Sword of Fire and Ice MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Gain card advantage and control by drawing extra cards with each successful attack phase.
  2. Clearing blockers and threats accelerates your board presence, paving the way to victory.
  3. Instant damage during combat keeps opponents wary of the persistent dual threat.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from red and from blue. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, Sword of Fire and Ice deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you draw a card. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you connect with a creature equipped with the Sword of Fire and Ice, the added benefit of drawing a card ensures you’re consistently replenishing your hand, keeping pressure on the opponent while you sustain your resources.

Resource Acceleration: While the Sword of Fire and Ice itself does not directly generate mana or tokens, the power to remove blockers and threats with its 2 damage ability can clear the way for a more effective attack phase, indirectly accelerating your board presence and paving the way for a more streamlined path to victory.

Instant Speed: Though the Sword’s abilities aren’t activated at instant speed, the dual threat of dealing damage and drawing a card occurs during the combat phase, which keeps opponents on their toes, as they must consider the potential card advantage and board impact during every attack you make.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: The Sword of Fire and Ice has a precise mana requirement for equipping, which necessitates both colorless and generic mana, potentially making it less flexible for decks with strained mana bases.

Discard Requirement: While this card itself doesn’t enforce discarding, its inclusion in a deck could lead to tougher decisions on which cards to keep or discard, especially in tightly curated decks focused on efficiency and synergy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The equip cost combined with its casting cost can lead to a significant mana investment before reaping the benefits. This potentially makes the Sword of Fire and Ice less attractive compared to lower-cost alternatives that provide immediate value or have less intensive setup requirements.


Reasons to Include Sword of Fire and Ice in Your Collection

Versatility: Sword of Fire and Ice is a flexible card that complements a broad array of deck archetypes. Its ability to provide both card draw and direct damage makes it a valuable asset in both offensive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: This equipment card has synergies with creatures that benefit from being equipped, triggering on-hit effects, and those that capitalize on artifact interactions. The damage and card draw also make it a potent combo piece in strategies looking to maximize each attack phase.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that includes creature-based strategies and the need for card advantage, Sword of Fire and Ice stands out as a powerful tool. It can shift the balance of a game, offering both a removal option and a way to maintain card flow, keeping your hand replenished and your threats consistent.


How to beat

The Sword of Fire and Ice is a formidable artefact that provides a dual threat of damage and card advantage in MTG. Often found in decks that favor creature strategies, it can quickly turn the tide of a game. To overcome this equipment, one must consider targeted removal to deal with it. Spells like Disenchant or Naturalize offer a straight solution, as they can destroy the Sword directly from the battlefield, preventing its devastating impact.

Another strategy involves countering the Sword before it ever hits the battlefield. Counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak are excellent tools for this, as they stop the artifact cold in its tracks. If the Sword is already equipped to a creature, removing the creature might be more efficient. Unholy Heat and Path to Exile are well-suited for this task, swiftly dealing with the equipped menace.

Ultimately, the key to beating the Sword of Fire and Ice lies in preemptive measures and an arsenal of versatile answers. Keeping a balance between creature and non-creature removal in your deck can greatly increase your odds against powerful equipment in MTG. It’s essential to recognize the threats it poses and adapt your strategy accordingly to maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG isn’t just about having powerful cards; it’s about understanding their nuances and strategic potential. The Sword of Fire and Ice is an iconic piece of equipment that offers both immediate and long-term benefits, symbolizing a wise addition to your MTG armory. With its damage and card draw capabilities, it allows you to maintain momentum and apply pressure to your adversaries. For players seeking to optimize their gameplay experience and maximize every attack phase, the Sword of Fire and Ice is a treasure trove of possibilities. Delve deeper into our insights and strategies as we unravel the full power of this card in your quest for MTG mastery.


Cards like Sword of Fire and Ice

Sword of Fire and Ice is an equipment card that Magic: The Gathering players often seek for its dual utility in both dealing damage and drawing cards. It shares some similarities with Sword of Feast and Famine, which also provides a two-fold advantage by offering protection and an opportunity to disrupt opponents’ resources. What distinguishes Sword of Fire and Ice is its ability to directly deal 2 damage to any target and draw a card, enhancing both offense and card advantage in a single strike.

Another analogous card in the MTG universe is Sword of Light and Shadow. This equipment card focuses more on creature protection and recursion than immediate board impact. In contrast, Sword of Fire and Ice excels at immediate gratification, presenting a threat that must be dealt with as soon as the equipped creature deals combat damage.

When considering comparable cards, Sword of War and Peace comes to mind. It covers yet another approach by combining life gain and damage based on hand size. Nevertheless, Sword of Fire and Ice remains a popular choice for its straightforward damage and card draw – a combination that can consistently shift the tides of a game.

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Sword of Light and Shadow - MTG Card versions
Sword of War and Peace - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - Grand Prix Promos (PGPX)
Sword of Light and Shadow - Darksteel (DST)
Sword of War and Peace - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Sword of Fire and Ice by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Bösium Strip - Weatherlight (WTH)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Static Orb - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Wall of Spears - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vedalken Shackles - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Loxodon Warhammer - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Sword of Feast and Famine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Training Drone - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Pristine Talisman - New Phyrexia Promos (PNPH)
Alloy Myr - Jumpstart (JMP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sword of Fire and Ice MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Sword of Fire and Ice and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sword of Fire and Ice Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2023-07-18. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 396501997normalblackMark Zug
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 828542015normalblackDan Dos Santos
32004-02-06DarksteelDST 1482003normalblackMark Zug
42011-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2011G11 21997normalblackMark Zug
52013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 2162003normalblackChris Rahn
62016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 292015normalblackVolkan Baǵa
72020-08-07Double Masters2XM 3652015normalborderlessDan Dos Santos
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2972015normalblackChris Rahn
92023-07-18Historic Anthology 7HA7 202015normalblackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sword of Fire and Ice has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 If the chosen target is an illegal target by the time the triggered ability tries to resolve, the ability won't resolve. You won't draw a card.

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