Burn Down the House MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Dual functionality provides board wipe options or Devil token creation for diverse strategic plans.
  2. Demands precise timing for maximum effect, weighing its sorcery speed against instant speed advantages.
  3. Competes with similar cards by offering unique tactical flexibility and combo potential in gameplay.

Text of card

Choose one — • Burn Down the House deals 5 damage to each creature and each planeswalker. • Create three 1/1 red Devil creature tokens with "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target." They gain haste until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Burn Down the House stands out by offering a choice that can lead to card advantage. Opting to create three 1/1 red Devil creature tokens with “When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target,” can replace itself with multiple potential threats or blockers, each with an additional damage ping upon death.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, the versatility of the card can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By choosing to deal 5 damage to each creature and planeswalker, you can reset the board, allowing your subsequent plays to be more impactful without opposition.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Burn Down the House demands careful timing, ensuring maximal impact when clearing the board or when you need an immediate presence with Devil tokens to shift the board’s state. Timing this card correctly can often be as effective as playing a spell at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Burn Down the House doesn’t require a direct card discard, it can indirectly cause you to lose your hand if you decide to create three 1/1 Devils that when they die, deal 1 damage to any target, instead of dealing 5 damage to each creature and planeswalker. This puts you at a strategic disadvantage if your hand is filled with valuable cards that could be crucial later on in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting cost demands three red mana, which significantly narrows its deck compatibility. Players who do not run a primarily red mana base may find it challenging to consistently cast Burn Down the House on time, limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three red, Burn Down the House comes at a significant investment. In situations where speed is crucial, its cost can impede your momentum, especially when juxtaposed against more efficient removal or creature spells that may provide immediate impact at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Burn Down the House offers flexibility in game play, functioning both as a board wipe to clear multiple threats or as a way to summon a fleet of Devils for offensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with decks that capitalize on dealing non-combat damage or those that benefit from sacrificing creatures, making it a dynamic tool for combo enthusiasts.

Meta-Relevance: Against creature-heavy decks or those relying on strategies that build wide, Burn Down the House can shift the tide of a match, making it a timely inclusion in your arsenal.


How to beat

Burn Down the House stands out in MTG as a powerful spell capable of clearing the board with its dual utility. To effectively combat this formidable red sorcery card, players should consider diversifying their threats. Deploying creatures with indestructibility or those that can regenerate can help withstand the damage Burn Down the House promises.

Another strategy involves leveraging instant-speed spells that grant your creatures temporary protection or buff them beyond the card’s damage threshold. Counter spells also serve as a reliable answer to Burn Down the House, intercepting it before it ever has a chance to impact the board. Additionally, cards that grant spell immunity or use the stack to your advantage can outmaneuver this destructive red sorcery.

It’s essential for players to stay observant and ready to adapt their game plan when they suspect an opponent has Burn Down the House in their arsenal. Keeping a cool head and utilizing the right mix of prevention and protection can turn this potentially game-ending spell into a mere puff of smoke.


BurnMana Recommendations

The gameplay depth that Burn Down the House adds to MTG is undeniable. By offering both board control and token generation, it becomes a versatile staple in red decks. Whether you’re wiping clean the slate of creatures or crafting a devilish strategy with 1/1 tokens, this card can adapt to the ebb and flow of a match. Strategic timing and the right mana base turn this spell into a game-changer. Curious about integrating Burn Down the House into your collection or finding out which decks it shines in? Let us guide you through optimizing its power. Discover more with us and reignite your MTG strategies.


Cards like Burn Down the House

Burn Down the House stands out in the realm of red board-clearing spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to similar cards like Sweltering Suns and Storm’s Wrath. Sweltering Suns offers an immediate three damage to each creature for the same cost at sorcery speed, with the added versatility of cycling it away when it’s not needed. However, Burn Down the House provides the unique choice between destroying creatures or creating three 1/1 red Devil tokens with the ability to deal damage upon their death, granting it a tactical flexibility in either controlling the board or establishing your own presence.

Further in the cycle spectrum, Storm’s Wrath extends destruction beyond creatures, affecting planeswalkers as well, but lacks the alternative use that Burn Down the House boasts. While Storm’s Wrath’s broader scope of ruin can be a boon against certain decks, the synergistic potential of the Devil tokens and their damage-dealing death throes often give Burn Down the House an edge in matchups where board presence can be pivotal.

When analyzing the strategic uses of mass removal spells, Burn Down the House is quite competitive. Its dual utility allows players to tailor their approach to the current state of play, ensuring that it remains a strong, situational choice within Magic: The Gathering’s extensive catalog of red spells.

Sweltering Suns - MTG Card versions
Storm's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Sweltering Suns - Amonkhet (AKH)
Storm's Wrath - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)

Cards similar to Burn Down the House by color, type and mana cost

Pyrotechnics - MTG Card versions
Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
Cone of Flame - MTG Card versions
Apocalypse - MTG Card versions
Mogg Infestation - MTG Card versions
Jagged Lightning - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Burning Fields - MTG Card versions
Implode - MTG Card versions
Shower of Coals - MTG Card versions
Torrent of Fire - MTG Card versions
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Shivan Meteor - MTG Card versions
Yawning Fissure - MTG Card versions
World at War - MTG Card versions
Explosive Revelation - MTG Card versions
Turn to Slag - MTG Card versions
Reforge the Soul - MTG Card versions
Burn at the Stake - MTG Card versions
Mass Mutiny - MTG Card versions
Pyrotechnics - The List (PLST)
Illicit Auction - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Cone of Flame - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Apocalypse - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Infestation - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Jagged Lightning - Urza's Saga (USG)
Lava Axe - Magic 2015 (M15)
Burning Fields - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Implode - Planeshift (PLS)
Shower of Coals - Odyssey (ODY)
Torrent of Fire - Scourge (SCG)
Mana Geyser - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shivan Meteor - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
Yawning Fissure - Magic 2010 (M10)
World at War - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Explosive Revelation - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Turn to Slag - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Reforge the Soul - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Burn at the Stake - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Mass Mutiny - Planechase 2012 (PC2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Burn Down the House MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, 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 Burn Down the House and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Burn Down the House Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Campbell White.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 940062015normalblackCampbell White
22021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 1312015normalblackCampbell White
32021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 131s2015normalblackCampbell White
42021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 131p2015normalblackCampbell White
52021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3522015normalblackCampbell White
62022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 1312015normalblackCampbell White

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Burn Down the House has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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