Arjun, the Shifting Flame MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Sphinx Wizard
Abilities Flying
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Arjun enhances card advantage, refreshing hands with each spell cast, enabling varied gameplay options.
  2. Improves resource access indirectly, potentially leading to faster high-impact card plays.
  3. Allows instant-speed hand reshaping, providing strategic advantages during any phase.

Text of card

Flying Whenever you cast a spell, put the cards in your hand on the bottom of your library in any order, then draw that many cards.

He speaks directly into his supplicants' minds using fiery words that inflame their thoughts and incite their passions.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arjun the Shifting Flame offers a unique ability to draw a significant number of cards. Whenever you cast a spell, Arjun triggers an effect to put the cards from your hand on the bottom of your library in a random order and draw that many cards. This ability can continuously refresh your hand, ensuring that you always have access to a variety of options and can maintain the pressure on your opponent by utilizing a fresh set of resources every turn.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration in the traditional sense, Arjun’s ability to churn through your deck can indirectly accelerate your resource access. By allowing you to draw multiple cards with each spell you cast, you increase the chances of drawing into additional land drops or ramp spells, thus speeding up your ability to play high-impact cards quicker than normal.

Instant Speed: Although Arjun the Shifting Flame itself is not an instant, its ability can be triggered during any phase of the turn when you cast a spell. This means that by playing instants on your opponent’s turn, you can utilize Arjun’s ability to reshape your hand at unexpected moments, potentially finding the right answers or threats exactly when you need them.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arjun the Shifting Flame necessitates that you shuffle your hand into your library and draw that many cards whenever you cast a spell. This could be a drawback when you have key cards in hand that you’re not ready to give up, possibly disrupting well-laid plans or combos.

Specific Mana Cost: Arjun’s casting cost is demanding with one generic and two red plus four blue mana. This specific combination may prove challenging for multi-color decks to manage, often requiring a heavy investment in mana fixing or potentially causing delays in play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six mana value to get Arjun on the battlefield, players may find it a steep cost, especially in formats where the pace is fast and lower-cost creatures can dominate the early game. The impact of Arjun’s ability might not always justify the investment when considering other cards at a lower mana cost that provide immediate card advantage or board presence.


Reasons to Include Arjun the Shifting Flame in Your Collection

Versatility: Arjun the Shifting Flame brings a unique dynamic to the table, being a powerful enabler for decks that capitalize on casting spells. Its ability to give you a fresh hand each time you cast a spell makes it a perfect fit for strategies that involve drawing cards or playing with the graveyard.

Combo Potential: This card is a combo enabler’s dream. It can be an engine in decks that aim to cycle through their cards quickly, and is especially potent with effects that trigger upon drawing cards or with cards that have advantages for being discarded.

Meta-Relevance: In a game format where quick adaptation and response to opponents’ tactics are key, Arjun the Shifting Flame holds a strong position. As metas evolve and the demand for innovation increases, Arjun can help pilot a deck that is both unpredictable and capable of outmaneuvering more linear strategies.


How to beat

Arjun, the Shifting Flame is a unique card in MTG, presenting a challenge with its ability to cycle through a player’s deck rapidly. Unlike other creatures, Arjun’s strength lies in its synergy with spellslinger and combo decks, demanding a strategic approach to defeat it. Since Arjun can significantly reshape a hand each time a spell is cast, pinpointing the right moment to disrupt your opponent’s flow is critical. One effective strategy is pressuring their mana base or spellcasting abilities by using counter spells or targeted removal before they can establish a significant advantage.

Moreover, cards that limit the number of spells a player can cast per turn or effects that tax their spellcasting are valuable tools against Arjun. Ensnaring Arjun with auras or artifacts that prevent its ability from triggering can also nullify its power. Importantly, instant-speed interaction is crucial, allowing a response to Arjun’s ability on the stack while maintaining threats that must be dealt with or else provide an avenue to victory despite the flurry of card changes.

Ultimately, facing Arjun, the Shifting Flame requires careful planning and immediate action. It is when you anticipate your opponent’s moves and disrupt their strategy at critical junctures that you can gain an upper hand in the duel and effectively beat this formidable commander.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricacies of Arjun, the Shifting Flame is essential for MTG enthusiasts aiming to harness the card’s full potential. From its ability to offer a fresh slate of options every turn to its synergy with spell-heavy decks, Arjun is both a challenge and an asset. If you’re captivated by this card’s capabilities and want to explore strategies that leverage continuous hand renewal, our detailed insights can prime you for success. We invite you to enhance your collection with knowledge and tips that can turn the tide of any match. Discover more with us and let Arjun ignite your path to victory.


Cards like Arjun, the Shifting Flame

Arjun, the Shifting Flame offers a unique spin on card cycling for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. This card shares some conceptual similarities with creatures like Mindmoil. Both cards have an ability that reshuffles your hand, offering new options each time you play a spell. However, Arjun takes it up a notch by triggering on cast rather than resolution, ensuring no card is off-limits for the next turn’s strategy.

Another analogous creature is the Whirlpool Warrior. Though it offers the chance to shuffle hands and draw fresh cards, it only does so once as opposed to Arjun’s consistent trigger with every cast. The Warrior can affect all players immediately but lacks the perpetual engine that Arjun provides through its capacity to consistently refresh your hand.

Arjun, the Shifting Flame finds its niche in decks that thrive on casting numerous spells. Its six-mana cost is steep compared to the Whirlpool Warrior’s three, but it compensates with a recurring effect and a larger body. When evaluating these cycling creatures, Arjun stands out for its potential to substantially alter game dynamics by yielding a brand-new hand with each spell you cast.

Mindmoil - MTG Card versions
Whirlpool Warrior - MTG Card versions
Mindmoil - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Whirlpool Warrior - Apocalypse (APC)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arjun, the Shifting Flame MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Arjun, the Shifting Flame and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arjun, the Shifting Flame Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Willian Murai.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-11-13Commander 2015C15 422015normalblackWillian Murai
22015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 952015normalblackWillian Murai
32022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 1722015normalblackWillian Murai
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4712015normalblackWillian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arjun, the Shifting Flame has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PennyLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-11-04 After Arjun’s ability triggers, players may cast instants and activate activated abilities. Each time, you cast an instant spell “in response, Arjun’s ability triggers again.
2015-11-04 Arjun’s triggered ability will resolve before the spell that caused it to trigger.

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