Hellkite Charger MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 131
2010-06-18 - Number 41
2015-05-22 - Number 118
2017-08-25 - Number 138
2023-08-04 - Number 232
2023-08-04 - Number 540
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Hellkite Charger transforms extra mana into devastating additional attack phases, pressuring opponents significantly.
- With right combos, such as with Sword of Feast and Famine, this dragon can unleash endless combat phases.
- Despite its strengths, its hefty mana requirements demand careful deck construction and resource management.
Text of card
Flying, haste Whenever Hellkite Charger attacks, you may pay . If you do, untap all attacking creatures and after this phase, there is an additional combat phase.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hellkite Charger boasts a formidable ability that, when combined with sufficient mana, can unhinge your opponent’s strategy by granting you additional attack phases. This can lead to an overwhelming number of creatures and damage being inflicted within a single turn, potentially altering the state of the board to your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerator, Hellkite Charger can synergize with cards that untap lands or generate additional mana during the combat phase. This interplay can effectively turn the Charger into a powerful force by ramping up the number of attack phases you receive, thereby taking full advantage of any resource acceleration present on the board.
Instant Speed: Although Hellkite Charger operates at sorcery speed due to its nature as a creature, its strength does not wane. The true power of the Charger lies not in the speed of its deployment, but in the impact it has upon entering the battlefield and activating its formidable ability. The instant-speed spells in your arsenal can protect it or clear the way for its attacks, ultimately causing a massive shift in the tide of battle each time the Charger takes to the skies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Hellkite Charger doesn’t make you discard directly, strategizing around its ability can penalize your hand. You might find yourself discarding other valuable cards to maintain the mana needed for its repeated attack phase trigger.
Specific Mana Cost: The demonic dragon demands a hefty amount of mana, including two that must strictly be red. This requirement can limit deck-building options and can be a hurdle in multicolored mana bases that strive for flexibility and consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana and an additional demanding activation cost, Hellkite Charger’s investment can be steep. Competing creatures and spells at the six mana spot often provide immediate and more impactful benefits without further resource commitment.
Reasons to Include Hellkite Charger in Your Collection
Versatility: Hellkite Charger offers a dynamic presence on the battlefield, able to fit into a variety of red-based decks. It’s not just a formidable flyer; it’s a game-changer that can turn the tide with its ability to grant additional attack phases.
Combo Potential: This dragon shines when combined with sources of additional mana or anything that can untap lands. Pair it with cards like Sword of Feast and Famine or Bear Umbra for a devastating combat phase loop, presenting infinite combat phases under the right conditions.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that appreciates aggressive strategies, Hellkite Charger poses a significant threat. Its potential for repetitive attacks can dismantle opponent’s defenses and win games that appear unwinnable, placing it as a relevant choice in the evolving landscape of the game.
How to beat
Hellkite Charger is a powerhouse among dragon cards in Magic: The Gathering, offering an aggressive ability that can turn the tide of a game. When it attacks, you may pay a certain amount of mana. If you do, after your post-combat main phase, theres’s an additional combat phase followed by an additional main phase. This enables multiple attacks in a single turn, paving the way for potential game-winning combos, especially when coupled with enough mana generation.
To counter this formidable creature, prioritizing removal spells that can dispatch the Charger before it declares an attack is essential. Instant speed spells like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization bypass the need to wait for sorcery speed windows, making them excellent tools to nullify the threat immediately. Moreover, cards that restrict the number of attacks per turn, such as Silent Arbiter, can render Hellkite Charger’s ability irrelevant. Lastly, keeping counter magic in hand for times when your opponent might be poised to unleash a deadly assault with Hellkite Charger can be a game-saving tactic.
While Hellkite Charger can be a daunting card to face, understanding and preparing a strategic response can help players navigate the threat effectively, keeping the skies clear of draconic domination.
Cards like Hellkite Charger
Hellkite Charger is a powerhouse among flying creatures in Magic the Gathering, often compared to dragons like Inferno Titan for the immediate impact it makes upon entering the battlefield. Hellkite Charger offers an extraordinary ability to untap all attacking creatures and take an additional combat phase at the cost of mana, fueling aggressive strategies. Inferno Titan, although doesn’t give extra combat phases, compensates with the ability to deal damage directly upon entering, or when attacking, that can be pivotal in controlling the board state.
Another relative is Scourge of the Throne, which offers a somewhat similar extra combat phase mechanic; however, it is conditional on attacking the player with the most life. This makes Hellkite Charger more flexible in terms of when you can unleash the additional combat phase. Moreover, while Scourge of the Throne’s effect is a powerful once-per-turn ability, Hellkite Charger’s can be used multiple times in a turn—provided you have the mana to support it.
Ultimately, Hellkite Charger shines in decks that are capable of generating ample mana, pairing exceptionally well with cards like Sword of Feast and Famine or Bear Umbra to potentially create infinite combat phases. Its capability to repeatedly trigger combat-oriented abilities and overwhelming attacking waves earn its place as a formidable force in creature-heavy red decks.
Cards similar to Hellkite Charger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hellkite Charger MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Archenemy, 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 Hellkite Charger and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Hellkite Charger Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Jaime Jones.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 131 | 2003 | normal | black | Jaime Jones | |
| 2 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 41 | 2003 | normal | black | Jaime Jones | |
| 3 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 118 | 2015 | normal | black | Jaime Jones | |
| 4 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 138 | 2015 | normal | black | Jaime Jones | |
| 5 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 232 | 2015 | normal | black | Jaime Jones | |
| 6 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 540 | 2015 | normal | black | Jaime Jones |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hellkite Charger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hellkite Charger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | Hellkite Charger’s ability may trigger multiple times in the same turn, since its own ability gives it multiple chances to attack. Each time it resolves, you may create an additional combat phase. |
| 2009-10-01 | If two Hellkite Chargers attack at the same time, both of their abilities trigger. If you pay for each, two new combat phases will be created. However, all attacking creatures untap as those abilities resolve, not as the combat phases start. Any creature that attacks in the second combat phase will remain tapped during the third combat phase. |
| 2009-10-01 | If you pay , the new combat phase immediately follows the current combat phase. There is no main phase in between. |
| 2009-10-01 | You decide whether to pay as Hellkite Charger’s ability resolves. |
