Immolating Souleater MTG Card


Immolating Souleater - New Phyrexia
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Dog
Released2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set nameNew Phyrexia
Set codeNPH
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number139
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAustin Hsu

Key Takeaways

  1. Immolating Souleater can serve as a board advantage by turning life points into formidable power.
  2. Instant speed pumping of this card provides a tactical advantage in creature combat scenarios.
  3. Life payment as a cost for Souleater’s ability adds risk, especially in close games.

Text of card

{PR}: Immolating Souleater gets +1/+0 until end of turn. ({PR} can be paid with either or 2 life.)

"We thank the souleaters for melting the sinful that we may be reminded of our own insignificance." —Drones' hymn of gratitude


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Immolating Souleater may not directly offer card draw, but its sheer power potential can outclass opponents’ creatures, effectively serving as a form of board advantage. Leveraging life points to boost its power can quickly tip the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not a traditional form of acceleration, the Immolating Souleater can act as a surprise burst of damage, which might negate the need for additional resources by shortening the game’s duration to your advantage.

Instant Speed: The ability to pump Immolating Souleater at instant speed makes it a formidable threat during combat. Opponents must always consider the potential for its explosive power increase when making decisions, thus giving you a tactical edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Immolating Souleater requires a payment of life to activate its ability, which can be risky, especially in tight games where your life total is a precious resource.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s need for red mana can restrict deck-building, mainly if you’re aiming for a multi-color deck that de-emphasizes red mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Souleater’s mana cost is moderate, some players may find more efficient creatures or spells to occupy the two-mana slot in their decks. In fast-paced games, every mana point counts, and there might be alternatives that provide more immediate impact on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Immolating Souleater offers a unique flexibility in playstyle with the option to invest life points for an aggressive power boost, fitting well into red aggro decks or any build that thrives on high-risk, high-reward strategies.

Combo Potential: This card is a prime candidate for synergizing with effects that augment its damage output or benefit from life payment, opening the door for powerful and potentially game-ending combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that values speed, the Immolating Souleater can be a significant threat, as it provides a way to quickly close games by leveraging life totals for increased damage.


How to Beat Immolating Souleater

Immolating Souleater can be a tricky creature to face in the heat of an MTG match. Its ability to pump its power at the cost of life points makes it a force that can catch opponents off guard. However, there are effective strategies to counter this fiery adversary. Cards that prevent damage or life loss such as Solemnity or life gain decks can negate the Souleater’s impact, making it difficult for your opponent to use its ability without risking their own defeat.

Removal spells are also highly effective against Immolating Souleater; since it’s a creature, anything from Fatal Push to Path to Exile can send it packing before it scorches your life total. Furthermore, timing is everything—waiting for your opponent to commit to pumping the Souleater before removing it can lead to a significant loss of life for them, swinging the momentum in your favor.

Lastly, keeping a robust defense helps. If you can block the Souleater consistently, you force your opponent to pay more life to get through, making their aggressive strategy a double-edged sword. Consistent board presence is key to containing this fiery threat and coming out on top in your duels.


Cards like Immolating Souleater

The Immolating Souleater is an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering, and it fits into the aggressive red decks’ landscape due to its ability to power up quickly. When looking for cards with a self-sacrifice theme, we can spot some similarities with Fireblast, which lets players sacrifice two mountains instead of paying its mana cost, delivering a game-ending four damage to any target.

Rampaging Ferocidon stands in parallel for its immediate impact on the battlefield, imposing a penalty on opponents who would dare to field too many creatures and also packing a considerable punch. Phyrexian mana in Immolating Souleater allows for a rapid and often unanticipated burst of power, akin to the surprise effect of using Fireblast without tapping any mana sources. While the Ferocidon doesn’t have the explosiveness in power buffing, it does create a consistent, threatening board presence that punishes opponent’s strategies.

Ultimately, Immolating Souleater’s unique combination of Phyrexian mana use and potential for immediate, massive damage output lends it a competitive edge in matches that can be capitalized on within specific, high-risk MTG deck strategies.

Fireblast - MTG Card versions
Rampaging Ferocidon - MTG Card versions
Fireblast - Visions (VIS)
Rampaging Ferocidon - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)

Cards similar to Immolating Souleater by color, type and mana cost

Fire Diamond - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Regulator - MTG Card versions
Toralf, God of Fury // Toralf's Hammer - MTG Card versions
Orb of Dragonkind - MTG Card versions
Ogre-Head Helm - MTG Card versions
Lizard Blades - MTG Card versions
Iron Myr - MTG Card versions
Sparring Collar - MTG Card versions
Trigon of Rage - MTG Card versions
Fireforger's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions
Welder Automaton - MTG Card versions
Mask of Immolation - MTG Card versions
Crystal Slipper - MTG Card versions
Scavenged Blade - MTG Card versions
Blazing Sunsteel - MTG Card versions
Lightning Spear - MTG Card versions
Goblin Morningstar - MTG Card versions
Fiendlash - MTG Card versions
Sanguine Statuette - MTG Card versions
Dragonspark Reactor - MTG Card versions
Fire Diamond - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Chandra's Regulator - Core Set 2020 Promos (PM20)
Toralf, God of Fury // Toralf's Hammer - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Orb of Dragonkind - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Ogre-Head Helm - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Lizard Blades - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Iron Myr - The List (PLST)
Sparring Collar - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Trigon of Rage - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Fireforger's Puzzleknot - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Welder Automaton - Game Night (GNT)
Mask of Immolation - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Crystal Slipper - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Scavenged Blade - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Blazing Sunsteel - Commander Legends (CMR)
Lightning Spear - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Goblin Morningstar - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Fiendlash - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sanguine Statuette - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Dragonspark Reactor - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Immolating Souleater MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Immolating Souleater and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Immolating Souleater has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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