Flame Javelin MTG Card
2008-05-02 - Number 92
2008-11-07 - Number 53
2013-03-15 - Number 70
2014-12-05 - Number 53
2002-06-24 - Number 35122
2009-01-01 - Number 2
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
({2 R} can be paid with any two mana or with . This card's converted mana cost is 6.) Flame Javelin deals 4 damage to target creature or player.
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Understanding Flame Javelin’s Role
Flame Javelin secures a unique spot in the arsenal of red spells within MTG, wielding its distinct cost flexibility that is underlined by the hybrid mana phenomenon. Standing out from traditional red spells requiring strict mana costs, Flame Javelin can be played in various deck builds, thanks to its unconventional {2/R}{2/R}{2/R} cost. This allows players to cast it even when red mana isn’t abundantly available, offering a strategic advantage in a pinch.
Cards like Flame Javelin
When considering the role of Flame Javelin in Magic: The Gathering, comparisons inevitably arise with other direct-damage cards. For instance, Char is a noteworthy counterpart, dealing four damage to any target at the cost of two red mana and two life points of the caster. Though Char deals one less damage than Flame Javelin, its lower casting cost can make it a preferable option in a traditional red mana-based deck. Lightning Bolt stands in the same camp of burn spells, offering a swift three damage to any target for merely one red mana, a testament to its efficiency and favored status among players for quick removals or a sudden strike to the opponent’s life total.
Interpreting these comparisons, Flame Javelin maintains its appeal for its versatility and potential burst damage, ensuring it remains a formidable choice in player arsenals, particularly in those decks that value adaptability over raw power or efficiency. As players weave through the complexities of deck building, Flame Javelin sustains its reputation as a substantial direct-damage spell in the evolving landscape of MTG.
Cards similar to Flame Javelin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Despite not directly offering card draw, Flame Javelin’s high damage output can eliminate key enemy creatures, effectively acting as card removal and potentially clearing the way for a more dominant board presence.
Resource Acceleration: Flame Javelin can be cast using its alternative payment option, which breaks down its cost into smaller increments of red mana. This flexibility allows for an efficient use of resources, maintaining your tempo and potentially leading to a faster victory.
Instant Speed: The utility of casting Flame Javelin at instant speed cannot be overstated. This capability gives players the tactical advantage of choosing the optimal moment to strike, be it disrupting an opponent’s play or delivering a decisive blow during their end step.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Flame Javelin does not have a discard requirement, but its specific casting cost can be an issue in multi-colored decks, where flexibility in mana spending is key. This requirement can occasionally act like a discard if you’re forced to pitch other cards to generate the exact red mana.
Specific Mana Cost: Flame Javelin’s casting cost necessitates spending three red mana (or six mana of any type), which can be restrictive in decks that are not mono-red. This can reduce the card’s versatility in multi-colored decks and impact the fluidity of your mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it deals four damage to any target, which is a solid hit, the mana cost is quite high when compared to other removal or damage spells in MTG. Other options might provide similar or greater effects for a lower or more flexible mana investment, enhancing the overall efficiency of your deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Flame Javelin offers the flexibility of a scalable damage spell that can be adjusted depending on your available mana, making it a solid choice for decks needing a reliable burn option.
Combo Potential: This card enhances decks that leverage damage-based triggers or need a high-cost spell to enable certain combo mechanics, raising the bar for potential plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggro decks or when facing opponents with high-toughness creatures, Flame Javelin shines as an effective removal that can change the tide of the game.
How to beat
Flame Javelin stands out in the pantheon of damage-dealing spells in Magic: The Gathering. With its variable mana cost, it can be a versatile card in the hands of a strategic player. However, there are ways to successfully navigate against it. One method is using counter spells to negate its impact on your creatures or your life total. Cards like ‘Counterspell’ or ‘Negate’ are classic defenses that can interrupt the Javelin before it hits.
Protection spells offer another layer of defense. Cards like ‘Gods Willing’ not only provide protection from a color — which can be chosen as red to ward off Flame Javelin’s burn — but also scry to potentially draw into more options. Additionally, having creatures with toughness greater than 4 can be a deterrent as well, limiting the Javelin’s ability to remove your board presence.
Ultimately, building a well-rounded deck with a mixture of countermeasures ensures that your opponents’ cards like Flame Javelin are kept in check. Understanding the dynamics of your deck and preparing for high damage spells means you’ll be ready to extinguish the flames before they spread.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flame Javelin MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Shadowmoor, 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 Flame Javelin 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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Printings
The Flame Javelin Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35122 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | ||
| 2 | 2008-05-02 | Shadowmoor | SHM | 92 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Trevor Hairsine | |
| 3 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 53 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Trevor Hairsine | |
| 4 | Magic Player Rewards 2009 | P09 | 2 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | ||
| 5 | 2013-03-15 | Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt | DDK | 70 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Trevor Hairsine | |
| 6 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Trevor Hairsine |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flame Javelin has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flame Javelin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | A card with a monocolored hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost is each of the colors that appears in its mana cost, regardless of what mana was spent to cast it. Thus, Flame Javelin is red even if you spend six green mana to cast it. |
| 2008-05-01 | A card with monocolored hybrid mana symbols in its mana cost has a converted mana cost equal to the highest possible cost it could be cast for. Its converted mana cost never changes. Thus, Flame Javelin has a converted mana cost of 6, even if you spend to cast it. |
| 2008-05-01 | If a cost includes more than one monocolored hybrid mana symbol, you can choose a different way to pay for each symbol. For example, you can pay for Flame Javelin by spending , , , or . |
| 2008-05-01 | If an effect reduces the cost to cast a spell by an amount of generic mana, it applies to a monocolored hybrid spell only if you’ve chosen a method of paying for it that includes generic mana. |