Chandra's Embercat MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental Cat
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	129
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johan Grenier

Key Takeaways

Embercat facilitates faster casting of impactful Chandra planeswalkers and spells, shaping gameplay tempo.
While restrictive in deck compatibility, it shines within Chandra or elemental-themed MTG strategies.
Direct removal of Embercat is a strategic counter in competitive play, mitigating its mana ramp benefits.

Text of card

: Add . Spend this mana only to cast an Elemental spell or a Chandra planeswalker spell.

"Furballs? Try dealing with fireballs." —Chandra Nalaar

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Chandra’s Embercat doesn’t directly result in drawing cards, its synergy with Chandra planeswalkers can indirectly contribute to card advantage by helping deploy your powerful planeswalkers earlier and use their abilities to pull ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Chandra’s Embercat specializes in mana acceleration for red or specifically Chandra planeswalkers. By tapping for red mana or essentially two mana when used for casting a Chandra planeswalker, it speeds up your ability to cast high-impact cards sooner than usual.

Instant Speed: This creature isn’t played at instant speed, yet it facilitates instant-speed interactions by allowing you to hold up mana for other spells while still developing your board, especially when planning to cast instant-speed spells or abilities from your Chandra planeswalkers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chandra’s Embercat’s ability often centers around a discard mechanic, which means players could be forced to give up valuable cards in hand. This could hinder strategies, especially when the player’s hand needs to be maintained for crucial plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The Embercat demands a fire-focused mana pool to unleash its full potential. This specificity in mana cost can restrict deck building, as the card is ideally suited for Chandra planeswalker-centric decks, potentially reducing its versatility across varied MTG deck themes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s cost of two mana may be seen as steep for a creature of its size. While the creature does offer a mana filtering ability specifically for Chandra planeswalker spells, in competitive play, this cost is often compared to other two-mana creatures with potentially more impactful abilities or stats.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chandra’s Embercat is a solid addition to any deck that leverages red mana, particularly those centered around Chandra planeswalkers. Its ability to tap for red mana specifically to cast elemental spells or Chandra planeswalker spells grants noteworthy flexibility in casting key cards.

Combo Potential: This feline friend is a great enabler for strategies that revolve around the synergy between elementals and Chandra’s suite of spells. By smoothing out your mana curve and ensuring you have the necessary resources, it can help you execute your strategy more effectively.

Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving game landscape, having a creature that synergizes with one of the most popular planeswalkers bolsters your deck’s competitiveness. As long as Chandra-centric decks remain a force in the game environment, Chandra’s Embercat retains its relevance and impact.

How to beat

Chandra’s Embercat has secured a spot in red mana-based decks in MTG, primarily because of its synergy with elementals and Chandra planeswalkers. Crucially, it’s the mana ability of this fiery feline that requires attention. To effectively counter this card, there’s a strong emphasis on timing and removal. A well-timed Shock or Fatal Push can easily remove the Embercat before it ramps up your opponent’s mana, thwarting their strategy to cast Chandra or other costly elementals early in the game.

Removal spells aside, maintain pressure on the board and capitalize on the lack of Embercat’s instant speed interaction. If you’re able to keep the board clear or present threats that demand answers, the mana acceleration provided by Chandra’s Embercat becomes less impactful. Also, consider sideboarding artifact removal if the Embercat is part of a larger elemental synergy, as this can also disrupt the artifact-centric strategies that often accompany these decks.

To conclude, focus on pre-emptive removal and creating a board presence that demands immediate answers. By doing so, you reduce the effectiveness of Chandra’s Embercat and the likelihood of facing an early planeswalker or a surge of elemental power that could otherwise dominate the late game.

Cards like Chandra's Embercat

Chandra’s Embercat holds a unique niche in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This feline element introduces a synergy with red spells, especially those aligned with the iconic planeswalker Chandra. When we compare it to other mana dorks like Llanowar Elves, the Embercat is more specialized—only aiding in casting red spells or Chandra planeswalkers. Llanowar Elves, however, provide a more general mana boost for any green spell you may want to cast.

Moving on, we have Runaway Steam-Kin, another red creature with the potential to ramp up your mana, but with the added benefit of growing stronger with each red spell you cast. Unlike Chandra’s Embercat, which supports casting larger spells earlier, the Steam-Kin’s power grows over time, demanding a more strategic playstyle. Finally, consider Firebrand Archer, which doesn’t provide mana but does deal damage whenever you cast a noncreature spell—a different kind of utility that complements an aggressive strategy focusing on casting numerous spells.

Exploring these options, Chandra’s Embercat may not be as versatile as some mana creatures, but for players crafting a deck around Chandra or red spells, its specific utility makes it an excellent piece of the ramp puzzle in Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chandra's Embercat MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Chandra's Embercat and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chandra's Embercat has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-07-12	A Chandra planeswalker spell is a planeswalker spell with the subtype Chandra. Cards that use Chandra’s name in their title or her likeness in their illustration (such as Chandra’s Regulator or Chandra’s Outrage) aren’t Chandra planeswalker spells.