Rekindling Phoenix MTG Card


Phoenix’s recurrent nature ensures board presence, forcing opponents to manage resources carefully. Specific mana needs require thoughtful deck building to optimize Phoenix’s revival ability. Combos and metagame relevance make Rekindling Phoenix a potent inclusion in competitive decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Phoenix
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying When Rekindling Phoenix dies, create a 0/1 red Elemental creature token with "At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice this creature and return target card named Rekindling Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste until end of turn."


Cards like Rekindling Phoenix

Rekindling Phoenix holds a distinctive place among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels with other resilient threats. Analogous to the Phoenix is the popular Flamewake Phoenix, which can also return from the graveyard but requires a powerful creature on the battlefield for its resurgence. Rekindling Phoenix, conversely, does not share this dependency, having the unique ability to revive itself with its own elemental token.

Another creature with a persisting presence is Bloodghast. Although it lacks flying, its landfall ability granting it a comeback from the grave offers a different kind of staying power. Rekindling Phoenix stands out with its flying attribute, providing valuable air dominance. The Phoenix also directly competes with cards like Thundermaw Hellkite, which, while lacking rebirth capabilities, compensates with immediate impact, clearing the skies and dealing significant damage when it arrives.

In assessing the role of undying creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Rekindling Phoenix shines as a formidable adversary. Its self-contained revival mechanism combined with flying makes it a threat that demands an answer, ensuring its place in the pantheon of persistent creatures.

Flamewake Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Bloodghast - MTG Card versions
Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Flamewake Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Bloodghast - MTG Card versions
Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Rekindling Phoenix. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rakdos MidrangeRakdos Midrange PioneerRakdos MidrangeReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Philadelphia - Sunday - 1:00 pm (Bronze)
Gruul ComboGruul Combo GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Boros AggroBoros Aggro GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024
Mono-Red MidrangeMono-Red Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Gruul MidrangeGruul Midrange PioneerGruul AggroF2F Tour Championship - Toronto Round 4 (Regional Championship)
Izzet MidrangeIzzet Midrange PioneerIzzet MidrangePioneer Challenge 64 2024-01-14
Izzet EmergeIzzet Emerge PioneerIzzet MidrangePeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rekindling Phoenix presents a persistent threat on the board that can create card advantage. When the Phoenix is destroyed, it leaves behind a token that brings it back to the battlefield at the beginning of the next upkeep, effectively providing you with a never-ending creature unless your opponent can remove the Phoenix and its token in one go.

Resource Acceleration: While this fiery bird doesn’t directly ramp up your mana resources, its resilience pressures opponents to spend multiple resources on it. This indirect resource acceleration can disrupt their game plan, keeping gold open for you to deploy other threats or answers without fear of overcommitting.

Instant Speed: The ability of the Phoenix to return to play comes at the speed of the game’s upkeep, which, similar to instant speed, can surprise an unprepared opponent. This aspect of the card demands instant-speed response from them, setting you up to dictate the pace of the match and complicating their turn as they must consider the looming resurgence of your Phoenix.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect to consider is that Rekindling Phoenix doesn’t have any inherent discard mechanics but may prompt a discard as part of deck strategies to leverage its recurring abilities, which could be problematic when your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: Rekindling Phoenix demands a specific mana configuration with two red mana, which may not always align seamlessly with multicolored or diverse mana base decks, potentially causing delays or inconsistencies in play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two which must be red, Rekindling Phoenix’s initial investment may be steep compared to other creatures. In decks where speed is pivotal, this mana cost can be a noticeable hindrance, especially when facing decks that can deploy threats more rapidly or disrupt early game plays.


Reasons to Include Rekindling Phoenix in Your Collection

Versatility: Rekindling Phoenix offers resilience against removal, making it a fitting addition to a wide array of red-based decks. Its ability to return from the graveyard embodies the undying spirit of red’s gameplay, providing persistent board presence.

Combo Potential: The Phoenix synergizes with cards that manipulate the graveyard or take advantage of sacrifices. It works exceptionally well within strategies looking to exploit death and rebirth mechanics, setting up potential combos with cards such as “Fling” to deal direct damage.

Meta-Relevance: This card stands strong in metas heavy with creature-based combat. As a self-reviving threat, it forces opponents to consider their removal choices carefully and can outlast many single-elimination spells, making it a worthwhile contender in competitive play.


How to beat Rekindling Phoenix

Rekindling Phoenix is a formidable creature card in MTG, known for its resilience and the capacity to rise from the ashes upon defeat. This red creature card brings a tactical challenge, as it returns to the battlefield with a token that can bring it back to life at the beginning of your upkeep after being destroyed.

To effectively deal with this Phoenix, exile effects are your best bet. Cards like “Vraska’s Contempt” or “Cast Out” can remove the Phoenix permanently, circumventing its rebirth ability. Another strategy is to employ graveyard disruption with cards like “Scavenger Grounds,” which can be activated in response to the Phoenix’s death-trigger, exiling it before the token can even be created. Additionally, using countermagic when the Phoenix is cast initially can prevent it from entering the battlefield at all. Planeswalkers with direct exile abilities, such as “Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver,” can also provide lasting solutions.

By integrating exile effects or graveyard disruption into your deck, you can prepare for and neutralize the threat of Rekindling Phoenix, gaining an advantage over opponents who rely heavily on this tenacious creature’s abilities.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves knowing not only your deck but also how to counteract popular threats in the game. Rekindling Phoenix epitomizes resilience, creating a challenge for any adversary on the other side of the battlefield. Understanding how to leverage its strengths and mitigate its weaknesses is crucial for any serious player. Whether you’re intrigued by the strategic depth of Rekindling Phoenix or seeking effective counters, further exploration is key. Dive deeper into the mechanics and enhance your deck-building skills. Join us for insights that can help turn the tide of battle and solidify your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rekindling Phoenix MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and New Capenna Commander, 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 Rekindling Phoenix and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rekindling Phoenix Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Jason Rainville.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1112015NormalBlackJason Rainville
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2732015NormalBlackJason Rainville

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rekindling Phoenix has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-01-19 If another card copies Rekindling Phoenix (such as Protean Raider may), the Elemental token's triggered ability will look for a card named Rekindling Phoenix, not one with the other card's name. This is true even if the card copying Rekindling Phoenix keeps its name while it's copying Rekindling Phoenix (such as Lazav, Dimir Mastermind does).
2018-01-19 If you don't have a card named Rekindling Phoenix in your graveyard, the Elemental token's ability is immediately removed from the stack after it triggers and you won't sacrifice the token. If that target becomes illegal after the ability has triggered but before it resolves, you also won't sacrifice the Elemental token. In either case, it will trigger again during your next upkeep.