Banefire MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Banefire becomes the ultimate finisher with its damage potency and game-ending potential when mana ramped.
  2. The card’s uncounterability at high mana levels provides a unique edge in dodging control decks’ countermagic.
  3. Despite the higher mana cost, Banefire’s precision against opponents fortifies its status as a versatile threat.

Text of card

Banefire deals X damage to target creature or player. If X is 5 or more, Banefire can't be countered by spells or abilities and the damage can't be prevented.

For Sarkhan Vol, the dragon is the purest expression of life's savage splendor.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Banefire provides a powerful option for dealing direct damage to opponents or creatures. While it doesn’t allow for card draw, it compensates by potentially ending the game if your opponent’s life total is reduced to zero, effectively turning it into the ultimate card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Banefire benefits from any form of mana ramp, transforming extra resources into increased damage. In decks that prioritize mana generation, Banefire can be a game-ending threat much earlier than expected, effectively capitalizing on your resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Though Banefire doesn’t have instant speed, its unique feature of being uncounterable when cast for five or more mana gives it a similar strategic advantage. You can safely allocate mana to Banefire in your main phase without fear of it being nullified by opponent’s instant speed countermeasures.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Banefire demands a precise combination of mana, including a non-negotiable red. For players not running a red-inclusive or focused mana base, integrating Banefire into their deck can be challenging, restricting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For Banefire to truly shine, especially its uncounterable aspect, substantial mana investment is necessary, often entailing a late-game scenario. There are alternatives available that may provide comparable impact without such a steep mana requirement, allowing for more flexible game management.

Discard Requirement: While Banefire itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, it’s worth noting that in high-pressure situations where each card in hand could swing the tide, having to allocate resources to a cost-intensive spell like Banefire might indirectly force a player to discard other potentially crucial options.


Reasons to Include Banefire in Your Collection

Versatility: Banefire stands out as a flexible option for any red deck, fitting seamlessly into various strategies. Whether you need a reliable finisher or a tool for removing pesky creatures, this card adapts to your needs.

Combo Potential: In decks built around ramping mana, Banefire can be the cornerstone for a potent combo finish. Its uncounterable nature when cast for sufficient mana makes it an excellent linchpin in high-stakes plays.

Meta-Relevance: Against control decks that rely on counter spells to maintain dominance, Banefire shines. Its ability to bypass countermagic at higher mana costs ensures that your late-game threats land with impact, making it a valuable asset in shifting metagames.


How to beat

Banefire is a potent card in Magic: The Gathering that delivers direct damage and can be a real game-ender due to its uncounterable nature when cast with a high enough mana investment. Battling against Banefire, thus, requires strategic foresight. Key to overcoming this card is prevention and damage mitigation. Employing life gain strategies, damage prevention spells, and indirect counters like discard effects or hand disruption can be pivotal. These methods force the Banefire player to cast their spell prematurely or for a significantly reduced impact.

Life gain cards like ‘Authority of the Consuls’ can offset the damage dealt, while ‘Leyline of Sanctity’ can make you hexproof, thus rendering Banefire ineffective against you directly. Hand disruption cards like ‘Thoughtseize’ or ‘Duress’ can remove Banefire from your opponent’s hand before they have the chance to cast it. Players should anticipate the potential of a high-mana Banefire and maintain a life cushion or set up their defenses accordingly to neutralize this threatening spell.

Ultimately, success against Banefire hinges on proactive playstyles that either impede your opponent’s ability to reach the crucial mana threshold or denying the card’s opportunity to cause damage. Keeping a consistent pressure on your opponent’s resources is a solid tactic to ensure that they can’t capitalize on Banefire’s destructive potential.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depths of MTG, Banefire emerges as a card of compelling power. Recognizing the pros and cons of this fiery spell is crucial for every player aiming to optimize their red deck. With its game-ending potential and resilience against counter strategies, Banefire is a force to be reckoned with. Facing its wrath requires clever deck building and preemptive play. To harness this card’s full potential or craft effective safeguards against it, join us to deepen your MTG prowess. Delve into the broader dynamics of red spell strategies and refine your gameplay. Learn more and turn the tide of battle in your favor.


Cards like Banefire

Banefire ingrains its position as a formidable finisher within the realm of direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering. Like its pyromantic cousin, Fireball, Banefire can deal a scalable amount of damage to any target. Yet, it’s its uncounterable nature that shines when X is 5 or more, making it a reliable threat even in the late game against control decks. Fireball may offer a lower base cost, but it lacks this crucial safeguard against counterspells.

Another spell worth mentioning is Comet Storm. This card also flexes with its ability to deal X damage, but its multikicker option permits the targeting of multiple creatures or players, which Banefire cannot do. However, this versatility comes at the increased complexity and cost, both in mana and in game strategy. Red Sun’s Zenith presents an alternative that shuffles back into one’s library after use, giving a sort of longevity to your resources that Banefire doesn’t have, but it too cannot bypass a well-timed counterspell for larger X values.

In summary, Banefire distinguishes itself among red spells with its scalable damage and decisive protection from blue’s traditional defenses, standing out as a preference for players seeking to secure victory in the face of opposition.

Fireball - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Red Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Fireball - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Comet Storm - Worldwake Promos (PWWK)
Red Sun's Zenith - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Banefire by color, type and mana cost

Disintegrate - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Landslide - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Crack the Earth - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Disintegrate - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Fireball - The List (PLST)
Earthquake - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Goblin Grenade - Arena New Player Experience Extras (XANA)
Mana Clash - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Winds of Change - Masters Edition (ME1)
Detonate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Blaze - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Gamble - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Meltdown - Urza's Saga (USG)
Landslide - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Tremor - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ghitu Fire - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Glare - Apocalypse (APC)
Lava Burst - Deckmasters (DKM)
Overmaster - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Devil's Play - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Firebolt - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Crack the Earth - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Meteor Shower - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Banefire MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Duels of the Planeswalkers, 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 Banefire and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Banefire Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-02-06ConfluxCON 582003normalblackRaymond Swanland
22010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 382003normalblackRaymond Swanland
32014-09-05Duel Decks: Speed vs. CunningDDN 312015normalblackRaymond Swanland
42015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1042015normalblackRaymond Swanland
52018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 130p2015normalblackRaymond Swanland
62018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1302015normalblackRaymond Swanland
72018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 130s2015normalblackRaymond Swanland
82022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4952015normalblackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Banefire has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 Banefire can be targeted by spells that try to counter it regardless of what the value of X is. If X is 5 or more, those spells will still resolve, but the part of their effect that would counter Banefire won’t do anything. Any other effects those spells have will work as normal.
2018-07-13 If its target is illegal by the time Banefire tries to resolve, the spell isn’t countered, but it doesn’t resolve. The target won’t be dealt damage.
2018-07-13 To determine whether it can be countered and its damage can be prevented, Banefire checks the number you chose for X, not the amount of mana you actually spent or the amount of damage it will actually deal.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks