Heartlash Cinder MTG Card

The Haste ability of Heartlash Cinder allows for early pressure, potentially steering the game’s tempo. Its specific mana requirement and discard condition can limit its integration into diverse decks. Heartlash Cinder shines in fast-paced aggressive strategies, synergizing well with red mana decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental Warrior
Abilities	Chroma,Haste
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	56
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steve Prescott

Text of card

Haste Chroma When Heartlash Cinder comes into play, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of red mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control.

Cards like Heartlash Cinder

Heartlash Cinder is a noteworthy creature card in Magic the Gathering, akin to similar swift creatures that thrive within the red mana archetype. Comparable to the likes of Jackal Pup, which is also a red creature known for its speedy attack capacity, Heartlash Cinder offers an additional perk; it can boost its power temporarily for a striking hit, providing a surprise burst of damage potential. The Jackal Pup, however, lacks this ability and retains a static power and toughness.

Another card worth mentioning alongside Heartlash Cinder is the Rakdos Shred-Freak. Both share haste, pushing for an aggressive early game strategy. Nonetheless, Heartlash Cinder stands out due to its flexibility. Its firebreathing ability can overwhelm unsuspecting opponents, while the Shred-Freak offers a consistent two damage without the potential for surprise amplification. Additionally, the likes of Bloodlust Inciter presents a trade-off – it lacks haste but enables other creatures to tap into that swift aggression by imparting haste on them, offering tactical team play as opposed to individual might.

Delving deeper into these comparisons reveals that Heartlash Cinder embodies a unique balance between pure aggressiveness and tactical power boosts, solidifying its place in the spectrum of rapid red creatures in Magic the Gathering.

Cards similar to Heartlash Cinder by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heartlash Cinder doesn’t directly offer card draws, but the nature of its Haste ability potentially allows for early damage, putting pressure on opponents from the onset. When played as part of a deck designed for quick wins, it can effectively reduce the need for additional card advantages by steering the game pace.

Resource Acceleration: While Heartlash Cinder isn’t a traditional resource accelerator, it does provide a subtle form of mana efficiency. It’s a low-cost creature with an impactful presence, allowing players to utilize their mana for other spells sooner than expected. This can often lead to a tempo gain, which is a form of indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Heartlash Cinder itself is not an instant, but its Haste ability allows it to act immediately upon entering the battlefield. This instant-like impact can be a surprise factor, catching opponents off guard and providing strategic advantages similar to instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Heartlash Cinder comes with a built-in downside that demands a player to discard a card to unleash its ability. This can backfire, especially when players find themselves scraping for every card in hand to maintain momentum in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The usability of Heartlash Cinder is constrained by its specific mana requirement, needing Hybrid Red/Black mana which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t run on these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost that could be deemed steep for its power level, Heartlash Cinder competes with other cards in its mana range that could potentially offer a greater impact on the board state or game outcome.

Reasons to Include Heartlash Cinder in Your Collection

Versatility: Heartlash Cinder offers flexibility for red deck players. Its haste attribute allows for immediate impact on the game, making it a suitable choice for aggressive strategies that thrive on swift damage.

Combo Potential: As a creature that benefits from having a red mana symbol in your mana costs, it pairs well with cards that manipulate or capitalize on those symbols, amplifying your board presence and synergy within a devoted red deck.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where speed is crucial and the meta favors quick, aggressive plays, Heartlash Cinder can be a valuable asset. It fits well into red decks that aim to outpace control archetypes by rapidly chipping away at the opponent’s life total.

How to beat

Heartlash Cinder is known in MTG circles for its compelling synergy with the elementals and the ability to gain haste with the use of its unique hellbent mechanic, making it a swift and aggressive option on the battlefield. Its main strength lies in swinging quickly, but it fails to endure in the long haul due to its fragile 1/1 stat line.

One effective strategy against Heartlash Cinder is to manage your removal spells wisely. Save them for creatures that threaten to become unmanageable if the opponent achieves hellbent status. Another approach is to focus on building a robust board presence. Cards that can create multiple blockers or those that have “reach” are exceptionally valuable as they nullify the blitz from this fiery creature. Moreover, any creature with toughness greater than one can effectively block and remove Heartlash Cinder from the game.

Overall, while Heartlash Cinder can sprint ahead with rapid damage when hellbent is active, its impact diminishes significantly against well-prepared defenses. By prioritizing board control and strategic removals, you can effectively neutralize the threat posed by this card and maintain the upper hand in your MTG matchups.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heartlash Cinder MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Heartlash Cinder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heartlash Cinder has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Heartlash Cinder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-08-01	Chroma abilities check only mana costs, which are found in a card’s upper right corner. They don’t count mana symbols that appear in a card’s text box.
2008-08-01	Chroma abilities count hybrid mana symbols of the appropriate color. For example, a card with mana cost {U/R}{U/R} has two red mana symbols in its mana cost.
2008-08-01	The effect counts the mana symbols in this cards mana cost as well.