Flame-Kin War Scout MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Elemental Scout |
Released | 2006-05-05 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Dissension |
Set code | DIS |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 4 |
Number | 61 |
Frame | 2003 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Fred Hooper |
Text of card
When another creature comes into play, sacrifice Flame-Kin War Scout. If you do, Flame-Kin War Scout deals 4 damage to that creature.
"The forward flame-kin are popping. We have incoming!" —Svar, Boros signaler
Cards like Flame-Kin War Scout
Flame-Kin War Scout adds a twist to creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. With a unique ability to peek at the top card of your deck and potentially put a land card into play, this creature shares some common ground with Courser of Kruphix. Both provide a means to gain card advantage and manipulate land drops. Yet, Flame-Kin War Scout is specifically tailored to land strategies, streamlining red decks that desire consistent land drops.
Magus of the Future also allows players to play with the top card of their library revealed, engaging with the battlefield in a similar manner. Unlike the War Scout, it extends beyond land cards, granting the player insight into their upcoming plays. Oracle of Mul Daya pushes this dynamic further, granting an additional land play per turn and providing both card information and a potential ramp.
Assessing strengths and playability, Flame-Kin War Scout presents itself as a solid option for red land-focused builds in MTG, offering a specialized but valuable ability for those looking to finesse their mana curve and board presence.
Cards similar to Flame-Kin War Scout by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Understanding the strengths of Flame-Kin War Scout can significantly impact your gameplay strategy. Here’s a look at the advantages it brings to the table:
Card Advantage: With the Flame-Kin War Scout, players have the potential to consistently manipulate the top of their deck. This ability can lead to gaining card advantage by ensuring the draws you need to maintain pressure on your opponent or recover from setbacks.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly producing mana or tokens, the Flame-Kin War Scout’s ability to sift through the deck can help you find those essential land drops or mana-generating spells more efficiently. This indirect form of resource acceleration ensures that you are hitting your land drops consistently or finding the mana sources necessary to execute your strategy.
Instant Speed: This creature may offer synergy with instant-speed mechanics. The capability to interact with the deck at a moment’s notice means you can adapt to the unfolding state of the game without committing resources prematurely, thus optimizing your plays and maintaining a level of unpredictability that can be hard for opponents to counter.
Integrating Flame-Kin War Scout into your deck leverages these pros, enhancing your game through better card selection, smoother mana flow, and adaptive play. All these factors contribute to a dynamic and robust strategy in your MTG matches.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing the Flame-Kin War Scout involves a discard requirement that could deplete your hand, particularly if you’re strategizing to maintain card advantage over your opponent. This cost might force you to make difficult decisions, especially in the latter stages of the game when each card’s value increases.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost necessitates a specific combination of energy sources, including at least one red mana. This can hinder its inclusion in multicolored or color-flexible decks, as it requires a dedicated source of red mana, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the effects offered by the Flame-Kin War Scout, its mana cost is on the higher side compared to other cards with similar abilities. Players may find that the mana investment does not align with the potential benefits, leading to it being overlooked in favor of lower-cost cards that provide comparable or greater strategic advantage for less resource commitment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Flame-Kin War Scout slots smoothly into a variety of red and multi-color decks with its ability to scout the top cards of your library, potentially giving you access to key spells when you need them most.
Combo Potential: This fiery scout has synergy with cards that care about the number of instants and sorceries in your graveyard, as well as those that interact with the top of the library, setting up for powerful combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and card advantage are crucial, Flame-Kin War Scout ensures you keep up the pressure while maintaining a flow of useful cards to your hand, especially in matches where strategic deck manipulation can swing the tide.
How to beat
Flame-Kin War Scout enters the Magic: The Gathering battlefield with a unique ability to sift through a player’s library for that much-needed land card. This elemental warrior provides a mana boost similar to effects seen with cards like Borderland Ranger or Civic Wayfinder. However, rather than adding land to your hand, it places them directly onto the battlefield, potentially ramping up one’s mana pool at an expedited rate. The direct placement is a valuable asset, especially in land-centric decks looking to outpace their opponents.
To effectively counter Flame-Kin War Scout, consider instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate it before its ability triggers, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Graveyard strategies with cards like Scavenging Ooze can also disrupt its potential recurring value in decks that play with the graveyard. Players should also assess the board carefully and whether to prioritize the removal of this mana accelerator or more immediate threats.
While Flame-Kin War Scout has its strengths, understanding its mechanics and having a strategic response ready is key to maintaining control over the game. Smart removal and timing can significantly minimize the impact of this mana-ramping elemental.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flame-Kin War Scout MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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-Kin War Scout 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 Flame-Kin War Scout has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flame-Kin War Scout card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2006-05-01 | If multiple creatures enter the battlefield at the same time, Flame-Kin War Scout’s ability will trigger multiple times. When the first of these triggers resolves, if Flame Kin War Scout can be sacrificed by the ability’s controller, it will be sacrificed and deal 4 damage. When the other triggers resolve, it won’t be on the battlefield, so it can’t be sacrificed and the other creatures won’t be dealt any damage. |