Stoke the Flames MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Instant |
Abilities | Convoke |
Text of card
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) Stoke the Flames deals 4 damage to target creature or player.
Cards like Stoke the Flames
Stoke the Flames is a powerful red instant that has carved a niche for itself in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. When positioned alongside other burn spells, its merits become apparent. It shares similarities with cards like Lightning Strike and Searing Spear, both dealing 3 damage to any target. However, Stoke the Flames offers an upper hand with its potential to deal 4 damage, giving it an edge to take out slightly tougher creatures or close out games more reliably.
Another comparable card is Skewer the Critics. Although it can deal the same amount of damage for a single red mana through its spectacle cost, without meeting the spectacle condition, its normal casting cost is significantly higher and it lacks the flexibility of being an instant. Additionally, Stoke the Flames can be cast using the convoke mechanic, essentially reducing or even negating its casting cost if you control enough creatures, a huge strategic advantage in creature-heavy decks.
Looking at its position in various MTG formats, Stoke the Flames continues to shine due to its sheer force and tactical versatility. When compared to other damage spells, its ability to utilize the convoke mechanic often tips the scales in its favor, making it a formidable choice for players aiming to maximize their damage output efficiently.
Cards similar to Stoke the Flames by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Stoke the Flames. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gruul Aggro | Pioneer | Gruul Aggro | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 | |
Mono-Red Aggro | Standard | Mono-Red Aggro | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor | |
Boros Aggro | Standard | Boros Aggro | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor | |
Mono-Red Artifact Aggro | Standard | Mono-Red Artifact Aggro | Standard Preliminary 2024-02-14 | |
Mono-Red Burn | Pioneer | Mono-Red Burn | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 | |
Gruul Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | ||
Atarka Red | Pioneer | Gruul Aggro | UOL LCI Pioneer League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stoke the Flames is an efficient tool for dealing with multiple threats, as it can be cast using the convoke mechanic, essentially allowing your creatures to help pay for its cost. This capability can lead to maintaining card advantage as you remove opponent’s creatures while keeping your pool of spells ready.
Resource Acceleration: While Stoke the Flames doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, its convoke mechanic serves as a form of resource acceleration. By tapping creatures you control, you effectively use them as an alternative resource, ensuring your mana stays free for other strategic plays within the same turn or for upcoming threats.
Instant Speed: The power of being able to cast spells at instant speed cannot be overstated, and Stoke the Flames holds this valuable trait. This allows savvy players to wait for the most opportune moment within any phase of a turn to unleash this spell, catching an opponent off-guard and potentially swinging the game in your favor with its sudden impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stoke the Flames necessitates a sacrifice of sorts as you might need to discard another valuable card to capitalize on its convoke mechanic, potentially depleting your hand when you may not afford to.
Specific Mana Cost: While flexible through convoke, the inherent cost of this card is locked into red mana, potentially making it unwieldy for multi-color decks that might struggle with color-fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires a substantial four mana, players may find Stoke the Flames to be less efficient in fast-paced matches where lower-cost alternatives could be used to maintain momentum.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stoke the Flames offers a dynamic option for decks that need to manage creatures or directly lower an opponent’s life total. Its convoke mechanic allows for a flexible casting cost, making it a handy card in both aggressive and slower, spell-heavy decks.
Combo Potential: As a burn spell, Stoke the Flames can be a key part of combos, especially in decks that can untap creatures easily or generate a lot of tokens. Its convoke ability works seamlessly with strategies that look to cast multiple spells in one turn or need to finish a game quickly.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks are prevalent, Stoke the Flames shines for its ability to remove blockers or threats while also providing the final points of damage needed for a win. Its presence in a deck ensures that creature-heavy opponents have to consider the potential for an impactful instant-speed removal that could upset their plans.
How to beat Stoke the Flames
Stoke the Flames is a dynamic card in MTG, allowing players to potentially cast it for no mana through its convoke ability, which can turn games around by dealing four damage with swift efficiency. To counteract this card, it’s vital to minimize the number of creatures on your opponent’s battlefield since each creature they tap provides a discount on Stoke the Flame’s mana cost.
Strategies to mitigate the impact of Stoke the Flames include maintaining removal spells to keep their creature count low, using counterspells to prevent it from resolving, or playing cards that grant you or your creatures hexproof. The latter can be particularly beneficial, as it makes the target invalid for the damage being dealt.
It’s also helpful to increase the cost of their spells or limit the number of spells they can cast each turn with cards like Damping Sphere. By understanding the mechanics of Stoke the Flames and preparing your deck with these proactive measures, you can often neutralize its threat and maintain control of the match.
BurnMana Recommendations
Understanding the strategic depth of Stoke the Flames can transform your MTG gameplay, providing an edge that could lead to triumphant moments at the table. With its convoke mechanic offering a unique form of cost efficiency and instant speed flexibility, this card is a worthy consideration for any red deck enthusiast looking to keep their opponents on their toes. Diving into our insights will not only enhance your appreciation for this impactful card but will also develop your overall approach to MTG. Embrace the full potential of Stoke the Flames and other synergistic cards by joining our ever-growing community and tapping into expert knowledge to refine your playstyle.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stoke the Flames MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Friday Night Magic 2014, 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 Stoke the Flames 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
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Printings
The Stoke the Flames Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 54553 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | ||
2 | Friday Night Magic 2014 | F14 | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mathias Kollros | ||
3 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 164 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger | |
4 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 166 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Liiga Smilshkalne | |
5 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 38 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Liiga Smilshkalne |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stoke the Flames has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stoke the Flames card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2021-03-19 | If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke. |
2021-03-19 | When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value. |
2021-03-19 | You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. |