Ire of Kaminari MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
| Released | 2005-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Betrayers of Kamigawa |
| Set code | BOK |
| Number | 109 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Kev Walker |
Text of card
Ire of Kaminari deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of Arcane cards in your graveyard.
"Thunder broke the brittle silence over the Araba. A surge of raw energy lifted the soldier's body into the air and briefly, in the heart of the flash, he saw the face of a god." —*Great Battles of Kamigawa*
Cards like Ire of Kaminari
Ire of Kaminari is an interesting card in the Magic: The Gathering roster, particularly among those that deal damage based on certain conditions. It shares a kinship with cards like Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor, which also inflicts damage correlating with the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Yet, where Ire of Kaminari requires a significant arcana buildup to unleash its maximum potential, the Blitz can be more immediately impactful depending on the contents of your graveyard.
Another comparable card is Psychic Spiral, which offers a payoff from your graveyard contents. Though it’s used more for its milling effect, it demonstrates the graveyard-centric strategy that can synergize well with Ire of Kaminari. We also look at Thunderous Wrath, a miracle card that can deal a flat 5 damage if drawn at the right time. While not directly linked to the graveyard, it’s a similarly costed red spell that delivers a hefty damage output. It shows the variability and potential of damage-dealing spells in a player’s arsenal.
Ultimately, Ire of Kaminari presents a specific strategy for those who enjoy building their game around a thriving graveyard. Its comparison with other cards underscores the importance of deck synergy and strategic build-up in Magic: The Gathering gameplay.
Cards similar to Ire of Kaminari by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ire of Kaminari offers a potentially impressive damage-to-mana ratio, especially in decks where the graveyard is populated with a high count of Arcane spells. The greater the number of Arcane cards in your graveyard, the more value you extract from this single card, effectively turning each spell cast before it into added firepower.
Resource Acceleration: While Ire of Kaminari itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its place in Arcane-themed decks often synergizes with other cards that do. It encourages the deployment of low-cost Arcane spells that not only build towards a substantial damage output but also cycle through your deck, bringing you closer to your vital mana sources and key spells.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Ire of Kaminari can be a formidable surprise finisher. The flexibility it provides allows players to adapt to the unfolding game, responding to opponents’ threats or end-step casting to avoid telegraphing their intentions. This unpredictability can be crucial, keeping opponents guessing and forcing them to consider the potential damage lurking in your hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ire of Kaminari necessitates possessing a substantial graveyard stockpile to optimize its potential. If your graveyard is scant due to exile effects or a low flux of instants and sorceries, its impact diminishes, making it situationally potent but often unreliable.
Specific Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost demands a mix of general and red mana, which can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks that may not reliably produce the necessary red mana, or in formats where mana fixing is less accessible.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, there are alternatives such as direct damage spells or more versatile removal options that can be woven into your game plan more efficiently. While Ire of Kaminari’s damage scales with your graveyard’s instant and sorcery count, its upfront cost can be a hindrance in faster, more tempo-oriented matches.
Reasons to Include Ire of Kaminari in Your Collection
Versatility: Ire of Kaminari stands out with its flexibility in decks that heavily utilize Instants and Sorceries. Its damage output scales with the number of Arcane cards in your graveyard, making it a potential game finisher in the right setup.
Combo Potential: Within decks built around the Arcane mechanic, Ire of Kaminari can be a critical component. It not only delivers direct damage but can also synergize with cards that reward you for casting Arcane spells or filling your graveyard with them.
Meta-Relevance: As the metagame shifts and evolves, cards that deal damage based on specific deck-building criteria can rise in prominence. In metas where longer games are common, Ire of Kaminari could capitalize on accumulating a substantial graveyard, turning it into a formidable source of damage.
How to beat
Ire of Kaminari is an impactful card that demands a strategic approach to overcome in MTG. Its damage output is contingent on the number of Arcane spells piled up in a player’s graveyard, which means that countering this card often involves controlling graveyard populations. Smart use of graveyard interaction, such as Leyline of the Void or Tormod’s Crypt, can mitigate the effect of Ire of Kaminari by exiling key spells before they contribute to potential damage.
Another angle is to employ counterspells to prevent Ire of Kaminari from ever hitting the battlefield. Cards like Counterspell or Negate can provide a defensive front against such threats. It’s also crucial to accelerate the pace of the game; by applying pressure and reducing the window for building a substantial Arcane spell count, one can effectively diminish the potency of Ire of Kaminari. Additionally, proactive life gain strategies weaken the impact of this spell, helping you maintain a healthier life total despite the occasional burst of damage.
Ultimately, facing down Ire of Kaminari asks for preemptive graveyard control, timely counterspells, and command over the tempo of the match. Keep these tactics in mind, and the ire of your opponent’s Kaminari will fizzle out before it can ignite.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ire of Kaminari MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Ire of Kaminari and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ire of Kaminari has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |