Ravaging Blaze MTG Card

Ravaging Blaze offers dual utility: it can remove creatures or target players for lethal damage. Its spell mastery mechanic rewards players for casting spells, adding a strategic layer to your game. Adaptability at instant speed allows for reactive plays or end-of-turn surprises, crucial in MTG.

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 159

Ravaging Blaze - Commander Masters (CMM)

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 250

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Abilities	Spell mastery

Text of card

Ravaging Blaze deals X damage to target creature. Spell mastery — If there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, Ravaging Blaze also deals X damage to that creature's controller.

In time, not even the fire monks could keep up with Chandra.

Cards like Ravaging Blaze

Ravaging Blaze stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful instant spell for dealing with direct damage, reminiscent of an array of burn spells. Like the iconic Fireball, this card also offers a versatile X cost to customize its damage output. Yet, Ravaging Blaze has the added benefit of targeting single creatures, possibly removing pesky blockers or threats on the board.

Comparatively, we have Pyrotechnics, which divides its damage, offering a tactical approach to dealing with multiple creatures or hitting opposing planeswalkers. However, unlike Pyrotechnics, Ravaging Blaze has the capability to be a game-ender due to its spell mastery effect, which not only damages creatures or players but also allows a scorching amount of excess damage to lash out at your opponent directly.

Another spell worth mentioning is Rolling Thunder, a card that also scales with a flexible mana investment. It shares Ravaging Blaze’s communal trait of splitting damage across multiple targets. But Ravaging Blaze’s targeted nature and spell mastery provide it with an aggressive edge in dealing lethal damage. Thus in the right deck, especially one leveraging spell mastery, Ravaging Blaze can truly shine with its focused fiery finish.

Cards similar to Ravaging Blaze by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ravaging Blaze enables you to deal direct damage to any target while also providing the potential for card advantage when you meet its spell mastery condition. This can lead to eliminating a key creature or even finishing off an opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Ravaging Blaze itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration, its synergy with spells that add mana or ramp can be pivotal. It rewards you for having more mana available, as the damage output increases with the amount of mana you invest into its X cost.

Instant Speed: Ravaging Blaze’s instant speed offers flexibility in gameplay. You can decide whether to use it during your turn for a strategic strike or hold back to respond to your opponent’s moves, making it a versatile and unpredictable threat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ravaging Blaze doesn’t require a traditional discard to cast, it does necessitate a significant number of cards in hand to fully utilize its spell mastery ability. This can be particularly disadvantageous in the late game where your hand may be depleted, thus not being able to capitalize on its full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Ravaging Blaze has a specific mana cost that must be met to cast it, including two red mana. This can limit the card’s inclusion to red or multicolor decks that can accommodate such color constraints, possibly excluding it from a wider variety of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The base mana cost of Ravaging Blaze is high, and for it to be truly devastating, a substantial mana investment is needed to deal with more formidable creatures or to finish off an opponent. Consequently, in fast-paced games or against decks that quickly pressure mana resources, Ravaging Blaze may not be the most mana-efficient removal or burn option available.

Reasons to Include Ravaging Blaze in Your Collection

Versatility: Ravaging Blaze is a flexible spell that can serve multiple roles. As a burn spell, it can target creatures or players, making it useful for controlling the board or finishing off an opponent.

Combo Potential: This card has immense synergy with strategies that increase spell damage or benefit from casting high-mana-cost spells. It can escalate the damage output significantly in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s dense with creature-based strategies, Ravaging Blaze shines as a removal tool. Its scalability ensures it remains a potent threat throughout the game’s progression.

How to beat

Ravaging Blaze presents itself as a powerful card with potential to shatter expectations in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its direct damage capability, it challenges players to find effective strategies to withstand its fiery onslaught. Casting Ravaging Blaze during your opponent’s turn isn’t an option, hence why counterplay revolves around preemptive measures.

One sturdy approach to mitigate the impact of a Ravaging Blaze is to maintain a full health reservoir, which can be done through life gain effects. Cards such as Feed the Clan or Exquisite Archangel offer essential lifelines in critical moments. Moreover, leveraging counterspell cards like Cancel or Dispel can nip the threat in the bud, provided you have the resources to cast them. Spell Queller, a creature that can exile spells upon entering the battlefield, creates another layer of defense against such burn spells. Cards with protection from red or that prevent noncombat damage, such as Leyline of Sanctity, can also provide a barrier against this powerful X spell’s destructive force.

In essence, your strategy against Ravaging Blaze hinges on anticipating high-impact spells and establishing a robust defense, be it through life gain, disruption, or preventative measures. In doing so, you’ll neutralize it as a threat and maintain the upper hand.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ravaging Blaze MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Commander Masters, 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 Ravaging Blaze and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ravaging Blaze Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI		159	2015	Normal	Black	Aleksi Briclot
2	2023-08-04	Commander Masters	CMM		250	2015	Normal	Black	Aleksi Briclot

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ravaging Blaze has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	Check to see if there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard as the spell resolves to determine whether the spell mastery ability applies. The spell itself won’t count because it’s still on the stack as you make this check.
2015-06-22	If the creature becomes an illegal target by the time Ravaging Blaze tries to resolve, Ravaging Blaze won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No damage will be dealt to the creature or its controller.
2015-06-22	Ravaging Blaze targets only the creature. It doesn’t target any player, even if the spell mastery ability applies.