City on Fire MTG Card


City on Fire offers dual advantages; dealing damage while allowing card draw to outmaneuver opponents. Gaining Treasure tokens from the spell provides a mana boost, enabling quicker and more potent plays. Instant speed grants flexibility, making City on Fire a surprise play that can disrupt opponent strategies.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Convoke

Text of card

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) If a source you control would deal damage to a permanent or player, it deals triple that damage instead.


Cards like City on Fire

City on Fire joins the suite of exciting red damage spells in Magic: The Gathering, taking a seat next to cards like Blazing Volley for its potential to deal damage to multiple targets. Unlike Blazing Volley, which distributes one damage point to each creature your opponents control, City on Fire can affect not only creatures but also planeswalkers and even opposing players, amplifying the range of impact across the board.

Another relative in this category would be Rolling Temblor, which offers an initial damage wave and the potential for a flashback, permitting a second use. City on Fire forgoes the flashback feature but introduces the innovative addition of generating Treasure tokens, therefore not only clearing the way but also ramping up your mana resources for subsequent turns.

Considering utility and flexibility, City on Fire offers a considerable advantage in MTG for those aiming to have both a board-impactful spell and a resource accelerant in one card. Such a combination is rare, which places City on Fire in a unique position within red damage spells that can radically advance your game strategy.

Blazing Volley - MTG Card versions
Rolling Temblor - MTG Card versions
Blazing Volley - MTG Card versions
Rolling Temblor - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
Jund ControlJund Control LegacyCharlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 2

Card Pros

Card Advantage: City on Fire is an MTG card that delivers a strong advantage by dealing damage while simultaneously providing the option to draw a card. This dual functionality can shift the tide of a game, empowering you to cycle through your deck and maintain pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: When you cast City on Fire, you not only unleash a damaging effect on your opponent or their creatures but also gain two Treasure tokens. This influx of resources can be the catalyst for executing more demanding spells or abilities ahead of schedule, potentially outpacing your adversary’s game plan.

Instant Speed: The swift and unpredictable nature of this instant card ensures that you can adapt to the evolving battlefield at a moment’s notice. By waiting until the perfect time to cast City on Fire, you preserve the element of surprise and can disrupt your opponent’s strategy while keeping your own options versatile.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: City on Fire demands a card be discarded to unleash its full potential. This can be a setback in situations where your hand is already depleted, putting you at a risk of falling behind further.

Specific Mana Cost: With a need for both red and generic mana, City on Fire restricts flexibility in deck construction. This often requires a commitment to a specific mana base, which might not be ideal for all deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a significant mana value, it calls for four mana, which includes red. Within the current meta, there are other cards that could achieve similar effects for less, potentially offering a more economical use of your mana resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: City on Fire brings flexibility to any collection as it serves multiple purposes within a single card. This spell can deal damage, thus handling threats or finishing off opponents, while also offering card draw to maintain hand advantage.

Combo Potential: With its ability to deal damage, this card can work well in combos that capitalize on damaging effects, potentially unlocking synergies with other cards that benefit from instances of damage being dealt.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having access to a card like City on Fire that can remove creatures or pressure opponents directly can be crucial for maintaining competitiveness.


How to beat

City on Fire is a potent card that blitzes through defenses and hits multiple targets in Magic: The Gathering. Its potent mix of direct damage and card draw makes it a formidable card to play against. Understanding how to undermine its impact is crucial for any player facing this flaming onslaught.

To effectively counter City on Fire, players should consider using damage prevention or redirection spells. These can absorb or deflect the incoming damage, preserving crucial life points and maintaining board presence. Strategies that focus on quick creature recovery are also invaluable, as they allow players to bounce back from the sweeping damage City on Fire is known for. Additionally, instant-speed removals can disrupt the card draw advantage that City on Fire provides, evening the playing field.

While City on Fire can certainly heat up the game, a well-timed counterplay will douse the flames and keep you in contention. Remember to keep cool under pressure and have a response ready, and you’ll stand a fighting chance against this incendiary challenge in your MTG encounters.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you aspire to exert greater control over your MTG games, considering City on Fire for your deck might be a step in the right direction. It’s a versatile card whose benefits range from damage dealing to accelerating your mana pool – an asset that could tip the scales in your favor during matches. Fusing these effects with instant speed, you also claim the power to surprise your adversaries and transform the game state to your advantage. Should you find yourself in a bind due to the need for discarding a card or tight mana requirements, the buffs that City on Fire offers often outweigh the costs. For those pondering the strategic depth of their collections or actively seeking to refine a fiery deck, we invite you to delve deeper with us into the world of MTG. Learn how to maximize this card’s potential and integrate it seamlessly into your combat strategy to escalate your gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase City on Fire MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Promos and March of the Machine, 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 City on Fire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The City on Fire Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Jake Murray.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 135s2015NormalBlackJake Murray
22023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 1352015NormalBlackJake Murray
32023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 135p2015NormalBlackJake Murray
42023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 3632015NormalBlackJake Murray

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where City on Fire has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-04-14 If an effect such as that of Chandra’s Pyrohelix asks you to divide damage among targets, you must divide the unmodified damage before tripling it.
2023-04-14 If you control two Cities on Fire, damage dealt by sources you control will be multiplied by 9. If you control three, it will be multiplied by 27, and so on.
2023-04-14 While you control City on Fire, if a creature you control with trample would deal combat damage to a blocking creature, you must assign its unmodified damage. For example, a 3/3 creature with trample blocked by a 2/2 creature can have 1 damage assigned to the defending player. It will then deal 6 damage to the blocking creature (2 tripled) and 3 to the defending player (1 tripled).