-game scenarios when hand size tends to be smaller and each card’s value is at its apex.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Blazing Crescendo requires a certain blend of mana, heavily anchored in red. This might cause deck-building constraints, particularly for those aiming to craft a multicolored deck where mana flexibility is critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating four mana to cast Blazing Crescendo can be a taxing investment. Considering the pace of the game and the availability of alternative spells that might yield immediate board presence or disruption, this cost could sometimes prove prohibitive and affect your tempo negatively.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blazing Crescendo provides a flexible tool for decks needing both creature removal and direct player damage. Its ability to target multiple object types makes it an adaptable choice for various playing styles and situations.

Combo Potential: For enthusiasts looking to capitalize on spell-slinging synergies, Blazing Crescendo works well with cards that reward casting instants or sorceries, potentially unlocking powerful combinations and amplifying your tactical edge.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment that rewards speed and interaction, Blazing Crescendo holds its ground by offering efficient removal alongside the possibility of finishing off opponents, staying relevant against various popular archetypes.

How to beat

Blazing Crescendo has emerged as a potent force in the card pool, demanding strategic foresight to effectively counter. This card sets a high bar for aggression in the game, often forcing opponents into a defensive posture. A solid tactic to tackle Blazing Crescendo is to deploy instant-speed removal spells after attackers have been declared but before combat damage is dealt. This allows you to limit the effectiveness of the Crescendo’s damage amplification.

Another avenue is to utilize cards that can negate the spell or its effects. Counterspells come into play here, allowing you to prevent its casting altogether. For players with a preference for proactive measures, fielding creatures with toughness high enough to withstand the Crescendo’s additional damage or presenting an imposing battlefield presence can deter opponents from leveraging the card’s full potential. Creatures with indestructibility or damage prevention abilities also excel in this respect.

Ultimately, understanding the rhythm of your opponent’s play and maintaining readiness to intercept or mitigate the effects of Blazing Crescendo can shift the tide of battle in your favor, rendering this fiery spell manageable within the tactical complexities of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blazing Crescendo MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Blazing Crescendo and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blazing Crescendo has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blazing Crescendo card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2023-02-04	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time the spell tries to resolve (most likely because it has left the battlefield in response), the spell will not resolve. No card will be exiled.
2023-02-04	You pay all costs and follow all normal timing rules for a card played this way. For example, if the exiled card is a land card, you may play it only during your main phase while the stack is empty.