Firebreathing MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 150
1993-10-04 - Number 151
1993-12-01 - Number 151
1993-12-10 - Number 151
1993-12-10 - Number 151
1994-04-01 - Number 151
1994-04-01 - Number 151
1994-06-21 - Number 151
1995-04-01 - Number 193
1995-04-01 - Number 193
1996-10-08 - Number 174
1997-03-24 - Number 228
1999-04-21 - Number 177
2005-07-29 - Number 181
2005-07-29 - Number 181★
2007-07-13 - Number 200★
2007-07-13 - Number 200
2009-07-17 - Number 137
2011-07-15 - Number 132
2022-11-28 - Number 146
2022-11-28 - Number 443
| Card sets | Released in 21 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
oo R +1/+0
"And topples round the dreary west A looming bastion fringed with fire." —Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "In Memoriam"
Cards like Firebreathing
Firebreathing is an intriguing mechanic in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, granting a formidable boost to a creature’s attack prowess. Comparable in function to cards like Dragon Mantle, which also bestows creatures with the power pump for every red mana spent. Firebreathing, however, is often purer in its form, solely focusing on attack enhancement without the card draw element Dragon Mantle provides.
Cards such as Bravado and Sure Strike echo Firebreathing’s ethos of empowering creatures, with Bravado offering a persistent bonus based on the number of red symbols in your mana pool and Sure Strike furnishing a significant temporary power spike. While they don’t offer the same incremental control over power that Firebreathing does, these cards deliver a substantial burst of power, sometimes without the need for additional mana investment during combat.
In evaluating the practicality and tactical applications, Firebreathing often emerges as a versatile tool for players who value precise control over their offensive strategy, making it a card that can favorably shift the balance of power on the battlefield within the flame-infused lore of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Firebreathing by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The firebreathing ability in MTG enables clever hand management by discouraging opponents from blocking or attacking, effectively dictating the pace of card plays and protecting your assets on the board.
Resource Acceleration: This ability often comes at a low initial investment, allowing for efficient allocation of mana throughout the game. The increased potential damage can put an opponent on a faster clock, compelling them to respond and often providing you with the upper hand in resource management.
Instant Speed: Firebreathing’s power boost can be activated at instant speed, granting the flexibility to enhance a creature’s strength in response to combat or certain spells. This adaptability can result in favorable and unexpected combat outcomes, making it a tactical asset during crucial gameplay moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Often, activating the firebreathing ability necessitates discarding a card which might deplete your hand, particularly detrimental when you’re strategizing for a combo or need to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The ability typically requires red mana, restricting its applicability to decks extensively running mountains or having a mana base tailored to generate red mana, potentially limiting its flexibility in multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Continuously pumping mana into firebreathing can total a substantial amount, and since the effect ends at turn’s conclusion, it may represent a sizable investment with temporary benefit, causing it to be inefficient compared to other mana sinks or permanent buffs.
Reasons to Include Firebreathing Mtg Card in Your Collection
Versatility: Firebreathing is a classic ability that allows creatures to get stronger for each mana spent. This mechanic fits well in a wide array of red-based decks that focus on aggressive strategies or that require flexible power boosts during combat.
Combo Potential: Cards with Firebreathing can synergize with effects that untap creatures, granting multiple uses of the ability in a single turn. Additionally, it interacts well with strategies that increase mana availability, enabling you to pump a creature to formidable sizes rapidly.
Meta-Relevance: The simplicity and effectiveness of Firebreathing ensure that it stays relevant in various metagames, particularly in environments where combat trades determine the winner. The ability to increase threat levels on the fly can tip the scales in your favor, especially in formats that value tempo and surprise tactics.
How to Beat
The concept of Firebreathing in Magic: The Gathering offers players a dynamic mechanism for enhancing creatures’ power. Cards with Firebreathing allow the player to pump up a creature’s attack capabilities by paying mana, often red. This can make creatures unpredictable and potentially very powerful during the combat phase. However, there are strategies to effectively counter these cards and minimize their impact on the game.
One effective method is using instant speed removal spells to dispatch the creature before the Firebreathing ability becomes too problematic. Another is to play cards that restrict mana availability, thereby limiting the player’s ability to invest in the power-boosting ability. Enchantment removals can also dismantle the Firebreathing capability if it’s not inherently built into the creature. In games where life totals are a buffer, sometimes the best strategy is simply to absorb the hit and retaliate with a stronger board presence.
Timing is key when facing creatures with Firebreathing abilities. By keeping up the necessary mana to cast removal or control spells, a player can maneuver around the threat posed by these creatures, making them less effective and more manageable within the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Firebreathing MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Firebreathing 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 Firebreathing Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 150 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 151 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 151 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 151 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 151 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 151 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 151 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 151 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 193 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 193 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 11 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 174 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mike Kerr | |
| 12 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 228 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 13 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 177 | 1997 | Normal | White | Mike Kerr | |
| 14 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 181 | 2003 | Normal | White | Mike Kerr | |
| 15 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 181★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mike Kerr | |
| 16 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 200★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot | |
| 17 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 200 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot | |
| 18 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 137 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot | |
| 19 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 132 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot | |
| 20 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 21 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 443 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Firebreathing has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Firebreathing card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | The ability affects whichever creature is enchanted by Firebreathing at the time the ability resolves. The bonus remains even if Firebreathing stops enchanting that creature. |
| 2009-10-01 | This ability can be activated by Firebreathing’s controller, not the enchanted creature’s controller (in case they’re different players). |