Backdraft MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	1994-06-01
Set symbol
Set name	Legends
Set code	LEG
Number	132
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Brian Snõddy

Key Takeaways

Backdraft excels in providing card advantage, ramping up gameplay momentum and resource availability.
The ability to use Backdraft at instant speed offers unprecedented strategic flexibility in matches.
Instant speed plays with Backdraft can significantly alter the course of a game with timely responses.

Text of card

Backdraft does half of the damage (rounded down) done by one sorcery cast this turn to the caster of the sorcery.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The concept of card advantage is crucial in Magic the Gathering, and Backdraft excels in this realm by offering you the potential to disrupt your opponent’s plans while simultaneously refilling your hand, ensuring that you stay ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: Backdraft provides an immediate benefit in terms of resource acceleration. This card can significantly ramp up your mana, allowing for more substantial plays and potentially game-changing turns. It’s the kind of card that can quickly turn the tides in your favor if leveraged efficiently.

Instant Speed: The versatility of playing cards at instant speed cannot be overstated. With Backdraft, the ability to act at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to their plays adds a strategic layer to gameplay, keeping opponents on their toes and ensuring that your threats or answers are always timely.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The requirement to discard another card when playing Backdraft can be quite taxing, especially when your hand is already running thin. This might hamper your ability to maintain card advantage and can be especially detrimental in the late game.

Specific Mana Cost: Backdraft demands a precise mana combination to cast, which can be restrictive. Decks not focused on the necessary colors might find it difficult to accommodate such a card without compromising their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Backdraft delivers a unique effect, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other options within the same color identity or effect range. This can lead to inefficiencies in gameplay, as players might opt for lower-cost alternatives that allow for a more flexible and faster-paced strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Backdraft is adaptable across various play styles, slotting well into decks that are looking to exploit graveyard resources or manipulate draws for an advantage.

Combo Potential: Its ability to interact with graveyard mechanics enhances combo decks that can cobble together powerful plays based on card synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to turn graveyard cards into resources, Backdraft can gain traction in metas where graveyard strategies are prevalent, offering strategic depth and responsiveness.

How to beat

Overcoming the Backdraft card during a Magic: The Gathering match means disrupting its key function. Typically featured in decks designed to exploit graveyard synergy, Backdraft can be a tricky card to face. Anticipating your opponent’s strategy is crucial, as they aim to assemble a combination of cards in their graveyard to maximize Backdraft’s potential. However, this setup can be a vulnerability.

Tackling this challenge requires strategic graveyard hate cards. By integrating cards like Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus into your deck, you can effectively remove the components your opponent needs, rendering Backdraft much less effective. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can be especially devastating, as they can be played at zero mana cost, providing instant disruption without affecting your mana curve.

In essence, countering Backdraft hinges on your ability to forecast your opponent’s moves and being ready with the right answers. Graveyard removal is a stark countermeasure that shifts the balance in your favor and nullifies the card’s potency. Properly timing these interventions can be just as important as having them at your disposal, transforming your defensive play into a proactive strategy.

Cards like Backdraft

Exploring the strategic intricacies of Magic: The Gathering often leads players to evaluate the uniqueness of certain cards, such as the Backdraft. This particular card can be likened to a few others that offer similar risk-versus-reward dynamics. Take the example of Risk Factor, an intriguing card that poses a choice to your opponent – either they let you draw three cards or they take 4 damage. While the Backdraft doesn’t provide card drawing capabilities, it shares the aspect of putting your opponent in a dilemma.

Another comparable card is Browbeat, which presents your opponent with the option to take 5 damage or allow you to draw three cards. Again, what Backdraft has in common with Browbeat is the element of giving your opponent a tough choice, which can affect the flow of the game significantly. Striking a balance between imminent threats and strategic card advantages is what makes these cards engaging and potentially game-changing.

Although the Backdraft doesn’t offer direct card advantage or damage, the overarching strategy of manipulating opponent’s choices parallels these alternatives. Therefore, in the realm of player psychology and strategic advantage, Backdraft finds its niche as a card that provokes thought and careful consideration in MTG’s diverse landscape of playstyles.

Cards similar to Backdraft by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Backdraft MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Backdraft and other MTG cards: