Blazing Shoal MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 96
2020-09-26 - Number BOK-96
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
Text of card
You may remove a red card with converted mana cost X in your hand from the game rather than pay Blazing Shoal's mana cost. Target creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn.
Cards like Blazing Shoal
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Blazing Shoal stands out as a unique powerhouse in the red instant spell category. This card resembles several others in its ability to bolster creatures, but its method is distinct. For instance, it shares a resemblance with cards like Giant Growth, which provides a temporary boost in power and toughness. Blazing Shoal, however, escalates the stakes by offering an increase in power only but with a potential far surpassing the standard +3/+3. The key difference is Blazing Shoal’s capacity to exile a red card with a high mana value to fuel its effect.
Much like Hatred, another card allowing players to trade resources for creature power, Blazing Shoal operates instantaneously, yet does so without the life cost penalty Hatred incurs. It also echoes the theme found in cards like Psychotic Fury, enabling a double strike ability, but Shoal focuses on a sole, potentially game-ending power surge. Berserk is yet another analogue, providing a massive boost, but at the risk of sacrificing the creature at end of turn, a drawback not present in Blazing Shoal’s risk-free power-up.
Taking these comparisons into account, Blazing Shoal’s potential for an unexpected, massive hit without the immediate downside positions it dangerously within instant speed combat tricks in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Blazing Shoal by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Blazing Shoal. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bant Infect | Legacy | Infect | 2023 Asia Legacy Championship |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blazing Shoal offers a unique form of card advantage by enabling you to potentially remove a key threat without spending mana, saving resources for other elements in your strategy. This trade-off can lead to advantageous board states.
Resource Acceleration: Although Blazing Shoal doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, it accelerates your gameplay by removing the requirement to pay mana for a significant power boost. This frees up resources for deploying other threats or leaving mana open for disruption.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Blazing Shoal at instant speed is a powerful tactical edge. It allows surprise interactions during combat or in response to an opponent’s spells, offering flexibility and the element of surprise to turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Blazing Shoal is that it necessitates the discard of a red card with a specific mana cost, a stipulation that could deplete your hand and reduce your options during crucial moments of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Blazing Shoal requires red mana in its cost, thus confining it primarily to decks that run red. This limitation can impact the card’s flexibility and potentially its inclusion in various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For instant speed augmentation, Blazing Shoal’s high converted mana cost might appear unfavorable compared to other buffing spells. Although it can be cast without paying its mana cost, this still requires a potentially substantial card sacrifice, which could affect the overall tempo and resource management in a game.
Reasons to Include Blazing Shoal in Your Collection
Versatility: An invaluable card for red decks, Blazing Shoal offers a strategic advantage by potentially removing blockers or accelerating damage output without the need for a mana investment at the time of casting.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in combo setups and can be the linchpin in achieving a sudden win when paired with cards that have high mana costs in your hand, thus enhancing the impact without extra mana expenditure.
Meta-Relevance: Being adaptable in the face of diverse meta scenarios, Blazing Shoal can shift the balance in games where speed is critical. Its intended impact on matches has been recognized in various competitive settings, making it a card to consider for anyone aiming to gain an edge in rapid-paced play.
How to Beat Blazing Shoal
Understanding the strength of Blazing Shoal in Magic: The Gathering is essential for formulating a strategy against it. The key advantage of Blazing Shoal lies in its ability to potentially increase a creature’s power by a hefty sum until end of turn, without spending mana at the time of casting by exiling a red card with a high mana value from your hand. This surprise factor can turn the tide of a game suddenly.
To counter this, players can implement strategies such as holding up instant-speed removal spells. Removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be particularly effective as they don’t rely on the creature’s power and can disrupt the combo at a crucial moment. Additionally, counterspells like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto provide a direct answer and can prevent Blazing Shoal from resolving altogether. It is also worthwhile to include cards that halt graveyard interactions, like Rest in Peace, which can counteract the Shoal’s reliance on the exile mechanic by removing the potential for recursion of the exiled red card.
While Blazing Shoal may offer a significant power boost unexpectedly, a well-prepared defense with diverse countermeasures and removals can effectively neutralize its impact in a game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blazing Shoal MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and The List, 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 Shoal and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Blazing Shoal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2005-02-04. Illustrated by Glen Angus.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 96 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Glen Angus | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | BOK-96 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Glen Angus |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blazing Shoal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |