Wildfire Emissary MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 203
1997-08-13 - Number pm203
1997-08-13 - Number jk203
1999-11-12 - Number 97
2006-10-06 - Number 72
2016-06-10 - Number 153
2019-11-07 - Number 1103
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-153
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Efreet |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Protection from white o1oo R +1/+0 until end of turn
"The efreet is a striding storm with a voice that crackles like fire." —Qhattib, Vizier of Amiqat
Cards like Wildfire Emissary
Wildfire Emissary is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, recognized for its resistance to white spells and abilities. This quality has echoes of the protection mechanic seen in cards like Crimson Acolyte, which provides protection from red. Unlike Crimson Acolyte, Wildfire Emissary comes with additional punch, enabling it to deal more damage to the opponent.
In terms of mana efficiency and durability, Wildfire Emissary stands in comparison with Aetherborn Marauder. While the Marauder offers the versatility of lifelink and transferring +1/+1 counters, the Emissary boasts a higher baseline power and the aforementioned protection from one of MTG’s core colors. Furthermore, Embermaw Hellion shares thematic similarities with its fire-related abilities, but Wildfire Emissary is less mana-intensive and provides more consistent damage output without relying on other red sources.
Looking closely at the design space of MTG creature cards, Wildfire Emissary represents an archetype that balances offensive capabilities with defensive traits like protection. This diverse utility makes it a reliable choice in formats where white spells are prevalent.
Cards similar to Wildfire Emissary by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wildfire Emissary’s protection from white makes it a resilient threat that often escapes common removal spells. This longevity on the battlefield can translate into sustained pressure on the opponent, allowing for a gradual accrual of card advantage as your adversary uses more resources to deal with it.
Resource Acceleration: While Wildfire Emissary itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its moderate casting cost means you don’t have to invest heavily in the early game. It leaves your mana open for other spells, effectively smoothing out your mana curve and letting you play more spells over time.
Instant Speed: Although Wildfire Emissary is a creature card and doesn’t have instant speed, its potency makes it a priority for your opponent to deal with on their turn. However, its Elemental type can synergize with cards that may allow you to flash it in under the right circumstances, utilizing the surprise element to hinder your opponent’s strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Wildfire Emissary doesn’t require an actual discard, it does have an echo cost which can feel like a discard when paid. For players not ready to invest additional mana in the next turn, it’s like discarding the potential to develop your board further.
Specific Mana Cost: Wildfire Emissary requires both red and generic mana to be cast. The necessity for red mana can restrict the card’s inclusion to only those decks that run mountains or have access to a red mana source, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and a red mana, Wildfire Emissary’s four total mana investment is sizeable, especially considering that its base stats are 2/4. Other creatures or spells at this cost could potentially offer more impactful abilities or higher stats, thus presenting a more efficient use of resources.
Reasons to Include Wildfire Emissary in Your Collection
Versatility: Wildfire Emissary can adapt to various deck styles due to its inherent protection from white, helping it evade common removal spells. It shines in multicolored decks that appreciate a resilient creature on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card’s firebreathing ability allows for dynamic damage potential, enabling it to fit into combos that seek to increase power for a decisive strike or enable certain damage-based triggers within a deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment where white-based control decks are prevalent, Wildfire Emissary can serve as a key player by resisting white-targeted spells, making it a tactical addition against specific opponents.
How to Beat Wildfire Emissary
Wildfire Emissary is a unique creature in the world of Mtg, known for its resilience against spells and abilities from monocolored sources. To effectively tackle this elusive elemental, players need to adjust their strategies, considering its protection from white. Utilizing multicolored spells or abilities provides a pathway to bypass the Emissary’s defenses, as these are not restricted by its built-in protection.
Cards like Terminate, which are red and black, can destroy Wildfire Emissary without the chance of it being protected. Moreover, global effects that don’t target, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can clear the board and remove the Emissary without engaging its protection feature. Players should also consider countering it upon casting since its protection isn’t active while it’s on the stack. Prioritizing removals or counters that can sidestep its protection trait is key to keeping Wildfire Emissary in check.
In summary, facing off against the Wildfire Emissary calls for multicolored removals, global non-targeted board wipes, or stack interaction. By incorporating these elements into your gameplay, the Emissary’s seemingly tenacious presence on the battlefield can be effectively extinguished.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wildfire Emissary MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Wildfire Emissary 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
Printings
The Wildfire Emissary Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Richard Kane Ferguson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 203 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 2 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | pm203 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 3 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | jk203 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 4 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 97 | 1997 | Normal | White | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 5 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 72 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 6 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 153 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 7 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson | |
| 8 | The List | PLST | EMA-153 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Kane Ferguson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wildfire Emissary has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |