Blaze Commando MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Minotaur Soldier |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 56 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | James Ryman |
Key Takeaways
- Blaze Commando offers board advantage by creating tokens through damage-dealing spells.
- It enables diverse strategies with instant-speed spells, bolstering defenses unexpectedly.
- Mana cost and card specificity are potential cons, but its payoffs can be substantial.
Text of card
Whenever an instant or sorcery spell you control deals damage, put two 1/1 red and white Soldier creature tokens with haste onto the battlefield.
A true Boros commando only calls for reinforcements so they can clean up the mess.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blaze Commando enables generating multiple creature tokens with each use of instant or sorcery spells that deal damage, effectively providing additional board presence and potential card advantage without dipping into your hand.
Resource Acceleration: As you accumulate a greater number of creature tokens through Blaze Commando’s ability, you can leverage these for various strategies, such as ramping your mana with convoke spells or as fodder for sacrifice synergies.
Instant Speed: This card synergizes well with instant-speed spells which deal damage, allowing you to respond flexibly to threats during your opponent’s turn and simultaneously creating tokens to surprise your opponent and bolster your forces.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Blaze Commando necessitates a specific set up to exploit its abilities, notably needing to cast spells that deal damage. This can leave you at a disadvantage if you are unable to meet this requirement due to a lack of spells in hand or on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Blaze Commando demands both red and white mana, restricting its inclusion to decks that can consistently provide this color combination. This can hinder deck flexibility and make it cumbersome in mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic mana, one red, and one white, Blaze Commando can be a costly play, especially when considering the pace of the game and other options that may provide direct damage or creature presence in a more cost-effective manner.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Blaze Commando’s ability to generate numerous tokens makes it a flexible addition to decks centered around token strategies or those seeking additional board presence.
Combo Potential: This card’s unique synergy with instant and sorcery spells that deal damage allows for creative combinations, enabling explosive token generation when paired with cantrips or burn spells.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where damage-based removal spells are prevalent, Blaze Commando capitalizes on those interactions, turning them into an advantage by flooding the battlefield with 1/1 soldier tokens with every instance.
How to beat
Understanding your opponent’s strategy is key when playing Magic: The Gathering, especially when they bring out cards like Blaze Commando. This formidable card rewards players who cast spells that deal damage by creating two 1/1 red and white Soldier creature tokens with each instance of damage dealt. So, when facing off against this card, what’s the best approach?
First and foremost, removal is your friend. Instant-speed removal cards can disrupt your opponent’s plans before they get a chance to capitalize on Blaze Commando’s ability. Prioritize removing the Commando as quickly as possible to prevent the board from being overrun with tokens. Counterspells also serve as effective measures, nipping the problem in the bud by ensuring the Commando never hits the battlefield. Applying pressure with your own creatures can force your opponent to make difficult decisions, perhaps even trading their Commando before it can generate value. You might also consider sweepers – spells that clear multiple creatures off the board – to reset the token buildup and give you a clean slate to work with.
When it comes down to gameplay, timely removal, strategic counters, and maintaining pressure are essential elements in overcoming the challenges presented by Blaze Commando. Keep these tactics in mind, and you’ll have a solid game plan for any match where this card makes an appearance.
Cards like Blaze Commando
Blaze Commando carves out its niche in the vast array of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It brings something not only unique but also quite synergistic for players fond of spell-slinging strategies. Much like the commando, the Guttersnipe serves a similar audience but with a direct lean on causing damage to opponents every time a spell is cast. But Blaze Commando offers a rather different advantage, creating tokens that can provide both offensive and defensive utility.
Another card worth mentioning is Young Pyromancer, which, akin to Blaze Commando, capitalizes on spells being played and is cheaper to cast. The Pyromancer creates elemental tokens that can be a swarm threat over time. However, while Young Pyromancer focuses on sheer quantity, Blaze Commando focuses on quality, creating more substantial 1/1 creatures with its trigger and thus can impact the board significantly.
Considering the value these cards provide, Blaze Commando can be a pivotal piece in a deck that emphasizes casting a high number of spells, particularly those that deal damage. It may not be the quickest token generator in the game, but the potential for explosive turns gives it a solid place among MTG’s creature-based strategies for enthusiasts of its Red-White combination.
Cards similar to Blaze Commando by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blaze Commando MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Blaze Commando and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blaze Commando has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blaze Commando card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Blaze Commando’s ability triggers each time an instant or sorcery spell you control deals damage (or, put another way, the number of times the word “deals” appears in its instructions), no matter how much damage is dealt or how many players or permanents are dealt damage. For example, if you cast Punish the Enemy and it “deals 3 damage to target player or planeswalker and 3 damage to target creature,” Blaze Commando’s ability will trigger once and you’ll get two Soldier tokens. |
| 2013-04-15 | Some instant or sorcery spells cause other objects to deal damage, rather than deal damage themselves. Such spells don’t cause Blaze Commando to trigger. |
