Cackling Flames MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Hellbent

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers direct damage for strategic control and can be a key component in maintaining card economy.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible, reactive play, giving players a timing advantage in duels.
  3. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana requirements and discard conditions.

Text of card

Cackling Flames deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Hellbent Cackling Flames deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if you have no cards in hand.

"I like a little entertainment with my dinner." —Rakdos


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cackling Flames offers a direct approach to dealing damage, which can be pivotal in dismantling an opponent’s strategy. This can be especially beneficial in controlling the board and reducing an opponent’s resources while sustaining your own card economy.

Resource Acceleration: Not directly associated with resource acceleration, Cackling Flames is however cost-efficient. This allows players to deploy other strategies alongside this spell, potentially creating a resource acceleration through strategic play.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Cackling Flames grants flexibility in gameplay, allowing reactive plays against opponents during their turn. Its instant speed nature ensures you have the upper hand in timing, usurping the opponent’s initiative and potentially disrupting their plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Cackling Flames card is the obligation to let go of another card from your hand. This prerequisite could put players at a significant disadvantage, especially during moments in the game where maintaining hand advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Cackling Flames demands a specific combination of mana to cast – three mana of any color and one red. This requirement can make it challenging for decks that aren’t heavily invested in red mana sources or multicolored mana decks that might struggle to consistently meet the card’s mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of four mana for a single-target damage spell, Cackling Flames might not always be the most economical choice. Other spells in the format might offer similar or greater impact at a lower cost, providing players with more flexibility and efficiency for their strategy.


Reasons to Include Cackling Flames in Your Collection

Versatility: Cackling Flames offers a flexible option for a range of decks, shining in those that favor direct damage spells or spell-slinging approaches.

Combo Potential: The card works well within strategies that amplify spell damage or make use of spell casts, such as prowess or storm decks.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggressive strategies prevail, Cackling Flames can serve as a robust tool to swiftly lower life totals or clear out problematic creatures.


How to beat

Cackling Flames is a powerful instigator in the world of MTG, known for its capability to deliver direct damage to any target. When facing off against this card, it’s critical to consider options that can mitigate or completely nullify its impact. One effective strategy is to include cards that can counter noncreature spells in your deck, such as Negate or Counterspell. These will allow you to stop Cackling Flames before it can even hit the battlefield and disrupt your game plan.

Furthermore, having protection spells or abilities that prevent or reduce damage can be invaluable. Cards like Tamiyo’s Safekeeping not only shield your permanents but also your life total from harmful effects, turning what could have been a devastating blow into a wasted effort from your opponent. Additionally, proactive measures such as playing creatures with high toughness can absorb the hit from Cackling Flames, lessening the impact on your overall strategy and keeping you in control of the match.

Adopting these defensive tactics and understanding the importance of timing when using them are key to overcoming the challenge posed by Cackling Flames in any MTG duel. Keep these tips in mind to remain one step ahead and secure your path to victory.


Cards like Cackling Flames

Cackling Flames is an intriguing option for players looking to deal direct damage in Magic: The Gathering. It carries a resemblance to cards like Shock, which also delivers an immediate impact on the board by dealing 2 damage to any target. Cackling Flames, however, goes a step further by offering the potential for 4 damage, provided you’ve played another spell during the turn due to its hellbent ability.

Another card worth mentioning in its league is Lightning Strike. This card offers a solid middle ground with 3 damage to any target at the cost of two mana. While not as conditional as Cackling Flames, it lacks the scalability but is more reliable for consistent damage output. Then there’s the mighty Lightning Bolt, a classic that deals 3 damage for a single mana. Although it doesn’t boast the 4-damage ceiling of Cackling Flames, its efficiency is unrivaled.

Cackling Flames certainly has its niche, especially in decks that can reliably enable its hellbent condition. Its potential to cause a significant swing in the game’s momentum makes it a situational yet powerful tool in the arsenal of direct damage spells.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Shock - Stronghold (STH)
Lightning Strike - Theros (THS)
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Cackling Flames by color, type and mana cost

Blind Fury - MTG Card versions
Lightning Blast - MTG Card versions
Boil - MTG Card versions
Blood Oath - MTG Card versions
Warpath - MTG Card versions
Magma Burst - MTG Card versions
Sudden Impact - MTG Card versions
Stoke the Flames - MTG Card versions
Fated Conflagration - MTG Card versions
Solar Blast - MTG Card versions
Grab the Reins - MTG Card versions
Tears of Rage - MTG Card versions
Blind with Anger - MTG Card versions
Ire of Kaminari - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Stone - MTG Card versions
Overblaze - MTG Card versions
Hidetsugu's Second Rite - MTG Card versions
Gaze of Adamaro - MTG Card versions
Dogpile - MTG Card versions
Parallectric Feedback - MTG Card versions
Blind Fury - Mirage (MIR)
Lightning Blast - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Boil - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Blood Oath - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Warpath - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Magma Burst - Planeshift (PLS)
Sudden Impact - Premium Deck Series: Fire and Lightning (PD2)
Stoke the Flames - March of the Machine (MOM)
Fated Conflagration - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Solar Blast - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Grab the Reins - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tears of Rage - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Blind with Anger - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ire of Kaminari - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Torrent of Stone - Modern Masters (MMA)
Overblaze - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Hidetsugu's Second Rite - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Gaze of Adamaro - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Dogpile - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Parallectric Feedback - Guildpact (GPT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cackling Flames MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and RNA Guild Kit, 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 Cackling Flames and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Cackling Flames Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Shishizaru.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-05-05DissensionDIS 592003normalblackShishizaru
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 552015normalblackShishizaru

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cackling Flames has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks