Lava Axe MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 137
1998-06-24 - Number 107
1999-02-15 - Number 84
1999-07-01 - Number 111
2000-04-01 - Number 31
2000-10-01 - Number 40
2001-04-11 - Number 199
2001-04-11 - Number 199★
2003-07-28 - Number 197
2003-07-28 - Number 197★
2005-07-29 - Number 200★
2005-07-29 - Number 200
2006-01-02 - Number 13
2007-07-13 - Number 215
2009-07-17 - Number 145
2010-07-16 - Number 147
2011-07-15 - Number 148
2013-07-19 - Number 143
2014-07-18 - Number 154
2018-07-13 - Number 150
2002-06-24 - Number 32559
| Card sets | Released in 21 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Lava Axe deals 5 damage to your opponent.
Swing your axe as a broom, to sweep away the foe.
Cards like Lava Axe
Lava Axe has been a classic finisher in Magic: The Gathering, dealing a substantial 5 damage to the opponent at sorcery speed. Its direct impact is its strength, yet it is worth comparing to other similar spells. Cards like Volcanic Hammer and Lightning Strike offer lower damage but at a reduced cost, with Lightning Strike having the flexibility of being an instant. In essence, while Lava Axe may deplete a significant chunk of life, these alternatives provide earlier interactive opportunities.
Analogous in its capacity to deliver direct damage, though it diverts slightly in function, is Flames of the Raze-Boar, providing a potential broader effect on the board by dealing 4 damage to a creature and then 2 damage to each other creature that player controls if you control a big creature. Despite its higher cost, this flexibility can prove more advantageous in board-heavy metas.
Evaluating Lava Axe amidst these contenders, one appreciates its raw power in closing games. Its cost and sorcery speed are balanced by its substantial damage output, solidifying its niche role in MTG as an uncomplicated, direct damage spell capable of catching an opponent off-guard for a game-winning move.
Cards similar to Lava Axe by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though Lava Axe does not directly allow you to draw cards, it excels in diminishing your opponent’s life total, paving the way to secure card superiority by pressuring their strategies and forcing them to react.
Resource Acceleration: While Lava Axe itself does not provide resource acceleration, it represents a significant chunk of damage. It can quickly shift the game’s pace, making it an ideal card for aggressive strategies that aim to win before the need for resource acceleration becomes crucial.
Instant Speed: Lava Axe is a sorcery, which means it demands strategic planning to maximize its impact. Despite not having the flexibility of an instant, the undeniable five damage it can deal provides a potent offensive tool when timed correctly, lining up with your broader game plan to outpace your opponent’s resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Lava Axe does not inherently require a discard, its one-time effect can often lead to card disadvantage. Unlike creatures or enchantments that can provide ongoing benefits, once Lava Axe has been cast, it exits the game leaving your hand with one less potential resource.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Lava Axe is quite specific, requiring five mana with at least one being red. This can pose a limitation in multicolored decks or strategies that prefer a more diverse mana base, potentially making it a less versatile option compared to more flexible burn spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of five mana, Lava Axe’s cost is high when considering its single-target damage output. There are numerous other spells in the game that can deal similar or even greater amounts of damage at a lower mana cost or can provide additional effects or flexibility.
Reasons to Include Lava Axe in Your Collection
Versatility: Though Lava Axe is primarily a finishing move in red aggressive decks, it’s straightforward damage output makes it a simple yet effective choice in various formats where a direct hit to life totals can turn the tide.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with spell amplifiers or in decks that capitalize on direct damage. Its ability to deal a considerable blow enables synergies with cards that benefit from spells cast or that deal damage to opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In certain meta environments where games are often decided by thin margins, Lava Axe’s capacity to deliver a decisive 5 points of damage can be the difference between victory and defeat, making it a card worth considering during deck construction.
How to beat
Lava Axe, a classic card in Magic: The Gathering, presents a straightforward challenge: It deals a significant five damage to a player at sorcery speed. The key to countering this single-target spell lies in understanding its limitations. With Lava Axe requiring a hefty five mana to cast and being limited to sorcery speed, players can anticipate and prepare to mitigate its impact.
One effective strategy is utilizing life-gain cards to offset the damage dealt by Lava Axe. Cards that provide a steady increase in life, such as lifelink creatures, can help maintain a healthy life total even after a Lava Axe hits. Another approach is to employ counterspells when the opponent has enough mana to cast Lava Axe, ensuring it never resolves and their mana is wasted. Keeping mana open for these reactive plays can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Beyond individual cards, a consistent and aggressive deck strategy can also diminish Lava Axe’s relevance. By pressuring opponents and reducing their life total early in the game, they may not survive long enough to use Lava Axe effectively. In essence, maintaining control over the pace and flow of the game is key to outmaneuvering the fiery burst of damage from this iconic card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lava Axe MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal Second Age, 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 Lava Axe 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 Lava Axe Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 137 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Adrian Smith | |
| 2 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 107 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 3 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 84 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 4 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 111 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 5 | 2000-04-01 | Starter 2000 | S00 | 31 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 6 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 40 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 7 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 199 | 1997 | Normal | White | Ray Lago | |
| 8 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 199★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ray Lago | |
| 9 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32559 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ray Lago | ||
| 10 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 197 | 2003 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 11 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 197★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 12 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 200★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 13 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 200 | 2003 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 14 | 2006-01-02 | DCI Promos | PDCI | 13 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ray Lago | |
| 15 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 215 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 16 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 145 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 17 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 147 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 18 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 148 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 19 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 143 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 20 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 154 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy | |
| 21 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 150 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brian Snõddy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lava Axe has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |