Burn at the Stake MTG Card


A single card can shift the momentum of a game, making a multitude of creatures a formidable arsenal. Strategies involving creature generation synergize well, allowing for explosive, potentially game-ending turns. While impactful, the high cost and specific mana requirements may limit its versatility in multicolored decks.
Burn at the Stake - Avacyn Restored
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameAvacyn Restored
Set codeAVR
Number130
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Burn at the Stake, tap any number of untapped creatures you control. Burn at the Stake deals damage to target creature or player equal to three times the number of creatures tapped this way.


Cards like Burn at the Stake

Burn at the Stake is a notable spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering, particularly in strategies focused on overwhelming opponents with several creatures. Casting this spell allows you to tap any number of creatures you control, and Burn at the Stake deals damage to the target player or planeswalker equal to three times the number of creatures tapped this way. This can often result in a game-ending blow, especially in decks designed to swarm the board.

When we look at cards akin to Burn at the Stake, Goblin Bombardment comes to mind, albeit with a different mechanic. This enchantment permits sacrificing a creature to deal one damage to any target. While the damage output may be less than Burn at the Stake’s potential, it provides consistent damage over time and doesn’t require a large board presence. Another similar effect is found in Impact Tremors, an enchantment that causes damage whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, again rewarding players for flooding the board with creatures.

While each of these cards offers a unique approach to dealing damage based on creature count, Burn at the Stake stands out for its capacity to harness a single moment of massive damage output, marking its territory as a formidable finisher in creature-heavy decks.

Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions

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Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
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Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
Jagged Lightning - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Burning Fields - MTG Card versions
Implode - MTG Card versions
Shower of Coals - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Fire - MTG Card versions
Mana Geyser - MTG Card versions
Shivan Meteor - MTG Card versions
Yawning Fissure - MTG Card versions
World at War - MTG Card versions
Explosive Revelation - MTG Card versions
Turn to Slag - MTG Card versions
Reforge the Soul - MTG Card versions
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Cleaver Riot - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Burn at the Stake enables you to potentially eliminate multiple threats in one fell swoop, often tipping the scale of card advantage in your favor. By converting numerous creatures into a singular, powerful effect, you capitalize on the creatures you control even if they’re outclassed on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: In the right deck, Burn at the Stake can act as a finisher that capitalizes on your existing board state. This synergizes well with strategies that rapidly deploy numerous creatures (tokens, for instance), accelerating your path to victory without the need for incremental damage over multiple turns.

Instant Speed: While Burn at the Stake is not an instant, its impactful nature makes it a pivotal play that can lead to immediate wins. In a scenario where instant speed isn’t necessary, this card can swiftly turn a game in your favor when played at the opportune moment, especially following a turn where your opponent is tapped out or unable to respond effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Burn at the Stake necessitates a notable number of creatures to be tapped as part of its activation cost. This requirement can pose a strategic setback, especially if you’re in a situation where your creature count is low or if they are needed for defensive strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting cost includes three red mana, making it less flexible and harder to include in multicolored decks that may not generate enough red mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, including the specific triple red, Burn at the Stake demands a significant investment of resources. There are alternative spells in the red mana spectrum that can deal damage without such a steep cost, leaving your mana pool and creature board presence less compromised.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Burn at the Stake demonstrates its versatility by serving both as a win condition and a control tool. This card can be slotted into decks focused on tokens or strategies that generate a high number of creatures, converting those resources into direct damage.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with spells that duplicate creatures or generate a vast amount of tokens, allowing for one-turn kills that can abruptly end games. Its potential to leverage synergies like these makes it an intriguing addition for enthusiasts of intricate combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: While its inclusion is often specific to a certain meta that favors creature-heavy play, Burn at the Stake can disrupt opponents and swing games in slower, more interactive formats where building up a significant board presence is viable.


How to beat

Burn at the Stake is a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering, renowned for its ability to turn a large number of creatures into a devastating amount of direct damage. Overcoming this strategy requires careful planning and timing. One effective approach is to limit the number of creatures your opponent can amass, as the card’s effectiveness is directly tied to creature quantity. Board clears like Wrath of God, or spot removals like Path to Exile can disrupt your opponent’s board prior to the critical turn.

Control decks have an advantage here, as they come equipped with counterspells such as Counterspell or Negate to prevent Burn at the Stake from ever hitting the table. If the spell does manage to resolve, instant-speed creature removal or flicker effects can dramatically reduce the incoming damage. Instant responses are key. Lastly, life gain strategies or effects that prevent damage, like that of the card Circle of Protection: Red, can nullify the card’s impact altogether, making it a futile effort from the opponent’s side.

In essence, maintaining a strong defensive stance with control elements and keeping the opponent’s creature count in check are primary tactics to negate the explosive nature of Burn at the Stake, securing your position in the game and avoiding a sudden defeat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the dynamics of Burn at the Stake in MTG can be the difference between defeat and a spectacular victory. Understanding its strengths against the right matchups is key, whether it’s leveraging a massive army of tokens or orchestrating a whirlwind finisher. However, ensuring you navigate around its limitations is equally crucial, from managing your mana pool to maintaining creature availability. If you’re captivated by its combo potential and want to tap into strategies that could alter the game state in a single turn, we’re here to help. Dive deeper with us and discover how to optimize your deck for that unbeatable, game-winning move.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burn at the Stake MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Burn at the Stake and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burn at the Stake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 All creatures tapped this way become tapped at the same time.
2012-05-01 Players may not respond to the paying of costs. Once Burn at the Stake has been announced and put on the stack, no one can try to respond by tapping any creatures.
2012-05-01 The amount of damage Burn at the Stake deals won’t change if any creatures tapped to cast it become untapped or leave the battlefield before it resolves.