Final Flare MTG Card

Final Flare transforms excess creatures into resources, enhancing deck efficiency by thinning. Its instant speed permits reactive plays, increasing interaction and strategic depth. Though it requires creature sacrifice, this card synergizes well within specific deck archetypes.
Final Flare - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Number134
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature or enchantment. Final Flare deals 5 damage to target creature.

Those who fought without honor in life are taken to Agonas and doomed to fight forever in its arenas.

Cards like Final Flare

Final Flare is a unique instant in Magic: The Gathering, having similarities to other sacrifice-based spells yet standing out with its distinct features. It shares a common theme with cards like Collateral Damage, which also demands the sacrifice of a creature as part of its cost and deals direct damage to any target. Final Flare, however, offers the added utility of hitting enchantments as well, giving players a broader range of options during play.

Analogous to Burn Bright, Final Flare can be a game-changer during combat, but whereas Burn Bright merely boosts creatures until end of turn, Final Flare removes a blocker or attacker while also potentially dealing with pesky enchantments. In the spell orbit, we also find Embereth Shieldbreaker’s adventure ability, Battle Display, which specifically targets artifacts and not creatures or enchantments, potentially limiting its use compared to the versatile Final Flare.

Comparing these spells uncovers the tactical advantage of Final Flare in Magic: The Gathering. By weaving both direct damage and diverse target selection into its casting, it becomes a valuable tool in a player’s arsenal. Its instant speed and flexibility frequently tip the scales in battle, highlighting its worth among sacrifice-based spells.

Collateral Damage - MTG Card versions
Burn Bright - MTG Card versions
Collateral Damage - MTG Card versions
Burn Bright - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Final Flare card does not directly allow you to draw cards, it turns expendable creatures into a resource by using them as part of the spell’s cost, effectively thinning your deck and increasing the chance of drawing more impactful cards.

Resource Acceleration: Final Flare’s mechanics synergize well with sacrifice-based strategies, allowing you to trigger effects of other cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures, which can potentially ramp up your board presence or accelerate other resources.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Final Flare offers flexibility in gameplay. It allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, potentially removing a threat or creating a surprise interaction that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Final Flare requires sacrificing a creature as an additional cost to cast. This can be a disadvantage, especially when you’re trying to maintain board presence or losing a valuable asset.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands both red and generic mana to cast. Players running multicolored decks might face challenges fitting it into their mana base, potentially making it a less flexible choice.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana for an instant that deals damage only equal to the sacrificed creature’s power, there might be more cost-effective damage spells available. This can impact your game strategy when mana efficiency is critical.

Reasons to Include Final Flare in Your Collection

Versatility: Final Flare is a flexible card, easily slotted into red or multicolored decks that focus on sacrifice strategies or just need instant speed removal options.

Combo Potential: With its ability to sacrifice a creature as part of its casting cost, Final Flare can trigger enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield abilities on your own terms – creating potential for powerful combo interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Efficient removal spells are always relevant, and Final Flare holds its own in metas where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, offering a cost-effective way to deal with opponents’ threats while providing additional value to your gameplay strategy.

How to beat

Final Flare is an intriguing instant card within Magic: The Gathering that can catch players off guard. At first glance, it may seem like an ordinary removal spell, but its additional requirement of sacrificing a creature adds a layer of strategic complexity. To effectively counter Final Flare, players need to understand both its utility in triggering sacrifice benefits and its role in disrupting opponent creatures.

Unlike straightforward removal cards, Final Flare’s sacrifice requirement can be turned to a player’s advantage if they utilize creatures with “death triggers” or effects that occur when a creature dies. Thus, to outmaneuver Final Flare, one should minimize the impact of these synergies by removing or exiling creatures with such abilities before your opponent has an opportunity to use them in conjunction with Final Flare.

Moreover, it’s essential to recognize the timing of the spell. As an instant, Final Flare can be a surprise play during combat or in response to an action. Maintaining open mana for counter spells or having creatures with indestructible or protection abilities can prevent the sudden loss of a key creature. By anticipating and preparing for these moments, the potential damage of Final Flare can be significantly reduced or even turned to your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Final Flare MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Final Flare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Final Flare has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 Final Flare has no extra effect if you sacrifice an enchantment creature.
2020-01-24 You must sacrifice exactly one creature or enchantment to cast Final Flare; you can’t cast it without sacrificing a permanent, and you can’t sacrifice additional permanents.