Incendiary Oracle MTG Card


Incendiary Oracle allows you to disrupt an opponent’s graveyard strategy and directly influence their card access. The creature’s instant speed ability offers flexibility and tactical advantage in mana utilization each turn. However, the requirement to discard for its activation and specific mana cost may limit its versatility in play.
Incendiary Oracle - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number140
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCynthia Sheppard

Text of card

: Incendiary Oracle gets +1/+0 until end of turn. If a creature dealt damage by Incendiary Oracle this turn would die, exile it instead.

The flamespeakers of Akros live passionately, devoted to Purphoros and the cycle of destructive creation.


Cards like Incendiary Oracle

Incendiary Oracle joins the ranks of efficient red creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. When looking at creatures within a similar mana range, we can compare the Incendiary Oracle to the likes of Rimrock Knight. Both creatures command a low mana cost and offer more than their vanilla counterparts. The Incendiary Oracle has the advantage of potentially increasing its power through mana investment, making it a growing threat against opponent’s creatures.

Furthermore, Ash Zealot presents itself as another card to measure against. While Ash Zealot provides immediate impact with first strike and hinders graveyard strategies, Incendiary Oracle shines in its ability to self-boost and deal with opposing blockers. Then there’s Ember Hauler, which offers a direct damage ability albeit with a sacrifice requirement. Unlike Ember Hauler, Incendiary Oracle stays on the field, providing a consistent pressure without the self-destruct mechanism.

Comparatively, Incendiary Oracle is a versatile card that bolsters the aggressive red strategies in MTG. With its power-boosting capability and its one mana exile effect, it holds its ground when weighed against peers, especially in a meta that favors proactive creature play.

Ash Zealot - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Ash Zealot - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Incendiary Oracle lets players sculpt their hand efficiently by allowing them to potentially exile key cards from their opponent’s graveyard, indirectly impacting the cards their opponent can access.

Resource Acceleration: While not providing direct mana or tokens, the ability to pump Incendiary Oracle using excess mana can be a form of resource acceleration, enhancing the creature’s power in a flexible manner.

Instant Speed: This creature’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, offering players the tactical advantage of making on-the-fly decisions in response to an opponent’s actions, thus optimizing the use of available mana every turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of this fiery creature is the necessity to discard a card for its ability. This can deplete your hand quickly, especially in fast-paced games where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Incendiary Oracle requires red mana for casting. This can restrict its integration in multicolored decks, particularly those that run tight on red sources or prioritize other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its stats and abilities, the mana investment for Incendiary Oracle might seem steep. Players often seek more impactful plays at this cost, as the Oracle might not provide the same level of board presence or game influence as other cards available at similar mana points.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Incendiary Oracle can seamlessly adapt to aggressive and controlling deck styles. Its ability to munch through opponent’s creatures in combat lends itself to a powerful role in any red deck looking to keep the battlefield clear.

Combo Potential: With its mana sink ability, Incendiary Oracle amplifies strategies focused on recurring creatures from the graveyard or cast spells from exile, ensuring none of your resources go to waste. It becomes an invaluable combo enabler in the right build.

Meta-Relevance: Given that red often faces decks filled with utility creatures, Incendiary Oracle stands out as a formidable answer. Its power to directly interact with the graveyard makes it a strategic addition, especially in a meta dense with recursion tactics.


How to beat

Incendiary Oracle is a formidable creature in the MTG arena that requires a calculated approach to tackle. Known for its ability to increase its power with a mere mana investment, the Incendiary Oracle can quickly turn the tides of battle in its favor. Overcome this creature by strategically timing your removal spells. A swift Shock or a well-timed Cast Down can dispatch the Oracle before it receives its power boost, ensuring it never gets the chance to dominate the board.

Additionally, consider utilizing blockers with a higher toughness to absorb the Oracle’s attacks. This prevents the Oracle from leveraging its ability to its full extent. It’s crucial to remember that Incendiary Oracle’s strength lies in its potential to grow during combat. Therefore, keeping the threat under control by limiting its opportunities to engage or using enchantments that restrict its abilities will be instrumental in securing victory against this fiery adversary.

Above all, it’s vital to maintain card advantage and board presence when facing an Incendiary Oracle. Thoughtful resource management and anticipation of your opponent’s moves will guide you to outplay the Oracle, tipping the scales in your favor and leading you toward triumph in the match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Incendiary Oracle MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Incendiary Oracle and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Incendiary Oracle has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 If a creature dealt damage by Incendiary Oracle would die after Incendiary Oracle has left the battlefield, that creature dies and isn’t exiled instead.
2020-01-24 If a creature dealt damage by Incendiary Oracle would die at the same time as Incendiary Oracle, that creature is exiled instead.