Lavacore Elemental MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Vanishing |
| Released | 2007-02-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Planar Chaos |
| Set code | PLC |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 103 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | E. M. Gist |
Key Takeaways
- Direct damage abilities grant Lavacore Elemental the power to control the board and shift life totals.
- Its unique mana cost encourages synergy, elevating the potential speed and impact of your plays.
- Strategies against the Elemental include non-targeting removals and durable creatures to withstand its effects.
Text of card
Vanishing 1 (This permanent comes into play with a time counter on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.) Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, put a time counter on Lavacore Elemental.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Lavacore Elemental steps onto the battlefield as a formidable card advantage tool. By offering the potential to deal damage directly to creatures or players, it paves the way to potentially clear the opponent’s board or alter life totals, indirectly influencing the number of cards that remain relevant in the late game.
Resource Acceleration: As you incorporate the Lavacore Elemental into your deck, it becomes more than just a threat. Its unique mana cost can encourage mechanics around Elementals or reduction of casting cost, potentially leading to powerful plays sooner than usually possible and increasing your ability to cast multiple spells in a turn.
Instant Speed: Despite the Lavacore Elemental not having instant speed itself, its presence can influence how your opponent plays their own instant speed spells. Knowing that you have the potential to unleash a quick and explosive elemental may compel them to hold back resources, thus giving you an indirect strategic advantage during critical phases of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Integrating Lavacore Elemental into your game plan requires the strategic disadvantage of discarding another card from your hand. This can deplete your options, especially when playing against decks that already put your hand under pressure.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a precise mana combination to cast, which could be challenging to achieve in a timely manner, particularly in multi-color decks that may struggle with color fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lavacore Elemental carries a substantial mana investment. Given the fast-paced nature of many MTG matches, allocating four mana to a single card might hinder your tempo, especially when other cards at lower mana points could provide similar or greater impact on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Lavacore Elemental in Your Collection
Versatility: Lavacore Elemental brings a level of adaptability to any deck that needs a solid creature. Its ability to act as both an offensive and defensive asset allows it to fit snugly in various deck archetypes, complementing strategies that rely on a strong board presence.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with other spells and abilities that benefit from elemental creatures or that are triggered by casting red spells. This opens up possibilities for devastating spell combinations and improved synergy in your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the shifting tides of the current meta, Lavacore Elemental’s raw power has the potential to shine in environments where tough, impactful creatures dictate the pace of play. This makes it a potentially strategic choice when battling against decks with less sturdy creatures.
How to beat
Lavacore Elemental is a card that may seem daunting due to its ability to deal damage to a target upon being targeted itself. To efficiently handle this fiery foe in your MTG games, it’s essential to refrain from relying on spells that specifically target it. Board wipes, for instance, are an effective way to manage creatures like the Lavacore Elemental, as they eliminate all creatures on the field without singling any out. Another strategy involves utilizing cards that impose blanket effects, avoiding individual targeting, which would trigger the Elemental’s damaging ability.
In terms of combat, consider creatures with toughness greater than the damage the Elemental can deal. Deploying creatures that can withstand its reactionary damage will ensure Lavacore Elemental meets its match on the battlefield. Additionally, having instant-speed removal that can handle the Elemental before it attacks or blocks, thus sidestepping its targeted trigger, can neutralize the threat it poses.
In conclusion, although Lavacore Elemental can be a challenge due to its unique defensive capability, there are several strategic plays to circumvent its strengths. Employing non-targeting removals and utilizing durable creatures or spells at just the right time allows you to cool down this hot-headed Elemental from MTG’s vast card pool.
Cards like Lavacore Elemental
The Lavacore Elemental invites an interesting comparison within its segment of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. At a glance, it may remind players of other elementals like the Flamekin Harbinger, a creature that allows you to search for an elemental card upon entry. However, Lavacore Elemental forgoes utility for raw power, given its potent ability that can render it unblockable for a turn.
Comparably, Cinder Pyromancer stands as another elemental that shares the fire theme but focuses on pinging players or planeswalkers directly with damage, and can be untapped to repeat the offense. Although the Lavacore Elemental does not pack this repeatable direct damage, it compensates with a stronger presence on the battlefield due to its potentially unblockable nature.
Considering alternatives like the Incandescent Soulstoke, which buffs other elementals and even offers a sneak-into-play ability, the Lavacore Elemental is simple yet efficient. It’s designed for a straightforward strategy — dealing damage swiftly without being entangled in the complexity of combos. Therefore, the Lavacore Elemental holds its ground as a solid choice for players looking to capitalize on single turn, high-impact moments.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lavacore Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Lavacore Elemental 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lavacore Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lavacore Elemental card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-02-01 | If Lavacore Elemental deals combat damage to a player, it triggers its own ability. |
| 2007-02-01 | If multiple creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, Lavacore Elemental’s ability triggers that many times. |
