Inferno Elemental MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	2009-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2010
Set code	M10
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	142
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

Inferno Elemental can tilt the scales with its potential for sweeping damage and card advantage.
Its specific mana requirements may limit deck versatility and impose strategic decisions.
Despite a higher cost, its adaptability and damage capabilities make it a powerful ally in matches.

Text of card

Whenever Inferno Elemental blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, Inferno Elemental deals 3 damage to that creature.

"Those who wish to invade our monastery, please take it up with my servant." —Chandra Nalaar

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Inferno Elemental can serve as a valuable tool for maintaining card advantage. With effects that potentially damage multiple targets, this card can eliminate several of your opponent’s creatures in one fell swoop, effectively providing a one-card solution to multiple threats.

Resource Acceleration: Some iterations of Elemental cards can interact positively with lands or mana-producing abilities, potentially offering resource acceleration. If Inferno Elemental follows suit, it could provide additional mana resources, helping you cast high-cost spells earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Cards with instant speed offer the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions on their turn or at the end of their turn for strategic advantage. If Inferno Elemental possesses instant-speed abilities, it can significantly impact board state on the fly, catching opponents off guard and disrupting their plans.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cards like Inferno Elemental often necessitate the player to discard another card, which can be particularly taxing during late-game scenarios where each card in hand is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Inferno Elemental typically comes with a mana cost heavily reliant on one type of mana source, red in this instance, making it less versatile and harder to cast in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a larger mana investment than some other creatures in its class, Inferno Elemental might not be as cost-effective, especially considering the abundance of options available to players seeking impactful board presence.

Reasons to Include Inferno Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Inferno Elemental offers utility in a variety of deck archetypes, particularly in red-based decks that capitalize on high-power creatures. Its potential for both aggressive strategies and as a curve topper in mid-range decks makes it a flexible addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: This creature can synergize with numerous cards that benefit from, or enable, damage-based abilities. Whether it’s enhancing burn strategies or combining with cards that have ‘Whenever a creature deals damage’ effects, Inferno Elemental can seamlessly integrate into potent combos.

Meta-Relevance: In situations where creature-based decks dominate, Inferno Elemental shines as a formidable presence on the board. Its ability to impact the game by dealing with smaller creatures or becoming a substantial threat itself allows it to adapt and remain pertinent across various metagames.

How to beat

Inferno Elemental brings fiery force to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. To overcome this creature, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is crucial. Like many elementals, this one may boast formidable power, but certain strategies can effectively extinguish its threat. Removal spells that bypass its potential triggered abilities are a solid start; consider options like Doom Blade or Path to Exile that can dispatch it irrespective of its size. Board wipes such as Wrath of God also level the playing field, eliminating the Inferno Elemental regardless of any buffs it may have acquired.

Players may also employ creatures with protection from red to block without sustaining damage, or use damage prevention effects like those from The Wanderer planeswalker to mitigate its impact. Alternatively, countering it upon casting with spells like Counterspell ensures it never scorches the board. Lastly, tactics like enchanting it with Pacifism can render it harmless, turning the once-dominating Inferno Elemental into little more than a decorative fixture on the battlefield.

Adapting your strategy to the fiery nature of this creature is key. By understanding the best practices in creature control and removal, players can snuff out the threat of Inferno Elemental and maintain the upper hand in their Magic: The Gathering matches.

Cards like Inferno Elemental

Inferno Elemental stands out in the realm of burn creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It shares common ground with creatures such as Ember Hauler, a creature capable of dealing damage directly to any target upon sacrifice. Although Ember Hauler only requires two mana compared to Inferno Elemental’s higher cost, it lacks the continuous pressure Inferno Elemental can apply each turn.

Another comparable creature is Fire Elemental. Both share similar power stats, but Inferno Elemental brings an additional effect that can deal damage to a player or planeswalker when it attacks, embodying the relentless aggression red-elemental cards are known for. On the opposite side, Sparktongue Dragon offers utility with its aerial advantage and ability to deal 3 damage when using its enter-the-battlefield effect, yet this requires an extra mana investment which may not always be efficient for an aggressive strategy.

Ultimately, by examining these similar cards, Inferno Elemental positions itself as a compelling option for players looking to apply consistent attack-phase pressure. Each comparable card offers unique strengths, but Inferno Elemental provides a nice balance between cost and persistent damage potential, making it a card worth consideration in red-heavy or elemental-themed decks.

Cards similar to Inferno Elemental by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inferno Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010, 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 Inferno Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inferno Elemental has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-10-01	Inferno Elemental’s ability resolves during the declare blockers step, before even first strike damage is assigned. If the damage dealt to another creature this way is lethal damage, that creature will be destroyed before it can deal its combat damage.
2009-10-01	Inferno Elemental’s ability will trigger for each creature it blocks or becomes blocked by.
2009-10-01	The 3 damage that Inferno Elemental deals as a result of its ability is not combat damage. Inferno Elemental will still deal its combat damage as normal (unless all the creatures that blocked or were blocked by it have left the battlefield by the time the combat damage step begins).