Furnace Spirit MTG Card


Furnace Spirit - Stronghold
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Haste
Released1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set nameStronghold
Set codeSTH
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number87
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

  1. Furnace Spirit adds card advantage and can trigger additional draw when sacrificing other creatures.
  2. Offering instant speed activation, it introduces tactical play options during any turn.
  3. Its presence on the battlefield can alter the tide of the game by leveraging creature deaths.

Text of card

Furnace Spirit is unaffected by summoning sickness. oo R Furnace Spirit gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

If it can survive the Furnace, you don't want it near you.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Furnace Spirit enables you to potentially draw additional cards if you use its ability to sacrifice another creature. This action can help repopulate your hand, keeping your options open.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, sacrificing a creature with Furnace Spirit could synergize with other cards that benefit from creature deaths, thus indirectly accelerating your resources through various game mechanics.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Furnace Spirit at instant speed adds a layer of strategic depth to your game. This means you can wait until the most opportune moment during any player’s turn to activate its abilities, catching opponents off-guard or maximizing the timing of your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Furnace Spirit requires a card to be discarded when casting it. This can potentially put you at a disadvantage, especially if you are already dealing with a depleted hand and need to maintain card advantage to execute your strategy effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Furnace Spirit includes red mana, which means that it fits primarily into red or multicolored decks. Its specific mana requirement could restrict deck-building options and may not be as versatile for players who prefer a wider variety of color combinations in their decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the mana investment against the benefits it brings to the battlefield, Furnace Spirit has a comparatively high mana cost. There are alternative cards within the same or lower mana range that could provide more impactful effects or better synergies with the rest of the deck’s mechanics.


Reasons to Include Furnace Spirit in Your Collection

Versatility: The Furnace Spirit is flexible enough to slide into a variety of deck builds, particularly those that thrive on swift, aggressive strategies. Its straightforward mana cost makes it a practical choice in both mono-red burn decks and multi-colored strategies needing red components.

Combo Potential: This spirit synergizes well with cards that capitalize on spell casting or creature summoning. The ability to sacrifice it for immediate impact allows for smart plays and unexpected tricks that can shift the momentum of a game.

Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by creature-heavy tactics, Furnace Spirit’s presence can offer a quick and efficient way to deal with early threats or finish off weakened opponents, keeping your deck competitive and responsive to prevailing trends.


How to Beat

Furnace Spirit is an intriguing card that presents players with the strategic decision of how best to manage their fiery opponent on the battlefield. This creature often demands an immediate answer, as it can quickly become a substantial threat if left unchecked. Experienced players may recommend employing removal spells that can target Furnace Spirit at instant speed, such as Murder or Lightning Strike, to efficiently deal with it before it has a chance to utilize its power-boosting ability.

Another approach is to play around Furnace Spirit’s timing. Since it requires (R) to activate its ability and boost its damage output, carefully timing your moves to disrupt the player’s mana availability can be key. This means using cards like Mana Leak or Frost Breath can strategically inhibit a player’s ability to enhance the Spirit’s power during their turn.

Playing creatures with toughness higher than Furnace Spirit’s power is another solid technique. This forces the opponent to spend additional resources to get through them, providing you with the advantage in the long run. With this knowledge, you’re well-equipped to douse the flames of Furnace Spirit and maintain control in your games.


Cards like Furnace Spirit

Furnace Spirit is another intriguing creature card for MTG players to consider. Its similarities extend to other cards like Spark Elemental and Thunderkin Awakener. Like Furnace Spirit, Spark Elemental boasts haste and trample, offering an immediate impact once it hits the battlefield. However, Spark Elemental comes with a drawback, sacrificing itself at the end of the turn, whereas Furnace Spirit can potentially stick around for longer if conditions are met.

Thunderkin Awakener serves as both a similarity and contrast. It shares the same fiery spirit as Furnace Spirit and has the potential to reanimate certain creatures from the graveyard. This allows for a reuse of the sacrificial effects seen in Spark Elemental, thereby expanding player strategies with repeated bursts of damage. While the Awakener doesn’t have trample, it compensates with its recursion ability, making it both a threat and an asset over multiple turns.

Ultimately, the choice of including Furnace Spirit in your deck versus other similar creatures should hinge on the synergy with the rest of your strategy. Its capacity to stay on the board under the right conditions offers a unique advantage, giving it a distinctive role in the fast-paced action of MTG gameplay.

Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Thunderkin Awakener - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Thunderkin Awakener - Core Set 2020 (M20)

Cards similar to Furnace Spirit by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Furnace Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Furnace Spirit and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Furnace Spirit has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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