Mask of Immolation MTG Card

Mask of Immolation combines creature advantage with direct damage, allowing strategic sacrifice plays. It enhances decks centered on sacrifice mechanics and interacts with enter-the-battlefield triggers. Effective countering requires targeted removal or timing precision to preempt its activation.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Number	151
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Text of card

When Mask of Immolation enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 red Elemental creature token, then attach Mask of Immolation to it. Equipped creature has "Sacrifice this creature: It deals 1 damage to any target." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

Cards like Mask of Immolation

Mask of Immolation is an intriguing equipment card that offers a combination of creature equip and a sacrificable source of direct damage. Looking at the broader selection of MTG cards with similar functionality, Goblin Bombardment is a notable comparison. This enchantment allows for repeated creature sacrifice without the need for equipping, enabling potential for more immediate and versatile damage output.

Another card worth mentioning is Barrage of Expendables, which provides a similar effect, allowing creatures to be sacrificed for direct damage. While it mirrors Mask of Immolation’s ability to convert creatures into damage, it doesn’t come with the initial creature token, somewhat restricting its immediate board presence. On the other hand, Ashnod’s Altar serves an analogous purpose by enabling creature sacrifice, but instead of dealing damage, it ramps up mana, which can be crucial in executing high-cost spells or abilities.

In essence, while Mask of Immolation offers a blend of creature advantage and damaging potential, other cards present alternative strategies, from consistent damaging capabilities to mana acceleration. Players interested in leveraging the sacrifice mechanics must consider their deck’s overall synergy to select the most fitting option.

Barrage of Expendables - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Mask of Immolation. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Mardu Aggro	Gladiator		Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 10 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mask of Immolation equips to a creature and provides utility even after the creature’s demise. Once the equipped creature is sacrificed, it deals one damage to any target, potentially removing an opponent’s key creature or chipping away at their life total.

Resource Acceleration: The act of sacrificing a creature with Mask of Immolation can be an enabler for other cards that benefit from such actions, indirectly accelerating your access to powerful synergies and interactions within your deck that thrive on sacrificing creatures.

Instant Speed: While Mask of Immolation itself does not operate at instant speed, the sacrifice ability it grants is an activated ability that can be used at instant speed. This allows for strategic plays during your opponent’s turn or in response to an opponent’s actions, making it a flexible tool in your arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The utilitarian aspect of Mask of Immolation comes with a cost. To equip it to a creature, you’ll need to sacrifice another, which can leave you at a disadvantage if you’re starved for creatures on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost for Mask of Immolation calls for red mana, narrowing its seamless integration to decks that are red-centric or that can reliably produce red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of three mana (one generic and two red) for its initial cast and the need for a creature to sacrifice, players may find the investment steep, especially when the game’s pace is swift, and resources are better allocated elsewhere.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mask of Immolation can be integrated into a myriad of deck archetypes, especially those that exploit enter-the-battlefield effects or demand consistent sacrifice outlets.

Combo Potential: With this equipment, creatures become both a source of direct damage and an enabler for combinations that pivot around sacrificing permanents, thus opening doors to intricate and often game-ending synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment that highlights creature-based strategies, Mask of Immolation stands out as both a removal option and a way to slip past stalemates by converting board presence into direct damage.

How to beat

Mask of Immolation, a versatile artifact from Magic: The Gathering, offers players both an equipment advantage and a means to inflict direct damage. This dual functionality makes it an attractive option for red-based aggressive decks where sacrificing creatures is part of the strategy. The card’s ability to equip for a minimal cost and transform any creature into a potential threat can shift the dynamics of the game.

Defeating a strategy centered around Mask of Immolation requires anticipation and control. Utilizing instant-speed removal to dispatch the equipped creature before activation can neutralize the imminent threat. Enchantment removal tools, like Disenchant, also serve as valuable countermeasures to remove the Mask from the battlefield, thereby dampening the opponent’s offense.

It’s important to manage your resources and keep a close eye on your opponent’s moves. Timing is crucial; whether you’re aiming to dismantle their creature base or aiming to preempt the Mask’s deployment, having the right spell at the right time will keep you one step ahead. Board wipes can be particularly effective as they can clear multiple threats, including creatures that may be potential carriers for the Mask, in one fell swoop. By understanding the implications of the Mask of Immolation and being prepared with appropriate counters, players can effectively minimize its impact on the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mask of Immolation MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Mask of Immolation and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mask of Immolation has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-07-12	No player may take any actions between the time you create the Elemental token and the time Mask of Immolation becomes attached to it.
2019-07-12	The equipped creature is the source of the activated ability and the source of the damage, not Mask of Immolation. This means that a green creature equipped by Mask of Immolation may deal damage to a creature with protection from red but may not deal damage to a creature with protection from green.