Martyr of Ashes MTG Card

Martyr of Ashes sweeps numerous creatures, preserving card balance while clearing the board. Discarding your hand for its effect can significantly diminish strategic options. Leveraging its board-clearing power can prove essential in creature-heavy metas.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	92
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ralph Horsley

Text of card

, Reveal X red cards from your hand, Sacrifice Martyr of Ashes: Martyr of Ashes deals X damage to each creature without flying.

She turns ash into flame and burns enemies to ash.

Cards like Martyr of Ashes

Martyr of Ashes holds its ground in the realm of red sweeper cards in MTG. This card shares similarities with fellow sweepers like Pyroclasm and Volcanic Fallout. Pyroclasm also costs two mana and deals two damage to each creature, making it a go-to choice for controlling the board early on. Martyr of Ashes offers a potentially more devastating effect, being able to scale the damage based on the number of red cards revealed, providing a more versatile response to a populated board.

Volcanic Fallout is another comparable card, dealing two damage to each creature and player and being uncounterable. However, Martyr of Ashes can outpace Fallout’s fixed damage limit, providing the capability to tailor to larger threats. When comparing these cards’ mana efficiency and flexibility in dealing with a range of creature sizes, Martyr of Ashes can be highly advantageous in decks that can support a red-heavy hand.

In essence, while each of these cards serves a strategic purpose in a red player’s arsenal, Martyr of Ashes presents an interesting dynamic, giving players the potential to control the game and clear the board with a dramatic display of power influenced by the player’s hand.

Cards similar to Martyr of Ashes by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Martyr of Ashes presents an opportunity for red decks to clear numerous creatures off the board without losing card parity. By sacrificing itself, it effectively becomes a sweeping removal tool, keeping the player’s hand free to maintain pressure and control over the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although Martyr of Ashes doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the form of mana, it clears the path for a player’s threats to attack without opposition. This strategic advantage can accelerate a player towards victory by eliminating blockers or potential threats efficiently.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Martyr of Ashes at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility to gameplay. Players can wait until the last possible moment before deciding whether to deploy this powerful effect, potentially forcing opponents into unfavorable decisions or misplays as they navigate the uncertainty of whether or not the board will be cleared.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Martyr of Ashes necessitates the discard of your entire hand to unleash its ability, which can significantly deplete your resources and options during gameplay, leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s next moves.

Specific Mana Cost: Furthermore, this card is specifically tied to Red mana in deck construction, rendering it unsuitable for multi-colored decks that require a more diversified mana base or for those that do not support red strategies effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost of one Red mana could be considered low, but when combined with its requirement to discard potentially valuable cards, the actual resource cost tends to be steep, especially in formats where card advantage is crucial.

Reasons to Include Martyr of Ashes in Your Collection

Versatility: Martyr of Ashes shines in various deck builds that crave a quick and efficient board sweep. Its ability to clear the board of numerous creatures by sacrificing itself gives red decks a rare tool for managing the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card offers immense synergy in decks centered around sacrificing creatures. It also fits well with strategies that capitalize on death-triggered effects or graveyard strategies, bolstering your plan to outmaneuver the opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by creature-heavy decks, Martyr of Ashes becomes a crucial sideboard option. Its capacity to tilt the scales and reset the board can be a game-changer, especially in matches where the tide of creatures must be checked promptly.

How to beat

Martyr of Ashes is a deceptively powerful card in MTG, especially in formats that can leverage its potent ability to sweep away numerous creatures. It shines in decks filled with red spells, since each red card revealed amplifies its damage output. Confronting this card demands a tactical approach that includes minimizing the number of creatures on your side or employing creatures with toughness greater than the potential damage Martyr of Ashes can inflict based on the opponent’s hand.

Furthermore, countering this creature before its ability is activated is vital. This can be accomplished with instant-speed removal or counter spells, preventing your opponent from revealing any red cards at all. Additionally, protection spells or abilities to grant your creatures indestructibility for a turn can be a sturdy defense against the sweeping flames.

Consider playing around this card by baiting it out early, when the opponent’s hand is less likely to be stacked with red spells, or by pressuring the opponent’s life total, forcing them to use Martyr of Ashes defensively. Efficient removal or disruption can ensure the Martyr’s sacrifice doesn’t burn away your chances of victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Martyr of Ashes MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Martyr of Ashes and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Martyr of Ashes has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2006-07-15	A card that’s already revealed for another cost or because of an effect can be revealed to pay this cost.
2006-07-15	Each card that’s revealed to pay the cost remains revealed until the ability leaves the stack.
2006-07-15	If one of the cards that’s revealed to pay the cost leaves its owner’s hand before the ability resolves, it stops being revealed, but the value of X is not affected.