Fire Snake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Snake |
| Released | 1997-05-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Portal |
| Set code | POR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 127 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Luke |
Text of card
If Fire Snake is put into your discard pile from play, destroy any one land.
The snake's final thrashings only spread the fire within it.
Cards like Fire Snake
Fire Snake is an interesting character in the fiery arsenal of creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with cards like Cinder Pyromancer in terms of red elemental damage-dealers. However, Fire Snake offers a distinctive feature – it deals damage to a player upon death. While Cinder Pyromancer requires tapping for its effect, it can repeatedly deal damage without needing to leave the battlefield.
Another relative in this pyrotechnic family is Fire Servant. Although it doesn’t deal damage on its own, it has the potential to double the damage of your red spells, which could integrate well with Fire Snake’s final blaze. However, the servant has a higher mana cost and doesn’t offer the same direct impact upon being destroyed. Obsidian Fireheart, marked by its ‘land blaze’ ability, also mirrors the long-term damage strategy. Although it doesn’t share the self-destructive damage trait, it sets a timer on your opponent’s lands, providing a different, yet prolonged, threat.
Comparatively, Fire Snake might be a smaller piece on the board, but its self-sacrificing nature can turn it into a tactical resource, especially when every point of damage counts towards the end game in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Fire Snake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fire Snake offers dynamic play by replacing itself when it deals damage to a player. This self-replacing feature maintains momentum and card parity for the player, subtly nudging card advantage in their favor.
Resource Acceleration: The Fire Snake can be a catalyst for resource acceleration in decks focused on synergies with elemental creatures or spells. By potentially clearing blockers or damaging players, it might enable more direct attacks, accelerating your path to victory.
Instant Speed: The ability to unleash the Fire Snake at instant speed integrates seamlessly with strategies that demand flexibility. Launching it on an opponent’s turn adds an element of surprise and can disrupt their plans, illustrating the power of timing and control in a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Fire Snake card stipulates a discard action that could deplete your hand. This proves particularly taxing when you’re striving to maintain card advantage over your opponent or if you’re depending on particular cards for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting prerequisites for Fire Snake demand exclusively red mana, potentially complicating its integration into multicolored decks. Players must tailor their mana base or risk being unable to play the card when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana demand compared to other cards with similar abilities, Fire Snake could impede your game tempo. It competes for the valuable mana resources that might be better allocated towards more impactful spells or creatures in the same mana range.
Reasons to Include Fire Snake in Your Collection
Versatility: As a card with a unique set of abilities, Fire Snake can adapt to a variety of red-based strategies. It’s a flexible addition not only to aggressive decks but also to those looking to utilize its death-trigger effect for tactical advantage.
Combo Potential: When Fire Snake is destroyed, it deals damage to each creature without flying and each player. This death throes can be harnessed to synergize with other cards that thrive on dealing damage, leading to powerful board-sweeping combos.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Fire Snake serves as a potent deterrent. The damage it unleashes upon destruction makes it a relevant card that can shift the tide of battle in your favor, often catching opponents off-guard.
How to beat
The Fire Snake card brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its main strength lies in its ability to amplify damage through its ability, particularly against decks that are less focused on creature control. To effectively counteract this fiery adversary, players should consider including cards that can neutralize or bypass its damage-enhancing capabilities.
Successful strategies could involve utilizing instant-speed removal spells to dispatch Fire Snake before its effect can be leveraged. Spells that offer protection from red can also provide a buffer against the card’s damage output. Alternatively, prioritizing the control of the board through board wipe spells can eliminate the threat of Fire Snake by clearing the field before it becomes too overwhelming.
Efficient creature management and maintaining a strategic reserve of instant spells or abilities that can be activated in response to Fire Snake’s activation will ensure that this card poses a minimal threat. Adapt your deck accordingly, and the heat of the Fire Snake will be smothered before it can ever truly ignite your opponent’s chances of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fire Snake MTG card by a specific set like Portal, 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 Snake 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fire Snake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |