Flamekin Herald MTG Card
2020-11-20 - Number 179
2020-11-20 - Number 665
2002-06-24 - Number 85972
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Wizard |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Card allows circumventing command spell costs for strategic advantage and card flexibility.
- Encourages an instant-speed playstyle, adding a layer of unpredictability to games.
- While powerful, certain deck styles may find the discard cost detrimental.
Text of card
Commander spells you cast have cascade. (Whenever you cast a commander, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with lesser converted mana cost. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Command spells cast with the triggered ability of Flamekin Herald allow you to circumvent normal casting costs, potentially leading to a significant gain in card advantage. By facilitating the casting of more powerful spells earlier or without expending valuable mana, it keeps your hand flexible and pressure on your opponent consistent.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in decks focusing on command spells, as it effectively accelerates your resources by bypassing the mana cost of those spells. This resource acceleration can be crucial in outpacing opponents and deploying threats or answers much quicker than typically possible.
Instant Speed: Although Flamekin Herald isn’t an instant itself, it encourages a playstyle that takes advantage of the conversion of command spells to instant speed. This adaptability allows you to react to your opponent’s moves in real-time, keeping them guessing and forcing them to play around potential surprise threats or effects they might not be prepared for.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When bringing Flamekin Herald into play, the command cost can pose a strategic dilemma. Commanders with the encore ability mesh well with it, but other decks may find the discard cost counterproductive, especially when resources are sparse.
Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a casting expense of one red plus two other mana can be a sticking point for non-red-centric decks. Flamekin Herald’s allegiance to red means it’s not always a seamless fit for multicolored or non-red strategists keen on maintaining a diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana valuation of three, Flamekin Herald may not be the first pick for those looking to optimize mana expenditure. In the contemporary landscape of the game, there are alternatives that might provide similar or even better benefits at a lower or more flexible cost, making Flamekin Herald a potentially less attractive choice for mana-conscious players.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Flamekin Herald’s unique ability to cast commander spells through a “commander cast” mechanic makes it a flexible addition to any deck that aims to leverage casting its commander multiple times. It blends well with strategies that revolve around both creature-based tactics and spellslinging.
Combo Potential: This card seamlessly integrates with combo strategies, providing an unexpected advantage by allowing players to cast spells for free whenever they cast their commander. It can be the linchpin in creating a domino effect for overwhelming plays that can turn the tide of the game.
Meta-Relevance: With commander formats always evolving, Flamekin Herald maintains relevance by adapting to various meta shifts, empowering decks to exploit the cast trigger ability without paying the mana cost, a top-tier strategy against varied metagame compositions.
How to beat
Flamekin Herald commands attention as an elemental creature in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, offering players the unique ability to cast commander spells as though they have flash. This catalyzes a more flexible and reactionary gameplay, allowing for strategic surprises during opponents’ turns. But how does one navigate against such a card? To effectively combat the Flamekin Herald, precision timing is key. Utilizing instant-speed removal spells can disrupt your opponent’s plan by eliminating the Herald before they can take advantage of its ability.
Furthermore, countering your opponent’s commander while the Flamekin Herald is on the field is another method to render the card’s utility negligible. Without its commander synergistically enhancing the Herald’s effect, its impact becomes significantly dulled. In addition, employing strategies that limit the abilities of creatures or shut down flash mechanics can provide a protective edge against the unexpected shifts in game dynamics the Flamekin Herald can introduce.
Carefully crafted sideboard options or main deck choices that counteract creature-centric strategies will also serve as a solid line of defense, ensuring that a well-timed Herald doesn’t catch you unprepared. Staying one step ahead with these tactics can ensure your victory remains in sight, even when facing the swift elemental prowess of the Flamekin Herald.
BurnMana Recommendations
The strategic impact of Flamekin Herald in your MTG collection can’t be overlooked. With its capacity to revolutionize the way you cast commander spells, it remains a compelling choice for those seeking to exploit its unique cascade trigger ability. If you’re intrigued by the synergistic potential this card offers or looking to strengthen your commander-centric deck, delving deeper into strategies involving Flamekin Herald is a smart move. For those aiming to master the art of surprise and versatility in their game play, Flamekin Herald is an essential element that shouldn’t be underestimated. Discover more insights and tactical advice by joining our community, where we explore the depths of MTG strategies and card analysis.
Cards like Flamekin Herald
Flamekin Herald commands attention as a unique commander enabler within Magic: The Gathering. This multicolored card parallels with cards like Command Tower in its ability to pivot and expedite the casting of commander spells. Yet, Flamekin Herald reveals its real merit through its ability to cast commanders with cascade, which, unlike Command Tower, can lead to a chain of cost-free spells.
Examining the landscape further, we encounter Sunbird’s Invocation, another card that sparks joy for those who relish casting spells without paying their mana cost. While Sunbird’s Invocation operates on a broader scale, affecting all spells, not just commanders, Flamekin Herald is specialized but guarantees the cascade effect specifically when you cast your commander. Then there’s the enchantment As Foretold, which allows the casting of spells for free as time passes. While it covers a wide range of spells, it doesn’t carry the same immediate explosive potential upon casting a commander as Flamekin Herald does.
Assessing these comparable cards, we can appreciate Flamekin Herald’s role in enabling dynamic gameplay. It stands out for players who favor their commanders and seek to optimize those crucial moments when they enter the battlefield.
Cards similar to Flamekin Herald by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flamekin Herald MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 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 Flamekin Herald and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Flamekin Herald Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Johan Grenier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 85972 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johan Grenier | ||
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 179 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johan Grenier | |
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 665 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johan Grenier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flamekin Herald has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flamekin Herald card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | In some unusual situations, you may lose control of Flamekin Herald during the process of casting a commander spell. In those situations, the commander spell won't have cascade. |
| 2020-11-10 | Once you announce that you're casting a commander spell, players can't take action until you've finished casting it. Causing Flamekin Herald to leave the battlefield after the spell has been cast won't stop its cascade ability from resolving. |
| 2021-06-18 | A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions. |
| 2021-06-18 | Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade. |
| 2021-06-18 | Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card. |
| 2021-06-18 | If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally. |
| 2021-06-18 | If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2021-06-18 | If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card. |
| 2021-06-18 | The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves. |
| 2021-06-18 | When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled. |
| 2021-06-18 | You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them. |
