Inferno Trap MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 133
2010-06-18 - Number 43
2014-09-05 - Number 67
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant — Trap |
Text of card
If you've been dealt damage by two or more creatures this turn, you may pay rather than pay Inferno Trap's mana cost. Inferno Trap deals 4 damage to target creature.
"Do you smell something burning?"
Cards like Inferno Trap
Inferno Trap joins the ranks of instant-speed removal spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often seen as a parallel to cards like Searing Spear, both delivering a potent three damage to any target. However, Inferno Trap’s potential shines in its ability to deal a staggering four damage if a player has been dealt damage this turn, bypassing Searing Spear’s consistent but lower damage output.
Flame Slash also stands out in this category with its ability to deal four damage but only to a creature. What sets Inferno Trap apart is its flexibility to target creatures or players, and its conditional damage boost. Furthermore, while Flame Slash is a sorcery, Inferno Trap leverages its instant speed, offering a tactical advantage to respond during an opponent’s turn.
Meticulous comparison reveals that Inferno Trap can offer a tactical edge in MTG, especially when optimizing the conditions to trigger its four-damage capability. Its potential for immediate impact makes it a valuable tool in a player’s arsenal, poised for use at the most opportune moments.
Cards similar to Inferno Trap by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By potentially eliminating a key creature on the opponent’s side, Inferno Trap can swing the momentum of the game in your favor. Removing threats is crucial for maintaining control over the match.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or acceleration, this card could pave the way for faster gameplay by clearing the way of blockers or threats, allowing you to attack more freely with your creatures.
Instant Speed: The ability to be played at instant speed offers the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves on the fly. This can catch opponents off guard, disrupt big plays, or simply adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of an MTG game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Inferno Trap obliges the player to discard a card upon casting. While leveraging the trap’s power, this can backfire when your hand is already depleting, potentially causing a setback by forcing you to forfeit a valuable resource.
Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a precise blend of mana, including red, Inferno Trap may not seamlessly integrate into multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is crucial. This limitation could hamper deck-building strategies that thrive on color diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Inferno Trap features a mana cost that could be seen as steep for its damage output. Alternative cards with lower mana requirements might provide comparable or even superior effectivity, prompting players to weigh their options carefully.
Reasons to Include Inferno Trap in Your Collection
Versatility: Inferno Trap serves as a flexible removal option. It can deal a significant amount of damage to attacking creatures, making it a useful tool for various red-based control or midrange decks looking to maintain a clear board.
Combo Potential: As an instant with a potential cost reduction, Inferno Trap can synergize well with decks designed to manipulate and utilize damage-based effects or spellslinger strategies, amplifying its impact within those synergistic contexts.
Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by creature heavy decks, having Inferno Trap in your arsenal gives you an edge in dealing with threats efficiently and maintaining board control, especially when facing aggressive strategies that commit many creatures to the battlefield early on.
How to beat
Inferno Trap is an intriguing card that can pose a significant challenge to players in Magic: The Gathering. This spell is tailored to disrupt creatures, presenting an opportunity to eliminate a threat on the board for just a single red mana—if you’ve been dealt damage this turn—making it an efficient and potentially game-changing instant.
Defeating Inferno Trap requires strategic play, emphasizing the avoidance of damage in the same turn you plan to deploy critical creatures. Prioritize casting creatures after the first post-combat main phase, especially when your opponent has red mana untapped and might be sitting on this trap. You can also bait the spell with less important creatures or spells to trigger and waste your opponent’s trap card. Or, use non-creature spells with significant impact—like planeswalkers or enchantments—that Inferno Trap can’t touch.
In essence, beating Inferno Trap is about timing and baiting. By managing the flow of your plays and considering the potential presence of this trap card, you can navigate past its destructive capability and preserve your valuable creatures. So, keep an eye on your opponent’s untapped red mana and adapt your actions accordingly to outmaneuver this fiery trap.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Inferno Trap MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Archenemy, 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 Inferno Trap 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 Inferno Trap Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2014-09-05. Illustrated by Philip Straub.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 133 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Philip Straub | |
| 2 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 43 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Philip Straub | |
| 3 | 2014-09-05 | Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning | DDN | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Philip Straub |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Inferno Trap 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 Inferno Trap card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Casting a Trap by paying its alternative cost doesn’t change its mana cost or converted mana cost. The only difference is the cost you actually pay. |
| 2009-10-01 | Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a Trap will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay. |
| 2009-10-01 | Inferno Trap’s alternative cost condition checks for any damage, not just combat damage. |
| 2009-10-01 | The alternative cost condition doesn’t check who controlled the creatures that dealt damage to you. Damage dealt to you by your own creatures counts. |
| 2009-10-01 | The alternative cost condition is satisfied only if two different creatures dealt damage to you, not if one creature dealt damage to you twice. The damage may have been dealt to you simultaneously (as with combat damage), or at separate times. |
| 2009-10-01 | You may ignore a Trap’s alternative cost condition and simply cast it for its normal mana cost. This is true even if its alternative cost condition has been met. |
| 2009-10-01 | You may target any creature, not just one that dealt damage to you this turn. |