Smolder Initiate MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Shaman |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chippy |
Text of card
Whenever a player plays a black spell, you may pay . If you do, target player loses 1 life.
"Life is a circle. Death is a vicious circle."
Cards like Smolder Initiate
Smolder Initiate can be a strategic inclusion in decks that focus on sacrificing creatures. It shares similarities with cards like Bloodthrone Vampire, which also benefits from creature sacrifices by increasing power and toughness. Smolder Initiate, however, has the unique ability to make the opponent lose life whenever you sacrifice a creature, providing a dual advantage of creature and life point manipulation.
Another card worthy of comparison is Blood Artist, which has a more passive ability that triggers upon the death of any creature, not just your own. While Smolder Initiate requires proactive sacrifices to be useful, Blood Artist can capitalize on the natural flow of the game. Carrion Feeder is another card that synergizes well with sacrifice mechanics, allowing for repeatable growth with each creature sacrificed, but without directly affecting opponents’ life totals like Smolder Initiate.
Each card serves a distinct purpose within sacrifice-themed decks in MTG. Smolder Initiate, with its tangible life loss effect on opponents, can be a valuable component in the right strategy, particularly in aggro decks that aim to quickly deplete the opponent’s life total.
Cards similar to Smolder Initiate by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Smolder Initiate’s ability can potentially create repeated card draw benefits when combining it with discard or sacrifice effects, enabling you to cycle through your deck quickly and keep your hand filled with tactics and options.
Resource Acceleration: In a red-inclined deck that focuses on aggressive tactics, Smolder Initiate can help speed up your game plan. It turns each of your creatures into a potential source of additional mana when they are sacrificed, allowing for a faster deployment of high-cost cards.
Instant Speed: Smolder Initiate fits comfortably in strategies that operate at instant speed. It can be sacrificed along with other creatures anytime you have mana available, which means you can adapt to battlefield changes on the fly without having to pause your own maneuvers until your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Smolder Initiate compels players to discard another card to utilize its ability. This can adversely affect hand size, forcing players to choose between maintaining card advantage and activating the card’s ability, particularly challenging when your options are already limited.
Specific Mana Cost: Smolder Initiate’s casting cost demands a red mana. This requirement may restrict the card’s inclusion to decks centered around red or those that can reliably produce the necessary mana colors, potentially excluding it from a variety of deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a conversion cost that might be seen as steep for its effect, players might find Smolder Initiate less economical compared to other creatures or spells in the same mana range. This can influence deckbuilding decisions, as there could be more cost-effective alternatives that fulfill similar roles without the additional burden of a discard.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Smolder Initiate boasts a flexibility that allows it to be easily slotted into various deck archetypes, particularly those looking for an early creature presence or the ones that focus on utilizing mana-efficient spells.
Combo Potential: This card can act as an important cog in synergistic deck builds, contributing to spell-based combos or enhancing red-based strategies that revolve around small, aggressive creatures.
Meta-Relevance: The shifting dynamics of the MTG landscape mean that having responsive cards like Smolder Initiate can make the difference in matches, especially if the environment favors swift, impactful plays.
How to beat
Overcoming Smolder Initiate in a game of Magic: The Gathering can be a nuanced task. This card requires a strategy that revolves around understanding its strengths and weaknesses. Smolder Initiate, a creature card known for its capability to grow stronger when noncreature spells are cast, can become a serious threat if left unchecked on the battlefield.
One effective approach is to limit the effectiveness of this creature by controlling the number of noncreature spells played. An alternative method is through efficient removal. Instant-speed removal spells can be particularly useful as they allow you to respond to your opponent’s actions immediately, preventing the Smolder Initiate from leveraging any spells cast for its benefit. Board wipes are also an efficient way to deal with the Smolder Initiate along with any other creatures your opponent may have, resetting the playing field to your advantage. Timing is essential; acting swiftly before your opponent can build a sizeable advantage with their Smolder Initiate can be a deciding factor in your victory.
In summary, a combination of strategic spell casting, targeted removal, and preemptive board control can effectively neutralize Smolder Initiate’s impact on the game, paving the way for a win against opponents utilizing this fiery creature in their decks.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Smolder Initiate MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Smolder Initiate and other MTG cards:
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- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Smolder Initiate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |