Liquid Fire MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2001-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Odyssey |
| Set code | ODY |
| Number | 201 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Key Takeaways
- Offers board control with its ability to replace multiple removal spells, optimizing card advantage in play.
- Fitting for burn strategies, Liquid Fire’s versatility and combo potential can significantly impact gameplay.
- Specific mana requirements and cost might limit its inclusion in diverse deck builds.
Text of card
Liquid Fire deals 5 damage divided as you choose between target creature and that creature's controller.
There's no such thing as a little bit of lava.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Liquid Fire offers an intriguing dynamic to players seeking to control the board. By allowing an adaptable division of damage, it can effectively replace two removal spells, giving a player a potential two-for-one scenario that bolsters their card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Liquid Fire itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its potential to keep the board clear can indirectly accelerate a player’s resources. By removing blockers or threats, it paves the way to maintain pressure on opponents and secure your mana investments in the battlefield.
Instant Speed: While Liquid Fire operates at sorcery speed, its flexibility compensates for this. Being able to assign damage as you cast it ensures that you maximize its effect according to the state of the battlefield, allowing for strategic planning and execution of turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Liquid Fire necessitates allocating one card from your hand to the graveyard. In moments where your hand is your last bastion of defense or strategy, sacrificing a card could backfire, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The cost of summoning Liquid Fire is stringent, demanding an exact mix of mana that commits heavily to red. This inflexible mana cost curbs its versatility, locking out a swath of decks that can’t afford or optimize a predominantly red mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value that’s on the steep side, Liquid Fire commands a sizeable chunk of your resources. Its cost outstrips many alternatives that could present a lower investment for a similar or greater impact, making it a less than optimal pick in a tightly contested game where efficiency is paramount.
Reasons to Include Liquid Fire in Your Collection
Versatility: Liquid Fire is a unique choice for decks that can manipulate the amount of damage dealt across multiple targets. It works well to clear out small creatures or direct damage to the opponent.
Combo Potential: This card can be a game-changer when combined with spell amplification or cost-reduction effects, allowing for a devastating amount of damage split as you choose for potentially less mana.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the ability to control the board or finish off weakened opponents is key, Liquid Fire offers flexibility and the potential to swing the game in your favor.
How to Beat Liquid Fire
If you’re up against Liquid Fire in your MTG game, understanding its mechanics is key to developing a successful counterstrategy. This unique card allows a player to divide damage between a creature and the creature’s controller, creating a dual threat that requires a careful approach to overcome.
To counter Liquid Fire effectively, prioritize creature protection and damage prevention strategies. Instants that give your creatures indestructible or hexproof can prove invaluable in shielding them from Liquid Fire’s division of damage. Similarly, leveraging cards that prevent damage to you as a player can also neutralize the impact of Liquid Fire.
Remember to maintain a stable board presence with creatures that can withstand the card’s damage output or use counterspells to prevent Liquid Fire from ever hitting the table. Through a combination of protective spells and strategic play, you can mitigate the effects of Liquid Fire, ensuring it doesn’t sway the game in your opponent’s favor.
Cards like Liquid Fire
Exploring the dynamics of burn cards in MTG, Liquid Fire offers a unique spin on dealing damage. It can be lined up with cards like Fireball for its scalability in damage potential. Liquid Fire’s distinctive feature allows players to split the damage between creature and player, showcasing a dual utility that isn’t usually present in direct damage cards. Fireball, while flexible in its damage distribution, requires a significant mana investment to achieve a similar impact.
A more contemporary comparison might be found in Flames of the Raze-Boar. Although Flames of the Raze-Boar also has the potential to deal damage to multiple creatures, its lack of versatility in hitting players directly sets it apart from Liquid Fire. Moreover, Liquid Fire allows for a more controlled burn, allocating exact damage points as suited for the situation, while Flames of the Raze-Boar’s damage depends on the power of the creature you control.
Considering these aspects, Liquid Fire commands a noteworthy position among MTG’s damage-dealing spells. Its versatility in targeting and the strategic depth it adds to gameplay positions it as a formidable option for deck builders seeking calculated and flexible damage solutions.
Cards similar to Liquid Fire by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Liquid Fire MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Liquid Fire and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Liquid Fire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Liquid Fire card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-05-01 | You choose the number as you cast the spell. If you choose 0, the creature’s controller will be dealt 5 damage. If you choose 5, that player will not be dealt any damage. |
