Fire Dragon MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 125
2008-09-22 - Number 125
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 9 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Flying When Fire Dragon comes into play from your hand, it deals to any one creature damage equal to the number of mountains you have in play.
Cards like Fire Dragon
The allure of dragon cards in MTG is broad and enduring, and the Fire Dragon card occupies a unique place within this illustrious group. When assessing its traits against other dragon cards, the immediate comparison is with Dragon Mage. Fire Dragon offers a powerful damage-dealing capability that can be a game-changer during combat phases. Dragon Mage, by contrast, focuses on refilling each player’s hand, which shapes the game in a completely different manner.
Another noteworthy comparator is the Lathliss, Dragon Queen. While Fire Dragon boasts formidable individual strength, Lathliss excels at multiplying the draconic threat by creating dragon tokens whenever another nontoken dragon enters the battlefield under your control. Both cards bolster a dragon-focused strategy, but Lathliss potentially brings more versatility to a dragon deck by flooding the board with numerous winged threats.
Drawing parallels among these daunting creatures, Fire Dragon carves out its niche with sheer power and destructive force. While it may not have the deck-refreshing ability of Dragon Mage or the token-generating prowess of Lathliss, Dragon Queen, the Fire Dragon stands as a testament to the raw and unfettered fury that dragons bring to MTG, commanding respect on the battlefield with every fiery breath it takes.
Cards similar to Fire Dragon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Fire Dragon card has the potential to decimate your opponent’s board while providing you with card draws. This can lead to a significant advantage as you recover the cards spent summoning the dragon, maintaining or even increasing your hand size.
Resource Acceleration: Some versions of Fire Dragon cards enable the generation of mana or tokens when dealing damage to opponents. This effect bolsters your resources, allowing you to cast more spells or summon more creatures, speeding up your game plan.
Instant Speed: While not all Fire Dragon cards are instant, those with this speed can be cast in response to an opponent’s actions. This flexibility lets you adapt to the changing game state, making Fire Dragon cards a surprising and potent threat or defensive measure when your opponent least expects it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The might of a Fire Dragon comes with the steep price of card sacrifice. Players often have to discard another card just to bring this dragon into play, which can deplete valuable hand resources. This trade-off demands strategic consideration, especially when your hand size is low and each card’s value is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Tapping into the raw power of a Fire Dragon requires a commitment to red mana. This specific mana cost can present a challenge, as it necessitates a sufficient source of red mana within your deck. Decks not focused on red mana might find it difficult to summon this creature, thereby restricting the Fire Dragon’s utility to primarily red-themed or compatible two-color combinations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To summon such a creature of legend requires a significant investment of mana. With a comparatively high mana cost, the Fire Dragon may arrive on the battlefield later than other options available in the game. Players must weigh this cost against other creatures and spells that could be cast sooner, potentially providing immediate benefits or establishing an earlier board presence.
Reasons to Include Fire Dragon in Your Collection
Versatility: Fire Dragon cards often provide a dynamic presence on the battlefield that can adjust to various game situations. Whether you need a formidable flying creature to defend the skies or a game-ending threat, these dragons can serve multiple roles in your deck.
Combo Potential: With the ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield or when attacking, these creatures pair well with cards that amplify damage or benefit from burning opponents. This potential for synergy makes them an asset for conjuring up powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given their power to shift the tide of a match, Fire Dragon cards typically hold their ground in various metagames. Their impact in games is often immediate and can adapt to disrupt the plans of trending deck types, keeping your collection competitive.
How to beat
Confronting a Fire Dragon card in Magic: The Gathering can be an intense battle. These mighty creatures, known for their flight and formidable damage-dealing capabilities, are often seen taking over the game by unleashing devastating fire-breathed attacks on opponents. To tackle this fiery threat, players need to employ clever strategies and timely reactions.
The key lies in neutralizing the dragon before it has the chance to assert its dominance on the battlefield. This can be achieved through removal spells that can quickly dispatch the creature, such as Murder or Path to Exile, bypassing its potential for havoc. Alternately, control tactics with cards like Counterspell might prevent the dragon from even entering the fray. If the dragon does make it onto the battlefield, enchantments that limit its abilities or prevent it from attacking, like Pacifism, can severely clip its wings and eliminate the threat it poses.
Ultimately, being prepared with the right defenses in your deck and playing them at the optimal moment makes all the difference between succumbing to the Fire Dragon’s fury or extinguishing its flames and soaring to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fire Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Masters Edition II, 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 Fire Dragon and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Fire Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by William Simpson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 125 | 1997 | Normal | Black | William Simpson | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 125 | 1997 | Normal | Black | William Simpson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fire Dragon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fire Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | If there are no other creatures on the battlefield, Fire Dragon will have to target itself. The ability is mandatory. |