Flames of the Blood Hand MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 101
2010-11-08 - Number B16
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Flames of the Blood Hand deals 4 damage to target player. The damage can't be prevented. If that player would gain life this turn, that player gains no life instead.
Many ogres extracted blood oaths from the oni they summoned. Others simply extracted blood.
Cards like Flames of the Blood Hand
Flames of the Blood Hand is a potent addition to the arsenal of direct damage spells in MTG. Standing out with its ability to prevent life gain for the turn, it shares a kinship with the classic Lightning Bolt for its direct damage impact. However, Flames of the Blood Hand delivers a significant punch with 4 damage instead of 3 and ensures opponents can’t offset this with life gain. Still, it does demand a steeper mana cost.
Searing Blaze is another card echoing the direct damage theme, offering both creature and player damage. Like Flames of the Blood Hand, it acts as a removal and a player damage source. However, the damage and conditions are different, requiring landfall to extract its full value. Skullcrack is a subtler cousin, also denying life gain while dealing 3 damage at a lower cost, embodying the flexibility and speed prized in red aggro decks. While Flames of the Blood Hand applies more pressure, Skullcrack’s lower cost appeals to faster and more mana-efficient strategies.
Considering the strategic uses and mana investment, Flames of the Blood Hand finds its niche in MTG, offering both substantial damage and a crucial tactical advantage against decks reliant on life gain.
Cards similar to Flames of the Blood Hand by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Flames of the Blood Hand offers a strategic benefit by preventing opponents from gaining life this turn, potentially neutralizing strategies reliant on life gain and ensuring a more stable board position.
Resource Acceleration: Through its direct damage, this card can accelerate the pace at which you deplete an opponent’s life total, thus hastening the game towards a favorable outcome without the need for additional resource expenditure.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Flames of the Blood Hand at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to adapt to the state of the game, disrupt opponent’s plays during their turn, or create unexpected turns of events that can lead to decisive advantages.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Flames of the Blood Hand doesn’t directly impose a discard requirement on the player casting it, the card itself could contribute to a dwindling hand size when holding on to it for the optimal moment. This potential wait for maximum effect could hinder hand flexibility and options, particularly in fast-paced games.
Specific Mana Cost: The card requires a specific combination of mana—two colorless and one red—to cast. This exacting requirement can potentially restrict the card’s inclusion in multi-colored decks and is something deck builders have to plan for when considering their mana base and color distribution.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, Flames of the Blood Hand might be considered expensive when evaluated against other instant-speed burn spells. Given that it deals 4 damage to a player and prevents life gain for a turn, players might opt for lower-cost alternatives for a more immediate impact on the board state or opponent’s life total.
Reasons to Include Flames of the Blood Hand in Your Collection
Versatility: Flames of the Blood Hand is a key card that slots into a variety of burn decks. Its ability to deal direct damage makes it an essential pick for aggressive strategies looking to end games quickly.
Combo Potential: The card synergizes well with damage amplifiers and can function as both a burn spell to the opponent’s life total and an interference tool to disrupt life gain strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where life gain decks are prominent, Flames of the Blood Hand ensures your burn spells remain effective by negating your opponent’s attempts to stabilize their life total.
How to beat
Flames of the Blood Hand is a notable card that can significantly impact the dynamics of a Magic: The Gathering match. This card presents a unique challenge due its ability to deal damage while prohibiting life gain for the turn. Effectively combating this card requires a strategic approach that involves a mix of quick action and anticipation.
To outplay the effects of Flames of the Blood Hand, consider utilizing spells that counteract damage or neutralize spells. Counterspells remain one of the most direct methods to thwart this card, preventing the damage and the life gain restriction altogether. On the other hand, if the spell does resolve, having damage prevention or reduction spells on hand can mitigate its impact, protecting both your life total and keeping your recovery options open.
Moreover, timing is key. Playing around your opponent’s mana availability can dictate the success of your counters. Always be prepared for the possibility that they have this powerful instant in their arsenal, and hold back appropriate responses until the crucial moment. In essence, awareness and preparedness are your best defenses against the intense burst that Flames of the Blood Hand brings to the table.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flames of the Blood Hand MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Magic Online Theme Decks, 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 Flames of the Blood Hand 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 Flames of the Blood Hand Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2010-11-08. Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 101 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot | |
| 2 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | B16 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Aleksi Briclot |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flames of the Blood Hand 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 Flames of the Blood Hand card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-02-01 | The damage is unpreventable, and the targeted player’s life gain that turn is replaced with nothing. |
| 2005-02-01 | The replacement effect applies only to the target player, not to a permanent or player the damage might be redirected to. |