Child of the Volcano MTG Card


Provides deck filtering and potential card draw, sustaining player momentum through accessible card choices. Enables swift mana acceleration, allowing for earlier execution of significant game-changing spells. Flexibility with instant speed plays contributes to dynamic strategizing during various phases of a match.
Child of the Volcano - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Trample
Released2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set nameThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set codeLCI
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number140
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byUriah Voth

Text of card

Trample At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Child of the Volcano. (You descended if a permanent card was put into your graveyard from anywhere.)

It is a living eruption, unquenchable fury given form.


Cards like Child of the Volcano

Child of the Volcano makes an explosive impact on the battlefield, reminiscent of creatures like Spark Elemental. Similar to Child of the Volcano, Spark Elemental offers a burst of damage with its one-turn life span. However, Child of the Volcano distinguishes itself with potential lasting effects on the game state through its ability to sacrifice lands for enhanced damage output.

Diving into comparisons, we see Firebrand Archer as another related card, which provides consistent damage with its ability to ping opponents each time you cast a noncreature spell. Although Child of the Volcano lacks this repeatable feature, it compensates with a solid one-time damage potential that can catch opponents off-guard. Then we have Thermo-Alchemist, which shares the theme of dealing repeated damage but differs in its defensive capabilities and interaction with instant and sorcery spells.

Considering these elements, Child of the Volcano holds its ground in MTG as an aggressive and strategic choice for players looking to incorporate a surprise element of damage, standing out with its unique land sacrifice ability among its fiery peers.

Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Firebrand Archer - MTG Card versions
Thermo-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Firebrand Archer - MTG Card versions
Thermo-Alchemist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Child of the Volcano by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Child of the Volcano gives players a significant edge by enabling them to sift through the deck and potentially draw into more powerful cards. This maintains the momentum and provides options that can make or break a match.

Resource Acceleration: This card offers a steady stream of mana generation, which can be crucial for casting high-impact spells ahead of schedule. Having access to extra resources means executing strategies faster and more efficiently than opponents.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Child of the Volcano at instant speed gives players flexibility. They can wait until the last possible moment to make game-changing plays, react to opponents’ actions, or simply use mana that would otherwise go unused during a turn cycle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Child of the Volcano necessitates discarding another card as part of its casting cost. This trade-off can be challenging, especially when your hand is already depleted, potentially weakening your position in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a distinct combination of mana types, specifically red. This restricts its integration, as it fits primarily into red or multicolor decks with a red element, possibly excluding it from other strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Child of the Volcano might be considered steep compared to other cards with similar abilities. Players must evaluate whether the output matches the four mana cost, taking into account alternative cards that could deliver a more favorable cost-to-benefit ratio.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Child of the Volcano seamlessly integrates into numerous deck archetypes, particularly those that thrive on direct damage and swift, game-changing plays.

Combo Potential: This card offers a unique synergy with decks focused on land destruction or sacrifice for game-ending combos, as well as enhancing strategies that revolve around instant-speed interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given the landscape of current gameplay that favors aggressive strategies, Child of the Volcano serves as a crucial component in decks designed to capitalize on speed and disrupt opponent tempo.


How to beat

Child of the Volcano is an MTG card that packs a punch with its eruptive presence on the battlefield. To outplay this fiery foe, consider leveraging cards with damage prevention or indestructible abilities to withstand its initial onslaught. Incorporating instant-speed removal spells can also tilt the scales in your favor, as they’ll allow you to deal with the creature before it gets a chance to affect the game’s state significantly.

Another tactic is to sidestep the brute force approach and instead deploy countermagic when the Child of the Volcano is cast, keeping it from ever entering the fray. Lastly, taking advantage of the card’s potential drawbacks, like its mana cost and specific color alignment, can be valuable. Strategic land destruction or color mana denial can prevent your opponent from ever summoning this powerful card. Timing and resource management are crucial in quelling the fiery temper of this volcanic child.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Child of the Volcano MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Child of the Volcano and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Child of the Volcano has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-11-10 A permanent card is an artifact, battle, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card. Tokens are not cards, and while tokens are put into the graveyard before ceasing to exist, that action doesn't count as a player having descended.
2023-11-10 Abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn" will trigger only once during your end step, no matter how many times you descended this turn. However, if you haven't descended this turn as your end step begins, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to put a permanent card into your graveyard during the end step in time to have the ability trigger.
2023-11-10 In either case, it doesn't matter if those cards are still in that player's graveyard.
2023-11-10 Multiple cards have abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn." These cards don't need to have been under your control at the time you descended. For example, if a permanent card is put into your graveyard during your first main phase and you cast Stalactite Stalker your second main phase, its ability will trigger at the beginning of your end step.
2023-11-10 Some cards refer to a player who has "descended this turn." This means that a permanent card has been put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.
2023-11-10 Some cards refer to the number of times a player descended this turn. Those cards care about the number of permanent cards put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.