Overblaze MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
| Abilities | Splice |
| Released | 2005-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Betrayers of Kamigawa |
| Set code | BOK |
| Number | 114 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Text of card
Each time target permanent would deal damage to a creature or player this turn, it deals double that damage to that creature or player instead. Splice onto Arcane (As you play an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)
Cards like Overblaze
Overblaze is a unique instant in Magic: The Gathering, doubling the damage of a single source for a turn. It’s often compared to cards like Furnace of Rath, which has a broader effect by doubling all damage from every source. Although Furnace of Rath affects the entire battlefield, Overblaze targets and benefits from being an instant, providing surprise strategies during combat.
Analogous to Dictate of the Twin Gods, another card that doubles damage, Overblaze differentiates itself with a lower mana cost and single-target focus. Dictate of the Twin Gods can change the dynamics of the whole game, but its higher cost and the fact that it benefits all players can sometimes be a drawback.
Furthermore, we have Quest for Pure Flame, which also increases damage but requires you to build up quest counters before it can be activated. Unlike the one-shot nature of Overblaze, Quest for Pure Flame offers a repeatable effect, yet it demands setup and foresight.
Assessing Overblaze in the context of these similar cards, it carves out a niche with its immediate impact and precision, allowing players to seize moments for decisive blows in Magic: The Gathering. Its tactical versatility makes it a strong contender within the suite of damage amplification spells.
Cards similar to Overblaze by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Overblaze doesn’t directly lead to drawing cards, but it has the potential to create significant value by doubling a creature’s damage output. This can lead to a swift defeat of an opponent or a quick elimination of opposing creatures, which indirectly provides card advantage by dealing with more of the opponent’s resources at once.
Resource Acceleration: While Overblaze itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the sense of mana production, it accelerates the game towards a win when used effectively. By amplifying damage output, it can reduce the number of turns needed to win, effectively ‘accelerating’ you to your end goal faster.
Instant Speed: Overblaze’s ability to be cast at instant speed allows you the flexibility to surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn. This unexpected doubling of damage can turn the tides of a game, especially when an opponent has calculated combat assuming the usual damage output.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Overblaze has a strict requirement for red mana in its casting cost, which may narrow deck-building options and render it less versatile in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary red mana sources readily available.
Discard Requirement: While Overblaze doesn’t specifically require discarding as a cost, the need to consider card advantage is relevant. Casting Overblaze means utilizing a card from your hand that won’t immediately impact the board, potentially putting you at a disadvantage in terms of resources compared to your opponent.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana, with two needing to be red, limits the card’s early game potential and can be seen as expensive for the effect it offers. In a game where tempo and efficiency are vital, the mana investment in Overblaze can be a setback, especially when other cards could provide more immediate or game-changing effects for the same or lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Overblaze in Your Collection
Versatility: Overblaze is a flexible card that can be slotted into various deck strategies keen on dealing damage. It can enhance not only the potency of creatures but also double the impact of any damage-dealing permanent or spell for a decisive turn.
Combo Potential: This card has the power to synergize with creatures that have tap abilities to deal damage, or with spells that might benefit from dealing double damage. It serves as a catalyst for combo decks aiming for a game-ending burst of damage.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players assemble substantial defenses or gain life rapidly, Overblaze can swiftly shift the scales, making it a relevant addition to collections for its potential to disrupt the status quo and deliver surprise victories.
How to beat
Overblaze is a unique spell from the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to double the damage a permanent deals in a single turn. This burst of power can be decisive in battles, often catching an opponent unprepared. While seemingly overwhelming, strategic plays can mitigate this card’s impact efficiently. First off, denying mana with land destruction or counterspells can prevent the card from being played altogether. Additionally, instant-speed removal can take out the enchanted creature or artifact as soon as Overblaze is cast, nullifying its effect since it requires an existing target to function.
One must also consider the value of damage prevention or redirection effects, as they can shield your life total from the amplified damage. Incorporating negation effects may also be beneficial, as they can cancel Overblaze and other similar threatening spells in their tracks. And finally, remember that Overblaze is bound by the limits of sorcery speed. Use this to your advantage by timing your plays right, ensuring that the threat is dealt with before it can make an explosive impact.
Understanding how to dismantle the power of Overblaze involves anticipating your opponent’s moves and maintaining control over the pace of the game, all while keeping crucial disruption tools at hand. Handling this card requires both preemptive and reactive strategies, ensuring you’ll stand firm even when faced with formidable burst damage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Overblaze MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Overblaze and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Overblaze has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Overblaze card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-06-07 | A card with a splice ability can’t be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it. |
| 2013-06-07 | If all of the spell’s targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. |
| 2013-06-07 | You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word “target” on the resulting spell. |
| 2013-06-07 | You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell. |