Deepfire Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Deepfire Elemental’s instant speed ability allows strategic creature elimination to control the game flow.
  2. It’s a double-edged sword requiring player discard, which could hinder hand card advantage.
  3. High mana cost demands careful deck building for efficient play and mana management.

Text of card

: Destroy target artifact or creature with converted mana cost X.

"There are deep, deep places in this world that have long burned hot with little regard for the whitening of the earth's thin skin." —Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deepfire Elemental offers the potential for significant card advantage by easily dispatching smaller creatures. This ability to eliminate multiple threats over time without expending additional cards can be crucial in outpacing the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, the elemental’s ability to regulate the board impacts resource acceleration by keeping the path clear for your more potent threats or by eliminating mana dorks and other accelerants your opponents might control.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Deepfire Elemental’s activated power at instant speed grants great flexibility. This allows players to wait until the most opportune moment during the game sequence—such as in response to enemy spells or abilities—to maximize the disruption caused by eliminating key creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The activation of Deepfire Elemental’s ability entails a discard, which could be a strategic setback if your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Deepfire Elemental demands a specific combination of colored mana to cast, potentially complicating its inclusion in multi-color decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The six-mana investment to summon Deepfire Elemental could be considered hefty, particularly when alternatives exist that can impact the board more immediately or efficiently for the same, or less, mana expenditure.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Deepfire Elemental offers a great deal of flexibility in gameplay, capable of slotting into multiple strategies that appreciate its ability to control the board by destroying smaller creatures.

Combo Potential: This card is a dynamo for combos, particularly in decks designed around removing counters or exploiting sacrifice mechanics for various benefits.

Meta-Relevance: Given its power to clear the board of pesky tokens and mana dorks, Deepfire Elemental holds relevance in a meta crowded with aggressive weenie decks.


How to beat

Deepfire Elemental is a card known for its ability to disrupt the board by eliminating small creatures or artifacts. To effectively counter this card, players should consider strategies that involve deploying sturdier creatures with toughness beyond its damage reach. Another effective tactic is using removal spells that can target Deepfire Elemental before its controller gets the chance to utilize its ability, such as Path to Exile or Murder.

Enchantment-based strategies can also be a thorn in the side for Deepfire Elemental, as it lacks the ability to deal with non-creature permanents. Furthermore, cards with indestructible or protection from red will stand firm against Deepfire Elemental’s destructive power. Staying aware of your mana pool is crucial too, as a carefully timed Counterspell when Deepfire Elemental tries to activate its ability could turn the tide of the game.

Overall, understanding your deck’s strengths and maintaining control over the pace of the game is key to outmaneuvering an opponent with Deepfire Elemental on their side of the battlefield. By including versatile and resilient cards, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever fiery surprises come your way.


Cards like Deepfire Elemental

Deepfire Elemental is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, which offers both flexibility and removal capabilities. Its ability to destroy artifacts with a mana cost of six, including three red mana, finds parallels in cards like Viashino Heretic. Although Viashino Heretic has a cheaper activation cost, Deepfire Elemental’s stat line of 4/4 makes it a more formidable presence on the board.

Comparatively, we see Ingot Chewer within the realm of artifact destruction. This creature echoes the utility of Deepfire Elemental through its evoke ability, allowing players to eliminate artifacts upon its entry for just one red mana. Yet, Ingot Chewer lacks the recurring nature of Deepfire Elemental’s ability, as well as its potential as a combat threat.

To round off, it becomes clear that while there are other cards in Magic: The Gathering that can remove artifacts, Deepfire Elemental stands out with its continuous threat and ability to take action each turn, proving to be a versatile and substantial challenge for opponents.

Viashino Heretic - MTG Card versions
Ingot Chewer - MTG Card versions
Viashino Heretic - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Ingot Chewer - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Deepfire Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Pavel Maliki - MTG Card versions
Rohgahh of Kher Keep - MTG Card versions
Razing Snidd - MTG Card versions
Carnival Hellsteed - MTG Card versions
Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats - MTG Card versions
Malfegor - MTG Card versions
Rakdos the Defiler - MTG Card versions
Grief Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Undead Leotau - MTG Card versions
Vein Drinker - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Thoctar - MTG Card versions
Defiler of Souls - MTG Card versions
Igneous Pouncer - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Ringleader - MTG Card versions
Sire of Insanity - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Kolaghan - MTG Card versions
Swift Warkite - MTG Card versions
The Big Idea - MTG Card versions
Mary O'Kill - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, the Showstopper - MTG Card versions
Pavel Maliki - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Rohgahh of Kher Keep - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Razing Snidd - Planeshift (PLS)
Carnival Hellsteed - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats - Zendikar Rising Promos (PZNR)
Malfegor - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Rakdos the Defiler - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Grief Tyrant - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Undead Leotau - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Vein Drinker - Commander 2017 (C17)
Deathbringer Thoctar - Commander 2013 (C13)
Defiler of Souls - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Igneous Pouncer - Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (DDH)
Rakdos Ringleader - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Sire of Insanity - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Dragonlord Kolaghan - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Swift Warkite - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
The Big Idea - The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) (ULST)
Mary O'Kill - The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) (ULST)
Rakdos, the Showstopper - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deepfire Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Commander 2013, 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 Deepfire Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deepfire Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2013-11-01. Illustrated by Joel Thomas.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 1272003normalblackJoel Thomas
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1852003normalblackJoel Thomas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deepfire Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-07-15 For example, for Deepfire Elemental to destroy a creature with converted mana cost 4 would cost ++ = .

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