Radiant Flames MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 151
2015-10-02 - Number 151s
2015-10-02 - Number 151
2022-09-09 - Number 126
2002-06-24 - Number 58277
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Converge |
Text of card
Converge — Radiant Flames deals X damage to each creature, where X is the number of colors of mana spent to cast Radiant Flames.
The fires of Zendikar are always hungry, and there is much on which they can feed.
Cards like Radiant Flames
Radiant Flames is a potent addition to the suite of board-clearing spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card is often weighed against other red sweepers like Anger of the Gods. While both deal damage to each creature, Radiant Flames offers a unique degree of flexibility through Converge, allowing a variable amount of damage based on the colors of mana used to cast it. Anger of the Gods, however, has a fixed damage output and includes an exile clause which is critical against graveyard strategies.
Sweltering Suns is another card that shares traits with Radiant Flames, dealing three damage to each creature. An advantage of Suns over Flames, however, is the cycle ability that provides card advantage when the sweeper effect isn’t required. In contrast, Radiant Flames’ scalability can be more useful in a multi-colored deck.
Considering utility and adaptability in various deck builds, Radiant Flames holds a competitive edge in multi-color decks that benefit from its scaling mechanism. It provides players with a significant tool for controlling the battlefield, especially in formats such as Commander and decks that can harness various mana sources.
Cards similar to Radiant Flames by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Radiant Flames. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 5c Midrange | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | Pioneer Challenge 96 2023-12-10 (1) |
 | Four-color Midrange | Legacy | MO78#CS |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Radiant Flames doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can clear the board of multiple creatures at once, potentially wiping out several of your opponent’s threats with just one card. This can lead to a significant card advantage as you are using one spell to deal with multiple enemy cards.
Resource Acceleration: Radiant Flames offers a unique form of resource acceleration by clearing smaller creatures off the board. This can help break a stalemate and allow your costlier creatures to dominate the battlefield unhindered, speeding up your path to victory.
Instant Speed: Radiant Flames is a sorcery, which means it is played during your main phase. However, its impact on the game is akin to instant speed spells because of its ability to swiftly change the state of the board before your opponent can bolster their defenses or recover.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Radiant Flames doesn’t specifically ask for a discard, it’s worth noting that using it might force you to make tough decisions on which cards to keep in hand, especially if you need to manage your resources effectively to deal with what your opponent might play next.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Radiant Flames includes colored mana, which requires at least one red mana to cast. This may restrict its addition in multicolored decks that don’t have a sufficient mana base to guarantee the right colors at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a potential three damage sweep, the cost of three mana might be on the higher side when considering other sweepers in MTG. Cards with lower mana costs could potentially offer a similar level of board control, affecting its inclusion rate in decks where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Radiant Flames in Your Collection
Versatility: Radiant Flames brings adaptable board control to your arsenal. This card can efficiently clear out swarms of minor threats, proving its worth in a multitude of deck types where wiping the board of smaller creatures is essential.
Combo Potential: Having Radiant Flames in your deck opens up strategic plays, especially for decks that might capitalize on casting multicolored spells or those that manipulate damage dealt to creatures for various beneficial effects.
Meta-Relevance: In meta environments where aggressive creature-based strategies are dominant, Radiant Flames serves as a critical inclusion for turning the tide. Its scalability in dealing damage allows for effective management of the tempo and can often clear the path for your win conditions.
How to beat
Radiant Flames is a potent area-of-effect spell in Magic: The Gathering that can change the tide of a game. It offers players the ability to deal damage across the board, potentially wiping out multiple creatures with one cast. It functions similarly to other spells like Anger of the Gods or Slagstorm. However, Radiant Flames gives players flexibility with its Converge mechanic, scaling the damage based on the colors of mana spent to cast it.
To counteract the threat of Radiant Flames, smart deck-building and strategic play are essential. Including creatures with indestructibility or those with a toughness higher than three can ensure their survival against this spell. Utilizing instant-speed spells that can save or regenerate your important creatures can also effectively nullify the impact of Radiant Flames. Moreover, keeping in mind that the spell is a sorcery and planning moves for the post-Radiant Flames battlefield can keep you a step ahead. It is also beneficial to bait out the spell before playing your high-value creatures.
When considering your matchup against Radiant Flames, adjusting your approach to maintain a resilient board presence can prove to be crucial, allowing you to swiftly recover from its sweeping damage and continue to pressure your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Radiant Flames MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Battle for Zendikar, 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 Radiant Flames and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Radiant Flames Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 58277 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger | ||
| 2 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 3 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar Promos | PBFZ | 151s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 4 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar Promos | PBFZ | 151 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger | |
| 5 | 2022-09-09 | Dominaria United Commander | DMC | 126 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Radiant Flames has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Radiant Flames card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied. |
| 2015-08-25 | If there are any alternative or additional costs to cast a spell with a converge ability, the mana spent to pay those costs will count. For example, if an effect makes sorcery spells cost more to cast, you could pay to cast Radiant Flames and deal 4 damage to each creature. |
| 2015-08-25 | If you cast a spell with converge without spending any mana to cast it (perhaps because an effect allowed you to cast it without paying its mana cost), then the number of colors spent to cast it will be zero. |
| 2015-08-25 | The maximum number of colors of mana you can spend to cast a spell is five. Colorless is not a color. Note that the cost of a spell with converge may limit how many colors of mana you can spend. |
| 2015-08-25 | Unless a spell or ability allows you to, you can't choose to pay more mana for a spell with a converge ability just to spend more colors of mana. Likewise, if a spell or ability reduces the amount of mana it costs you to cast a spell with converge, you can't ignore that cost reduction in order to spend more colors of mana. |