Aria of Flame MTG Card


Aria of Flame - Modern Horizons
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons
Set codeMH1
Number118
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Accentuates spell casting with increasing damage, pressuring opponents and escalating the threat each turn.
  2. High mana cost and specific color requirement limit its deck compatibility and flexibility.
  3. Despite initial disadvantages, it becomes a formidable source of damage in the right deck configuration.

Text of card

When Aria of Flame enters the battlefield, each opponent gains 10 life. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a verse counter on Aria of Flame, then it deals damage equal to the number of verse counters on it to target player or planeswalker.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With each spell cast after Aria of Flame hits the battlefield, you steadily build an advantage that pressures your opponent. Its ability to place verse counters and deal escalating damage turns each spell into a potential threat.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing traditional mana acceleration, Aria of Flame accelerates the damage resources you have at your disposal. This increased “damage economy” can accelerate the game towards a win just as effectively as ramping your mana resources.

Instant Speed: While Aria of Flame itself is a sorcery, its real power lies in amplifying your instant-speed spells played on subsequent turns. Every instant cast not only furthers your game plan but also layers additional damage, thanks to the accumulated verse counters on Aria of Flame.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its initial condition, Aria of Flame necessitates that the player gives their opponents 10 life. This can often put you at a significant disadvantage in races against aggressive decks or when battling to stabilize your life total.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell commands a specific mana investment of triple red, making it less flexible and typically confining it to mono-red or heavily red-skewed two-color strategies, reducing its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of three, Aria of Flame requires a substantial investment before it starts impacting the game. In a format where efficiency is key, the card’s initial lack of impact can be critiqued when considering other spells or permanents that could immediately alter board state or generate advantage.


Reasons to Include Aria of Flame in Your Collection

Versatility: Aria of Flame offers a unique approach to red deck strategies by providing an alternative win condition. It can be a centerpiece in spell-heavy decks or a sideboard option for matchups where direct damage to opponents is crucial.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that cast numerous instant and sorcery spells, incrementally increasing damage output to opponents. It pairs well with cards that allow for multiple spells to be cast in a single turn, magnifying its effect.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to circumvent traditional creature-based defense by targeting players directly, Aria of Flame holds a valuable place in metas dominated by control or lifegain strategies. Its persistent damage scaling makes it a formidable threat in the right deck.


How to beat

Aria of Flame is a unique sorcery that accrues value over time in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that places verse counters on itself whenever you cast an instant or sorcery, it can rapidly escalate the damage dealt to an opponent. Yet, there are strategic methods to mitigate its impact on the game.

One effective strategy involves employing enchantment removal spells, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, which can directly target and eliminate Aria of Flame before it accumulates too many counters. Cards like Counterspell also serve as a preemptive measure by preventing Aria of Flame from entering the battlefield in the first place.

Furthermore, utilizing life gain effects can offset the initial boost in life Aria of Flame provides to an opponent, making it harder for the card to leverage the life difference. This approach can be especially useful in formats that include cards like Sphinx’s Revelation or Absorb.

Deck building with these countermeasures in mind can significantly boost your defenses against an opponent wielding the fiery power of Aria of Flame. By staying prepared and reacting promptly to its casting, you give yourself a fighting chance at dampening the flames and steering the game in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into MTG’s nuanced world of strategy reveals that Aria of Flame is more than just a card; it’s a game-changer for fiery plays. With advantages such as card impact escalation and synergy with spell-slinging antics, it’s an inferno waiting to be unleashed. Counterbalancing the initial life gain for opponents, Aria of Flame’s ability to amplify damage with each spell could blaze a path to victory. Considering its strategic use against lifegain decks or control-heavy opponents, it might just be the spark your collection needs for that next level burn. Discover the full potential of Aria of Flame with us – ignite your MTG prowess today.


Cards like Aria of Flame

Aria of Flame is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, introducing a twist to the red sorcery/instant spell archetype. It shares some functional similarities with cards like Pyromancer’s Ascension, which also rewards players for casting successive instant and sorcery spells. However, Aria of Flame provides an immediate impact by placing verse counters on itself, subsequently causing damage to any target as you continue to cast spells.

Another similar enchantment is Guttersnipe, which also turns casting spells into direct damage. Unlike Aria of Flame, Guttersnipe affects each opponent with a consistent amount of damage without the need for stacking effects. Yet, it is a creature and hence, more vulnerable to removal than an enchantment like Aria of Flame.

Chandra’s Incinerator is another card that synergizes well with spell-slinging strategies. While the Incinerator does not build up damage over time like Aria of Flame, it provides a substantial body that can reduce the cost of spells and can be a significant threat on its own.

Overall, Aria of Flame offers an accumulating threat that, once set in motion, can dominate the game board and overwhelm opponents with its scaling damage potential.

Guttersnipe - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Incinerator - MTG Card versions
Guttersnipe - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Chandra's Incinerator - Core Set 2021 Promos (PM21)

Cards similar to Aria of Flame by color, type and mana cost

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Wave - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Citadel of Pain - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Granite Grip - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Magma Vein - MTG Card versions
Pyromania - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Gravity Sphere - Legends (LEG)
Goblin War Drums - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Aggression - Ice Age (ICE)
Heat Wave - Visions (VIS)
Goblin Warrens - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Heat Stroke - Weatherlight (WTH)
Seismic Assault - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Torch Song - Urza's Saga (USG)
Ghitu War Cry - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Fervor - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Spellshock - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Mana Cache - Nemesis (NEM)
Citadel of Pain - Prophecy (PCY)
Insolence - Planeshift (PLS)
Granite Grip - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Steam Vines - Odyssey (ODY)
Magma Vein - Odyssey (ODY)
Pyromania - Torment (TOR)
Curse of Hospitality - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aria of Flame MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Aria of Flame and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aria of Flame has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 Aria of Flame’s last ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2019-06-14 If Aria of Flame leaves the battlefield while its last ability is on the stack, use the number of verse counters it had on it immediately before it left the battlefield to determine how much damage it deals.
2019-06-14 If the target player or planeswalker is an illegal target by the time Aria of Flame’s last ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve. You don’t put a verse counter on Aria of Flame.
2019-06-14 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Aria of Flame’s first ability causes the opposing team to gain 20 life.

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