Hellkite Igniter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying,Haste
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. In MTG, Hellkite Igniter offers the potential for significant card advantage with its power-boosting ability.
  2. Encourages artifact synergy, indirectly speeding up your gameplay and putting opponents on the defensive.
  3. Vulnerable to hand depletion and removal but a game-changer with the right artifact-heavy board.

Text of card

Flying, haste : Hellkite Igniter gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of artifacts you control.

Its flight sets the sky itself on fire.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Hellkite Igniter offers dynamic potential for card advantage through its power-boosting ability. By maximizing the number of artifacts you control, you can significantly increase the Igniter’s power to pressure your opponent or eliminate substantial threats on their side of the board, thus gaining an advantage in the number of impactful cards in play.

Resource Acceleration: While this dragon itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, it encourages a game plan that revolves around artifact synergies. In an artifact-heavy deck, when you deploy support cards that produce or reduce the cost of artifacts, you indirectly boost Hellkite Igniter’s potential, leading to a powerful, accelerated board state that can overwhelm opponents quickly.

Instant Speed: Though Hellkite Igniter operates at sorcery speed, its ability to activate at any time you could cast a sorcery allows for strategic planning around your opponent’s moves. You can enhance the Igniter’s power right before damage is dealt during the combat phase, making it an unpredictable and formidable threat that must be answered swiftly by your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hellkite Igniter may not demand discards directly, but its reliance on other cards to maximize its potential can deplete your hand, leaving you at risk of being unable to respond to opponents’ threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Hellkite Igniter requires a commitment to both red and colorless mana sources, demanding a mana base that can consistently meet a {6}{R} cost without disrupting the deck’s overall tempo.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, Hellkite Igniter falls on the expensive side, potentially delaying your gameplan while opponents develop their board or counter with lower cost solutions.


Reasons to Include Hellkite Igniter in Your Collection

Versatility: Hellkite Igniter can adapt to various play styles, proving itself as an asset in both aggressive and control decks. Its flying ability allows it to soar over ground defenses, while its activated ability scales with the number of artifacts you have, making it a powerful finisher in artifact-heavy decks.

Combo Potential: With its ability to gain a massive power boost for each artifact you control, Hellkite Igniter thrives alongside artifact synergies. Pair it with decks that can proliferate artifact tokens or assemble a number of low-cost artifacts and watch its power skyrocket, turning it into a formidable force.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s environment evolves, adaptable cards like Hellkite Igniter maintain their value. In a meta filled with artifact strategies or where flyers are crucial for victory, having this dragon in your arsenal could provide the edge you need to dominate the battlefield.


How to beat Hellkite Igniter

Hellkite Igniter is a powerful card that can quickly turn the tides of a match in MTG. With its formidable flying ability and the potential to boost its power with each artifact you control, it’s no surprise that encountering this creature on the battlefield can be an intimidating experience. One of the most effective strategies to defeat Hellkite Igniter is through reliable removal spells. Cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider are excellent choices, as they can handle the Igniter regardless of how inflated its attack becomes.

Ensuring you maintain control over the number of artifacts your opponent possesses is also crucial, as this directly affects the Igniter’s attack potential. Incorporating artifact destruction spells in your deck, such as Abrade or Shatterstorm, can greatly mitigate the threat posed by Hellkite Igniter. Additionally, cards that can counter creature spells should be held in anticipation for the Igniter, allowing you the benefit of stopping it before it even enters the battlefield. Finally, always remain attentive to pacing your own plays, avoiding unnecessary risks that can leave you vulnerable to a sudden assault by this formidable dragon.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deck building in MTG is an art, and understanding each card’s strengths and synergies can turn the tides to your favor. With insights from Hellkite Igniter’s robust gameplay presence, consider how it might elevate your strategies. Think artifact-rich decks for maximum firepower, and remember, timing is key. Don’t let the mana cost deter you; with the right setup, this draconic powerhouse commands respect and can secure victories. Keen to harness the might of Hellkite Igniter or to explore cards with similar impact? Step up your game and continue to unfold the complexities of MTG with us. Your next victory could hinge on just one more turn!


Cards like Hellkite Igniter

Hellkite Igniter is a powerhouse in the world of red creature cards in MTG, sharing the skies with other dragons that command attention on the battlefield. When considering its peers, Inferno Titan emerges as a comparative behemoth. Both cards offer power that can swiftly change the state of the game, with Inferno Titan providing immediate impact as it enters the battlefield or attacks, dealing damage that can be divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.

Another formidable dragon is Drakuseth, Maw of Flames, which, like Hellkite Igniter, unleashes a devastating effect upon attacking. Drakuseth offers the ability to dish out a substantial amount of damage divided among multiple targets, quite similar to the targeted utility Hellkite Igniter could achieve with a high investment of mana into its ability to gain power.

In conclusion, while Hellkite Igniter demands a heavy resource investment to maximize its potential, it holds its own amidst other red titans by offering flexible power boosts and a formidable aerial threat. It shines in the right deck, particularly one that can harness the abundance of artifacts to fuel its fire.

Inferno Titan - MTG Card versions
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames - MTG Card versions
Inferno Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames - Core Set 2020 Promos (PM20)

Cards similar to Hellkite Igniter by color, type and mana cost

Magma Giant - MTG Card versions
Trained Orgg - MTG Card versions
Velican Dragon - MTG Card versions
Crazed Firecat - MTG Card versions
Yidaro, Wandering Monster - MTG Card versions
Butcher Orgg - MTG Card versions
Rimescale Dragon - MTG Card versions
Boldwyr Intimidator - MTG Card versions
Shivan Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Hamletback Goliath - MTG Card versions
Knollspine Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thunder Dragon - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Giant - MTG Card versions
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Tyrant of Discord - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Aggressor - MTG Card versions
Molten Primordial - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Thraxes - MTG Card versions
Dream Pillager - MTG Card versions
Tyrant of Valakut - MTG Card versions
Magma Giant - Portal Second Age (P02)
Trained Orgg - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Velican Dragon - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Crazed Firecat - Torment (TOR)
Yidaro, Wandering Monster - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Butcher Orgg - Onslaught (ONS)
Rimescale Dragon - Coldsnap (CSP)
Boldwyr Intimidator - Morningtide (MOR)
Shivan Hellkite - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Hamletback Goliath - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Knollspine Dragon - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Thunder Dragon - From the Vault: Dragons (DRB)
Karplusan Giant - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Ancient Hellkite - Magic 2011 Promos (PM11)
Tyrant of Discord - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Minotaur Aggressor - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Molten Primordial - Gatecrash (GTC)
Spawn of Thraxes - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Dream Pillager - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)
Tyrant of Valakut - Oath of the Gatewatch Promos (POGW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hellkite Igniter MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Commander 2016, 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 Hellkite Igniter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hellkite Igniter Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Jason Chan.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 652003normalblackJason Chan
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1272015normalblackJason Chan
32018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1242015normalblackJason Chan
42021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1712015normalblackJason Chan
52022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1171997normalblackJason Chan
62023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2842015normalblackJason Chan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hellkite Igniter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-06-01 The number of artifacts you control is counted when the ability resolves.

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