Flashfires MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 19 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
All plains in play are destroyed.
Cards like Flashfires
Flashfires holds a unique place in the arsenal of land disruption spells within the game. This spell specializes in the targeted removal of Plains, a basic land type essential to white mana decks. It stands in direct comparison to similar spells like Boil, which similarly eradicates Islands, hampering blue mana players. Flashfires, however, exclusively impacts Plains, carving a niche against decks that heavily rely on white mana sources.
Another analogue is Tsunami, a spell that specifically targets Forests, the vital green mana source. While Tsunami can be devastating to green-centered decks, Flashfires serves as a sharp tool against white mana strategies, exhibiting its worth in games where timing and targeting precise land types is key. The card’s potential impact on the game can be substantial, particularly in formats where white-based control or token strategies prevail.
Assessing Flashfires within its niche of land destruction, the card is a strategic option for players looking to unbalance opponents heavily invested in white. The narrow focus against Plains distinguishes it within this subset of cards, cementing its value in matches where such a tactical move can turn the tides.
Cards similar to Flashfires by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Flashfires does not enable you to draw more cards, it can significantly disrupt your opponent’s strategy by removing multiple lands. This can lead to a card advantage if they are prevented from playing higher cost spells while you continue to develop your board.
Resource Acceleration: Flashfires is not a conventional acceleration tool. However, by selectively removing an opponent’s Plains, it can accelerate your relative resource availability by setting your opponent back, potentially allowing you to capitalize on your lead in mana and board presence.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery-speed card, Flashfires must be played during your main phase. This allows for strategic planning to optimize its impact. Timing the play when an opponent is vulnerable can be pivotal, ensuring you benefit from a window of opportunity where they can’t effectively respond or recover.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players using Flashfires need to ensure that this card aligns with their hand management strategy. While there’s no direct discard requirement for Flashfires, playing it can often mean foregoing the casting of other potentially vital spells in the player’s hand, especially given the card’s specific mana cost and timing of use in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Flashfires demands an investment of three generic mana plus one red mana. This requirement can be restrictive, making the card less flexible for inclusion in decks that aren’t heavy on red mana or that utilize a wider color palette. Decks that rely on a balanced mix of colors may find it challenging to allocate resources for Flashfires when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of four mana, Flashfires may be considered costly for its effect of destroying all plains. Players might weigh this cost against other available options that can deal with multiple land types or provide a more versatile response to an opponent’s board for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Flashfires is an impactful card that can serve as a powerful sideboard option against decks with a heavy reliance on Plains. Its ability to disrupt opponent’s mana base by destroying all Plains in play can be game-changing.
Combo Potential: In decks that aim to deny resources, Flashfires can be a part of a lock-down strategy when combined with cards that punish land destruction or benefit from opponents having fewer lands.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where white-based control or aggro decks are prevalent, Flashfires provides a strategic edge, potentially clearing the way for your win conditions while setting back your opponent’s board development.
How to beat
Flashfires, known in the MTG community for its land destruction capabilities, can be a serious roadblock, especially for players relying heavily on Plains. To effectively counter this card, sideboarding options that regenerate or produce lands can be pivotal. Including cards like Terra Eternal or Sacred Ground will prevent losing your valuable white mana sources as these cards protect lands from all destruction effects. Additionally, employing versatile lands that aren’t just Plains or running counter spells to stop Flashfires from resolving ensures you maintain your land base and keep your game plan unaffected.
Diversifying the mana base is also essential. By incorporating a mix of utility lands, artifacts, or other land types that provide white mana, you reduce the game-altering impact Flashfires could have on your strategy. Lastly, being mindful of the mana curve can minimize reliance on specific lands at any given time. Having a spread of low to high-cost spells ensures that even in the face of Flashfires, your ability to cast spells and stay competitive isn’t compromised.
Ultimately, understanding that Flashfires is a niche card predominantly used within certain strategies makes preparation a manageable aspect of game-building, allowing players to adapt and maintain control over their matches in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flashfires 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 Flashfires 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 Flashfires Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 151 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 152 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 152 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 152 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 152 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 152 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 152 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 152 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 195 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 195 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 231 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
12 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 129 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
13 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 180 | 1997 | Normal | White | Randy Gallegos | |
14 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 186★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
15 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 186 | 2003 | Normal | White | Randy Gallegos | |
16 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 183★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Randy Gallegos | |
17 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 183 | 2003 | Normal | White | Randy Gallegos | |
18 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 444 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
19 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 147 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flashfires has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |