Breath of Malfegor MTG Card


Causes significant impact in multiplayer formats, with potential for widespread advantage. Demands specific mana and high cost, possibly causing deck building constraints. Combos well with damage-based strategies, pivotal in aggressive metagames.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Breath of Malfegor deals 5 damage to each opponent.

The blood of the demons quickened as their master rose over the battlefield. The blood of the angels also quickened: here was the chance to finally end the war started millennia ago.


Cards like Breath of Malfegor

Breath of Malfegor is an intriguing instance of multicolor damage spells in MTG. It mirrors the function of cards like Flame Wave for its capacity to inflict damage to multiple targets. However, Breath of Malfegor stands out due to its unique ability to deal damage to each opponent, making it ideal for multiplayer formats. In contrast, Flame Wave targets only a single opponent and also requires a hefty mana cost while affecting the battlefield by damaging creatures.

Looking into the suite of MTG’s direct damage spells, we also find Earthquake – a spell that offers a flexible damage amount that affects all players and creatures without flying. Unlike Breath of Malfegor, Earthquake can impact the board state significantly but it doesn’t exclud the caster from its effects. Additionally, Exquisite Blood is noteworthy for its similarity in reaching all opponents, but rather than dealing damage, it follows a life-drain mechanic, offering a different strategic avenue.

Ultimately, Breath of Malfegor delivers a vertical slice of harm directly to opponents’ life totals, carving a niche for itself among MTG’s multicolor spells that can turn the tides of multiplayer games through its symmetrical effect.

Flame Wave - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Exquisite Blood - MTG Card versions
Flame Wave - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Exquisite Blood - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Breath of Malfegor by color, type and mana cost

Bituminous Blast - MTG Card versions
Twinstrike - MTG Card versions
Skeletonize - MTG Card versions
Get the Point - MTG Card versions
Carnival // Carnage - MTG Card versions
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Bituminous Blast - MTG Card versions
Twinstrike - MTG Card versions
Skeletonize - MTG Card versions
Get the Point - MTG Card versions
Carnival // Carnage - MTG Card versions
Kill! Maim! Burn! - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Breath of Malfegor deals damage to each opponent, potentially impacting multiple players in one go – a boon in multiplayer formats. This could equate to card advantage as it can remove an opponent’s creatures or even secure a win from a weakened board state.

Resource Acceleration: While Breath of Malfegor doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its ability to clear opponents’ boards can accelerate your own board presence by comparison. This indirect advantage can put you ahead, as opponents will need to spend resources to rebuild, while you continue to develop your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Breath of Malfegor at instant speed provides tactical flexibility. It can be used as a surprise during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions, potentially disrupting their strategies and preserving your standing in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Breath of Malfegor doesn’t force you to discard, it can be less appealing given that many competitive decks favor card advantage. Any card that doesn’t directly contribute to your card pool can be seen as a setback in fast-paced games where each card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a very specific mana alignment—three colorless, one black, and one red. Such a requirement may limit its integration solely to black and red decks, potentially excluding it from a broader range of strategies that don’t align with these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, Breath of Malfegor may arrive too late in the game where lower-costing spells could have had a more immediate impact. Additionally, other spells in the same mana range could provide more value or versatility, making this card a tougher choice when fine-tuning your deck.


Reasons to Include Breath of Malfegor in Your Collection

Versatility: Breath of Malfegor can be a game-changer in various deck builds. Its ability to deal damage to each opponent makes it an excellent inclusion in multiplayer formats like Commander, where it can shift the board state in your favor quickly.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that capitalize on life loss or damage dealt. Pair it with cards that trigger on damage dealt to opponents to create devastating combinations and outpace your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where life totals are often a race, having a card like Breath of Malfegor can tilt matches in your direction. Its instant-speed nature allows you to hold up mana for interaction, and then, when the moment is right, unleash a powerful blow to all opponents at once.


How to Beat Breath of Malfegor

Breath of Malfegor is an impactful card in Magic: The Gathering causing a significant life point hit to each opponent. It’s not a card you can directly counter, since once cast, its effect is instantaneous. Therefore, the key to beating Breath of Malfegor lies in preventative measures. Deploying cards that grant you hexproof like Leyline of Sanctity or Witchbane Orb can be effective as they prevent you from being targeted by spells your opponent controls, nullifying the damage from Breath of Malfegor.

Additionally, lifegain strategies can mitigate the damage sustained. Cards that steadily increase life points, such as Soul Warden or Authority of the Consuls, help cushion the blow. In the case of multiplayer formats, you might consider politics – persuading the controlling player that other opponents are more valuable targets. While Breath of Malfegor is unavoidable once it hits the stack, smart deck building and strategic gameplay can render its impact minimal.


BurnMana Recommendations

Your journey into MTG’s complex battlegrounds teems with spells to discover and strategies to devise. Breath of Malfegor exemplifies the intricate dance of destruction and dominance in multiplayer matches. Whether your deck thrives on aggression or you savor the tactical advantage of instant-speed plays, incorporating this card might just skew the odds in your favor. Dive deeper with us, where more invaluable insights await. We guide players through deck optimization, meta shifts, and help them find their unique path to victory. Gather strength, knowledge, and cards with BurnMana, where every draw leads to potential triumph.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Breath of Malfegor MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and IDW Comics Inserts, 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 Breath of Malfegor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Breath of Malfegor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2012-01-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-04-30Alara RebornARB 352003NormalBlackVance Kovacs
22012-01-01IDW Comics InsertsPIDW 82003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Breath of Malfegor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal