Flame Jet MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Cycling
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Number	81
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Avon

Key Takeaways

Flame Jet provides card advantage through scry and ensures resources aren’t depleted with cycling.
The card accelerates resource management and allows for instant-speed adaptability in gameplay.
Despite its advantages, it requires careful deck integration due to mana specificity and cost.

Text of card

Cycling Flame Jet deals 3 damage to target player.

Did the land make the Keldons? Did the Keldons make the land? Or were they simply meant for each other?

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The scry ability is an underrated gem that Flame Jet offers, allowing you to shape future draws. Plus, the potential card replacement with its cycling ensures you’re not falling behind in the race for resources.

Resource Acceleration: Cycling Flame Jet for a fresh card might seem simple, but it subtly ramps up your game by dropping an extra land onto the battlefield through its basic land cycling. This paves the way for casting those game-changing spells earlier than your opponents expect.

Instant Speed: Flexibility is the ace up Flame Jet’s sleeve. Cast it instantaneously, and you can surprise an opponent with sudden damage or cycle it to concoct your strategy uninterrupted. The card lends itself to a smooth gameplay rhythm that keeps opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Flame Jet comes with a condition of discarding a card which might put you in a tight spot, especially if your hand is already running thin on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a fixed red mana to cast, this card can be restrictive and might not smoothly fit into multicolored or flexible mana base decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that could be considered steep for its immediate effect, there are alternatives that could offer similar damage output for less mana investment, potentially making Flame Jet less appealing in a tightly tuned deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flame Jet presents itself as a flexible card that can be easily integrated into various red burn decks or spellslinger archetypes. Its ability to deal direct damage puts it in a unique position to tailor your strategy against multiple opponents or situations.

Combo Potential: With Flame Jet, you get a card that not only does damage by itself but can also work seamlessly with other cards that capitalize on instant and sorcery synergies, amplifying the impact of spell-based combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where quick and decisive plays are paramount, Flame Jet can be an asset. Its capacity for immediate damage and cycling for a fresh draw make it relevant, particularly in faster-paced games where every turn counts.

How to beat

Flame Jet introduces a heated dynamic to Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal of red spells. This instant card not only deals direct damage but also weaves in the flexibility of cycling, allowing players to replace it if it’s not immediately useful. But like any powerful card, there are strategies to counteract its fiery impact.

Shielding oneself against Flame Jet begins with damage prevention and life gain tactics. Cards such as Healing Salve can negate the damage dealt by Flame Jet, while the use of sweepers like Sweltering Suns can clear the field of smaller threats, lowering the overall pressure on your life total. Counter spells are another effective measure, with staples like Counterspell ready to intercept Flame Jet before its damage is delivered.

When facing the strategic decisions with Flame Jet in play, it’s also worth considering pacing. Forcing the Flame Jet player to use their card at a suboptimal time, or when you have protective measures lined up, can turn the tide of the battle. In essence, while Flame Jet can blaze a path to victory, a well-prepared player can douse its flames and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Flame Jet

Flame Jet finds its niche in the realm of direct damage spells within Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with Pyroclasm and Volcanic Fallout, both known for their capacity to deal damage across the board. Flame Jet sets itself apart with its cycling ability, allowing players a flexible option to deal direct damage or to cycle it away for a different card in critical game moments.

Flame Jet’s targeted damage is reminiscent of the famous Lightning Bolt, although the latter strikes with a lower mana cost and instant speed. This makes Lightning Bolt a staple in quick-paced and aggressive red decks. In comparison, Flame Jet provides a strategic alternative, trading speed for versatility and the potential to smooth out draws. Looking at Flame Slash, a card praised for its efficiency in removing creatures, Flame Jet offers a similar damage output but lacks the single target restriction, giving it an edge in games where adjusting strategy on the fly is key.

Therefore, in evaluating the potential of Flame Jet alongside its counterparts, it becomes apparent that Flame Jet’s dual utility as a damage dealer and as a draw engine makes it a valuable asset in MTG player’s arsenals, adeptly balancing destruction with adaptability.

Cards similar to Flame Jet by color, type and mana cost

Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions

Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flame Jet MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Flame Jet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flame Jet has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flame Jet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-10-01	Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not.