Fire Servant MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Released | 2010-07-16 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2011 |
| Set code | M11 |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 137 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ryan Yee |
Text of card
If a red instant or sorcery spell you control would deal damage, it deals double that damage instead.
"Elemental fire shimmers with rose hues and, unlike terrestrial blazes, smolders long after it's extinguished." —Jestus Dreya, *Of Elements and Eternity*
Cards like Fire Servant
Fire Servant is an intriguing component for decks that focus on dealing damage through spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a thematic similarity with cards like Furnace of Rath, which also doubles the damage dealt by spells or abilities. However, unlike Furnace of Rath’s broad effect that affects all damage sources, Fire Servant is narrower, strictly doubling only red instant and sorcery spells you control.
Looking at other comparable cards, we find Dictate of the Twin Gods. Like Furnace of Rath, this enchantment doubles damage for all players, but with a flash ability allowing strategic timing. Fire Servant’s distinction lies in its creature form, enabling it to act as both a threat and a damage enhancer solely for its controller. Another similar card is Gratuitous Violence, an enchantment that doubles damage from creatures you control, thereby differing from Fire Servant’s focus on non-creature spell damage.
When evaluating the synergy and impact within a red spell-focused strategy, Fire Servant holds a valued place by specifically targeting the spells that define such decks, thus often amplifying their win condition in a very targeted fashion.
Cards similar to Fire Servant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fire Servant presents a unique form of card advantage in a red deck. Rather than drawing more cards, this creature amplifies the potency of each damage-dealing spell you cast, potentially turning a single card into an overwhelming threat and forcing an opponent to deal with it swiftly.
Resource Acceleration: As a strategy enhancement, Fire Servant effectively accelerates your resources by doubling the impact of your burn spells. This means each red spell that deals damage works twice as hard, providing an accelerated path to your opponent’s defeat and better utilization of your mana investments.
Instant Speed: With Fire Servant on the battlefield, any instant-speed red damage spells become significantly more threatening. The ability to cast a spell at instant speed, now with doubled damage, allows for surprising turnarounds and can create a swing in board state that rivals the power of far more costly spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some cards that provide a benefit upon entering the battlefield or when cast, Fire Servant demands that you have a suite of instant or sorcery spells in hand to capitalize on its effect. Without these, the versatility of this card is significantly reduced, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you’re unable to pair it with complementary spells.
Specific Mana Cost: Fire Servant has a mana cost that requires double red, thus it is inherently designed for mono-red or red-heavy decks. Consequently, this limits its integration in multi-colored or colorless strategies, potentially curbing its utility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its four mana cost (two which are red-specific), Fire Servant sits at a point on the mana curve that competes with other high-impact cards in the mana-intensive red archetype. This cost can strain your mana resources at crucial stages of the game, especially when faster, more efficient creatures and damage spells are paramount to your strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Fire Servant boosts the impact of red spells, making it a powerful addition to decks that focus on burn strategies in which each point of damage can be crucial.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes particularly well with spells that deal damage, as it offers the potential to deal double the hurt. This can turn an otherwise simple burn spell into a game-ending move.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where red-based aggro or burn decks are prevalent, Fire Servant can be an invaluable asset, often providing the edge needed to outpace opponents and secure a swift victory.
How to beat
The Fire Servant card presents an interesting challenge in Magic: The Gathering, as it amplifies red instant and sorcery spell damage. Confronting a card that doubles the hit points of every red spell can be daunting, but there are strategic ways to tackle this potent force. Key is the concept of timing – removing the Fire Servant before a big spell is cast is crucial. Employ countermeasures such as instant-speed removal spells, which can destablize your opponent’s plans before they reach fruition.
Ultimately, it’s about controlling the battlefield and keeping tabs on your opponent’s mana. If they have the means to cast a red spell, make sure you’re ready with a response. Efficient removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, depending on your deck’s colors, can prove to be invaluable in these scenarios. Additionally, consider using spells that limit your opponent’s ability to cast those damaging spells in the first place, such as Damping Sphere. Addressing the threat of Fire Servant swiftly can maintain your edge in the game and lead you to victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into the MTG realm by embracing the power of Fire Servant. This unique card holds the key to turning the tides in burn-heavy decks, doubling the effectiveness of red spells and setting you up for victorious strikes. If you’re eager to enhance your strategy and dominate the competition, consider the value of Fire Servant in your arsenal. With careful deck building and keen insight into the meta, Fire Servant could very well be your next game changer. Explore more strategic tips and master the art of MTG with us as your guide.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fire Servant MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011, 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 Servant 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fire Servant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fire Servant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-08-15 | Fire Servant’s ability applies no matter who or what the damage would be dealt to: a creature, a player, or a planeswalker. |
| 2010-08-15 | If a red instant or sorcery spell you control causes damage to be dealt, that spell will always identify the source of the damage. In most cases, the source is the spell itself. For example, Lightning Bolt says “Lightning Bolt deals 3 damage to any target.” Such a spell is affected by Fire Servant’s ability. If the source of the damage is something else (for example, if the spell is Soul’s Fire, which says “Target creature you control on the battlefield deals damage equal to its power to any target”), it isn’t affected by Fire Servant’s ability. |
| 2010-08-15 | If a red instant or sorcery spell you control divides damage among multiple recipients (such as Fireball does), the damage is divided before Fire Servant’s effect doubles it. |
| 2010-08-15 | If multiple effects modify how damage will be dealt, the player who would be dealt damage or the controller of the permanent that would be dealt damage chooses the order to apply the effects. For example, Mending Hands says, “Prevent the next 4 damage that would be dealt to any target this turn” and Lava Axe is a red sorcery that says “Lava Axe deals 5 damage to target player or planeswalker.” Suppose a Lava Axe controlled by a player who controls Fire Servant would deal 5 damage to a player who has cast Mending Hands targeting themselves. The player who would be dealt damage can either (a) prevent 4 damage first and then let Fire Servant’s effect double the remaining 1 damage, taking 2 damage, or (b) double the damage to 10 and then prevent 4 damage, taking 6 damage. |
| 2010-08-15 | If you control more than one Fire Servant, the effects are cumulative. Two such effects will cause damage from red instant or sorcery spells you control to be multiplied by four; three such effects will cause damage from red instant or sorcery spells you control to be multiplied by eight. |