Balefire Liege MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Spirit Horror
Power 2
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage and resource acceleration, crucial for red and white spell synergy.
  2. Demanding mana cost makes it less versatile for fast-paced or multicolor decks.
  3. Strong inclusion for its versatility, combo potential, and meta-relevance in dual-color strategies.

Text of card

Other red creatures you control get +1/+1. Other white creatures you control get +1/+1. Whenever you play a red spell, Balefire Liege deals 3 damage to target player. Whenever you play a white spell, you gain 3 life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Balefire Liege provides an immediate benefit upon entering the battlefield by boosting the power of your red and white spells. Each spell cast subsequently can potentially turn into a pseudo two-for-one, where you’re not only playing your cards but also increasing the threat to your opponents with additional damage.

Resource Acceleration: This card aligns perfectly with red and white decks that focus on swiftly deploying threats and utilizing mana efficiently. By granting an additional bonus to red and white spells, it accelerates your game plan and allows you to leverage your resources for a commanding board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Balefire Liege itself is not an instant, it amplifies the effectiveness of your instant speed spells in both colors. With each spell cast at instant speed, you capitalize on the Liege’s bonus, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy while fortifying your own position through increased damage or creature buffs.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of the Balefire Liege, players are not directly compelled to discard cards, but its high value could become a drawback in situations where discard is forced upon them as a penalty, making it a risky keep in hands vulnerable to opponent interactions.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Balefire Liege is quite color-intensive, demanding a commitment to both red and white mana. This can restrict its insertion into multicolored decks that might not consistently have the right mana available at the critical time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its combined mana value of five, including three hybrid red/white, Balefire Liege demands a substantial investment. In faster formats or against decks that operate efficiently with lower mana curves, the Liege might not hit the battlefield swiftly enough to influence the game’s outcome favorably.


Reasons to Include Balefire Liege in Your Collection

Versatility: Balefire Liege is a dynamic card suitable for a variety of red and white decks. Its ability to boost other red or white creatures while also delivering a punch when you cast a spell of those colors makes it a solid addition to any deck leaning on those colors.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that rely on casting multiple spells per turn or that trigger off of boosting creature abilities. The life gain and damage to opponents provided by Balefire Liege can quickly turn the tide in a game.

Meta-Relevance: In variants where players often use multi-colored red or white spells, Balefire Liege’s power to amplify these spells’ impact can significantly influence the board state. Additionally, it’s a strong card against opponents who utilize creature-based strategies due to its recurring damage output.


How to beat

Balefire Liege is a formidable force in MTG, particularly within red and white decks. Its ability to buff other red and white creatures makes it a priority target on the battlefield. To counter this card, consider utilizing instant speed removal to avoid the temporary boost it could provide during your opponent’s turn. A card like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can be effective, provided you time it before a significant attack.

Another strategy involves countering Balefire Liege directly as it’s cast. For blue players, a well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent the Liege from ever entering the fray. If it does resolve, edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature, such as Diabolic Edict, bypass its increased stats and potential protective measures.

Finally, keep in mind board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation are your allies against creatures that can bolster others. Removing multiple threats at once can help level the playing field. In conclusion, while Balefire Liege presents a considerable challenge, with the right removal or countermeasures, you can extinguish its impact on the game swiftly and efficiently.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic elements of MTG and enhance your gameplay with Balefire Liege. Understanding its strengths and potential drawbacks is key to maximizing its impact on the battlefield. Whether you are looking to accelerate your game plan with a potent red and white spells boost, or find efficient ways to counteract powerful creatures, knowledge is power. Explore card synergies, combos, and meta-relevance, and equip yourself with strategies to deal with formidable opponents. For a comprehensive understanding and innovative tips on incorporating Balefire Liege into your arsenal, join us at BurnMana and ensure your next duel is a display of mastery and cunning.


Cards like Balefire Liege

Balefire Liege stands out in Magic: The Gathering not only for its ability to boost both red and white spells but also for its impact on the board with its direct damage ability. Examining creatures of similar mana value and effect, we see comparisons to creatures like Nobilis of War. While Nobilis of War offers an attack boost to all your red and white creatures, it lacks Balefire Liege’s ability to deal damage to a player whenever you cast a red or white spell.

Another card that echoes the Liege’s capabilities is Firemane Avenger. Although the Avenger also benefits its counterparts in combat, the requirement for the battalion to be active differs markedly from Balefire Liege’s consistent and passive bonuses provided every time you cast a red or white spell. Additionally, Archon of Redemption presents a life gain alternative to Balefire Liege’s offensive bonus, making it a complementary card rather than a direct rival in terms of abilities.

Ultimately, Balefire Liege’s combination of boosting your spells and punishing opponents when casting those spells makes it an intriguing option for red-white decks. It successfully strikes a balance between enhancing your board presence and exerting pressure on your opponent.

Nobilis of War - MTG Card versions
Firemane Avenger - MTG Card versions
Archon of Redemption - MTG Card versions
Nobilis of War - Eventide (EVE)
Firemane Avenger - Gatecrash Promos (PGTC)
Archon of Redemption - Worldwake (WWK)

Cards similar to Balefire Liege by color, type and mana cost

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Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran - MTG Card versions
Nobilis of War - MTG Card versions
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Anya, Merciless Angel - MTG Card versions
Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier - MTG Card versions
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Tiana, Ship's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Quintorius, Field Historian - MTG Card versions
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Adult Gold Dragon - MTG Card versions
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Commander Liara Portyr - MTG Card versions
Hofri Ghostforge - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
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Nobilis of War - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Kranioceros - Conflux (CON)
Basandra, Battle Seraph - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Towering Thunderfist - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Fortress Cyclops - Gatecrash (GTC)
Blaze Commando - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Angelic Captain - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Anya, Merciless Angel - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Adriana, Captain of the Guard - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander (ONC)
Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander (ONC)
Sun-Blessed Mount - Ixalan (XLN)
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Quintorius, Field Historian - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Relic Sloth - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Adult Gold Dragon - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Asari Captain - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Commander Liara Portyr - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Balefire Liege MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Planechase, 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 Balefire Liege and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Balefire Liege Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Ralph Horsley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-07-25EventideEVE 1322003normalblackRalph Horsley
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 972003normalblackRalph Horsley
32020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 932003normalblackRalph Horsley
42020-09-26The ListPLST EVE-1322003normalblackRalph Horsley
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4782015normalblackRalph Horsley
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1802015normalblackRalph Horsley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Balefire Liege has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-08-01 The abilities are separate and cumulative. If another creature you control is both of the listed colors, it will get a total of +2/+2.

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