Acolyte of the Inferno MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Monk |
| Abilities | Renown |
| Released | 2015-07-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic Origins |
| Set code | ORI |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 128 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Joseph Meehan |
Key Takeaways
- Acolyte of the Inferno creates card advantage and pressure with its renown ability after dealing combat damage.
- Its mana cost restricts it to red-focused decks and may be less versatile compared to other options.
- Efficient removals or creatures with first strike and deathtouch are effective counters to this card.
Text of card
Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.) Whenever Acolyte of the Inferno becomes blocked by a creature, it deals 2 damage to that creature.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Acolyte of the Inferno can be a catalyst for gaining card advantage on the board due to its renown ability. Once it becomes renowned after dealing combat damage to a player, it becomes a more formidable creature that can help maintain board presence.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource acceleration card, Acolyte’s aggressive nature can indirectly lead to resource advantages by forcing your opponent to trade multiple blockers or use removal spells to deal with it post-renown, effectively eating into their resources.
Instant Speed: Although Acolyte of the Inferno’s abilities do not operate at instant speed, its formidable presence can dictate the pace of the game, prompting instant-speed responses from opponents and thereby shaping the tempo of gameplay in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Acolyte of the Inferno does not require a card discard, offering a more straightforward playstyle that emphasizes on-board actions over hand depletion. However, strategies reliant on discarding may overlook this card due to its lack of synergy with discard mechanics.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two red mana, Acolyte of the Inferno is a card that fits primarily into red or red-centric decks. This mana specificity can be restrictive, limiting its inclusion to certain deck types and reducing its overall flexibility across the diverse range of MTG strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its cost of three mana, Acolyte of the Inferno offers a decent body and an ability to deal additional damage upon being blocked. However, in a game where efficiency is key, there may be alternative creatures or spells at similar or lower mana costs that provide greater impact or versatility in a deck’s design and execution.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Acolyte of the Inferno can be a flexible addition to decks that emphasize aggressive tactics. Its ability to become a formidable attacking creature makes it valuable in a variety of battle situations.
Combo Potential: The renowned mechanic this card offers enables combative synergies, especially in decks that reward attacking with powerful creatures or those that utilize damage triggers for strategic advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, where aggressive red decks are thriving, Acolyte of the Inferno could slot in seamlessly to exploit weaknesses in slower, controlling decks by applying early and consistent pressure.
How to beat Acolyte of the Inferno
Acolyte of the Inferno is known for its formidable presence on the battlefield with renown, augmenting its power when it successfully damages a player. Confronting this card requires a strategy that prioritizes removal or creatures that can block and remove it without being damaged. Efficient removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can serve as swift solutions to the Acolyte threat before it becomes renowned.
Furthermore, since Acolyte of the Inferno has the ability to punch through blockers due to its innate ability to deal damage to defending creatures, it’s critical to counteract this feature with creatures that have enough toughness to withstand the initial strike or with abilities like first strike or deathtouch, which can neutralize the Acolyte before it deals damage. In addition, enchantments that can pacify or tap creatures can effectively neutralize it without triggering its renown, rendering it a non-threat.
In essence, while the Acolyte of the Inferno can be a game-changer once renowned, implementing careful removal choices or building a field of creatures equipped to handle direct confrontation can ensure that this card doesn’t overwhelm your play strategy.
Cards like Acolyte of the Inferno
Acolyte of the Inferno beckons players with its aggressive posture in the realm of red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the battlefield with other formidable creatures like Ashmouth Hound, which also wields a damage-dealing ability upon being blocked. However, Acolyte of the Inferno distinguishes itself with renowned prowess, amplifying its attack capabilities significantly each time it is powered up during combat.
Charting further into red affinities, Borderland Marauder presents an interesting comparison. Although missing the direct damage ability, this creature boosts its power when attacking, similar to the prowess of our Acolyte. Yet, it lacks the immediate impact that Acolyte’s ability to deal damage to a blocker presents, a strategic advantage that can sway combat in your favor.
To cap off, Acolyte of the Inferno not only excels with its prowess but also its pressure application on the opponent, demanding answers or risking incremental damage. Its combination of fervent prowess and blocking deterrent stands tall amongst counterparts in the aggressive red deck strategies, consistently carving a niche for itself in the MTG arena.
Cards similar to Acolyte of the Inferno by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Acolyte of the Inferno MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Acolyte of the Inferno 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Acolyte of the Inferno has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Acolyte of the Inferno card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | Acolyte of the Inferno's last ability triggers and resolves before combat damage is dealt. If that causes each creature blocking Acolyte of the Inferno to be destroyed, Acolyte of the Inferno will remain blocked and neither deal nor be dealt combat damage. |
| 2015-06-22 | Acolyte of the Inferno's last ability will trigger once for each creature that blocks it. Each of those creatures will be dealt 2 damage. |
| 2015-06-22 | If a creature with renown deals combat damage to its controller because that damage was redirected, renown will trigger. |
| 2015-06-22 | If a renown ability triggers, but the creature leaves the battlefield before that ability resolves, the creature doesn't become renowned. Any ability that triggers "whenever a creature becomes renowned" won't trigger. |
| 2015-06-22 | Renown won't trigger when a creature deals combat damage to a planeswalker or another creature. It also won't trigger when a creature deals noncombat damage to a player. |
