Radiate MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Number	113
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Carl Critchlow

Key Takeaways

Radiate can massively multiply a spell’s effect, giving you a commanding advantage on the battlefield.
The card’s five mana cost demands strategic planning within your deck’s mana economy for optimal use.
Instant speed allows for dynamic and potentially game-changing responses to opponent actions.

Text of card

Choose target instant or sorcery spell that targets only a single permanent or player. For each other permanent or player that spell could target, put a copy of the spell onto the stack. Each copy targets a different one of those permanents and players.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Radiate turns one spell into a potentially massive duplication event, impacting each valid target on the battlefield. This offers a chance to scale up the effect of a single card dramatically, leading to substantial card advantage over your opponents in the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Radiate itself doesn’t directly create mana or resources, it can amplify spells that generate tokens, mana, or other resource-related effects. This can lead to explosive turns where your mana or other resources are effectively multiplied, giving you a commanding board presence.

Instant Speed: The power of Radiate is not just in its ability to copy spells but in its deployment at instant speed. This flexibility allows players to wait until the optimal moment to cast it, potentially in response to an opponent’s actions, which can result in game-changing plays and a dynamic shift in the state of the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Not relevant to Radiate as the card doesn’t require a discard, but it’s important to acknowledge that having to discard can be a drawback for many similar spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Radiate requires both red mana and a substantial total mana investment, which may not align with multi-color deck strategies that can’t consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a five mana cost, including four generic and one red, Radiate can be a heavy investment, especially in decks that aim to play quicker or more efficiently. In situations where mana economy is crucial, Radiate’s cost may outweigh its potential benefits.

Reasons to Include Radiate in Your Collection

Versatility: Radiate is a unique instant that can target any single-target spell on the stack and copy it for each other target that spell could target. This makes it highly adaptable in various decks, allowing creative players to find new uses for it in different situations.

Combo Potential: With the ability to copy spells multiple times, Radiate works excellently in combo decks. It pairs well with spells that have strong single-target effects, amplifying their impact across the board and potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the current competitive scene, Radiate can disrupt opponents’ strategies or enhance your own. Its capacity to turn a single targeted removal or buff spell into a widespread effect makes it relevant in metas with lots of creature-based strategies or where key targets must be dealt with immediately.

How to beat

Radiate is an intriguing and potentially game-altering card in the world of MTG, known for its ability to copy target instant or sorcery spell that targets a single permanent or player. Each copy targets a different one of those permanents or players. This can create a domino effect of spell copies, leading to sweeping board changes. Beating a card with such a broad effect requires smart and strategic play.

To outmaneuver your opponent’s Radiate, you might consider playing counterspells that target Radiate directly, shutting down the multiplication of effects right at the source. Another effective way to tackle Radiate is by limiting the number of valid targets on the board, especially if those targets could be detrimental to your strategy when copied. Instant-speed removal or sacrifice effects can drastically reduce Radiate’s impact by ensuring it has fewer targets to copy. Maintaining a nimble and flexible strategy while being mindful of your board state becomes key in mitigating Radiate’s potential chaos.

Ultimately, overcoming the challenges posed by Radiate entails good timing, understanding the meta, and being able to predict and disrupt your opponent’s planned combos, thus preserving your board position and maintaining control over the game.

Cards like Radiate

Radiate is a unique spell in the landscape of MTG that offers a twist on targeting mechanics. When looking at spells of a similar nature, we can compare it to cards like Twincast, which also deals with copying spells. However, Radiate is distinct in that it copies a single-target instant or sorcery spell for each other possible target. This breadth of impact can be far more dramatic compared to Twincast’s one-time duplicate.

Another card worth mentioning is Reiterate. This card shares the ability to copy spells, but with the added flexibility of the buyback ability, allowing players to use it multiple times throughout the game. While not affecting multiple targets as Radiate does, Reiterate’s recurring potential offers a different form of strategic depth.

Reflecting on these interactions, Radiate stands out for its potential to drastically change the state of the game by affecting multiple targets. It remains an intriguing option for those looking to harness the power of spell copying, offering a broad impact where its counterparts focus on singular or repeatable effects.

Cards similar to Radiate by color, type and mana cost

Beacon of Destruction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Radiate MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Radiate and other MTG cards: