Braid of Fire MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Cumulative upkeep

Key Takeaways

  1. Braid of Fire grants rising mana generation, enabling potent spells and abilities without depleting your hand.
  2. Its specific red mana production may restrict use in multicolor decks, requiring careful deck construction.
  3. Incorporating Braid of Fire into your arsenal can lead to remarkable combo potential and strategic depth.

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep— Add to your mana pool. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

"To a trained mind, the cold is but a momentary distraction."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Braid of Fire provides a unique and rising mana source at the start of your upkeep, effectively enhancing your hand by giving you access to more mana over the course of the game without spending cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: As an enchantment that continually accumulates cumulative upkeep—in the form of red mana—this card offers an extraordinary form of resource acceleration, allowing you to cast increasingly costly spells or activate mana-hungry abilities earlier than you normally could.

Instant Speed: While Braid of Fire itself is not an instant, the mana it generates can be used at instant speed, granting you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions during their turn or end step, making it a versatile and potentially unpredictable tool in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Braid of Fire provides a mana ramp as each upkeep passes, it comes with the implicit expectation to use that mana or lose it. This can result in forced actions or unoptimized plays just to avoid wasting the accumulated resource.

Specific Mana Cost: Braid of Fire generates red mana specifically, which may not always align with the player’s immediate needs, especially in multicolor decks that require a more diverse mana pool.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing the cumulative upkeep cost that escalates each turn, Braid of Fire can present a challenge when balancing between investing in board presence and holding back that mana for instant-speed spells, with the former often having a priority in competitive play.


Reasons to Include Braid of Fire in Your Collection

Versatility: Braid of Fire offers a unique mana ramp that does not tap your lands, providing a flexible source of red mana during your upkeep. This can be a game-changer for spell-heavy decks that thrive on casting multiple spells each turn.

Combo Potential: With the ability to generate an increasing amount of mana, Braid of Fire excels in combinations with cards that have sink mana abilities, enabling devastating turns where you can unleash a flurry of spells or activated abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As decks in the meta evolve to include responses to quick aggro or intricate controls, Braid of Fire’s ability to provide a steady mana advantage each turn keeps it relevant, adapting well to both quick-paced and longer, more strategic gameplay.


How to beat

Braid of Fire is a unique card that can be both a blessing and a challenge in MTG. Its cumulative upkeep adds a mana to your pool during each upkeep, which can exponentially increase a player’s resources. When facing an opponent using Braid of Fire, the key is to disrupt their game plan by limiting the benefits they reap from this additional mana.

Effective strategies include using instant speed spells to remove Braid of Fire before the upkeep can trigger or countering it upon its casting. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can be handy in this situation. Additionally, employing mana sinks to drain the resources it generates or preventing its activation with cards that limit mana abilities can thwart your opponent’s strategic advantage. One example is Pithing Needle, which can shut down the use of mana abilities from cards named.

In essence, timing your responses and having the right answers in your deck to address cards like Braid of Fire will help maintain control of the battlefield and keep this potentially game-changing enchantment in check. By doing so, players can prevent opponents from leveraging the progressive mana advantage to their benefit.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Braid of Fire MTG card can be a dynamic force in your deck, fueling plays that can change the tide of the game. By understanding and maximizing its strengths—card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed utility—you can outpace opponents. Still, be mindful of potential pitfalls such as the urgency to use mana and its singular color generation which could at times limit its effectiveness. Appreciate similar cards for strategic alternatives and always be ready with a tactic to beat it. Elevate your MTG experience by integrating Braid of Fire into your deck strategies, and remember to visit us to enhance your knowledge and achieve victory on the battlefield.


Cards like Braid of Fire

Braid of Fire stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique mana-generating enchantment. It’s often compared to other mana ramp cards such as Mana Flare, which doubles the mana produced by all lands for both players. However, Braid of Fire benefits solely the controlling player, avoiding the drawback of aiding the opponent. Additionally, its cumulative upkeep cost is beneficial, a stark contrast to the typical downside of the upkeep mechanic.

Card comparisons often include Black Market, a card that also accumulates counters to generate extra mana. Black Market, while powerful, operates on a different axis, needing creature deaths to build up its potential. Braid of Fire, conversely, grows in potency purely with the passage of time, providing red mana during the upkeep that can be utilized for instant-speed interactions or abilities.

Ultimately, Braid of Fire offers a distinctive approach to mana ramping in the game. Its growth in capability turn after turn can lead to explosive plays, making it a hidden gem for decks that can harness its power effectively, and setting it apart from other similar mana generation options.

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Black Market - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Black Market - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

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

Power Surge - MTG Card versions
Raging River - MTG Card versions
Smoke - MTG Card versions
Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Goblin Kites - MTG Card versions
The Brute - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Consuming Ferocity - MTG Card versions
Agility - MTG Card versions
Errantry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bomb - MTG Card versions
Heat of Battle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Festival - MTG Card versions
Scald - MTG Card versions
Cave Sense - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Surge - MTG Card versions
Maniacal Rage - MTG Card versions
Battle Strain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Underworld Breach - MTG Card versions
Power Surge - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Raging River - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Smoke - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Giant Strength - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Goblin Kites - Fallen Empires (FEM)
The Brute - Renaissance (REN)
Lightning Reflexes - Mirage (MIR)
Consuming Ferocity - Mirage (MIR)
Agility - Mirage (MIR)
Errantry - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Goblin Bomb - Weatherlight (WTH)
Heat of Battle - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Festival - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Scald - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cave Sense - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Flowstone Surge - Nemesis (NEM)
Maniacal Rage - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Battle Strain - Odyssey (ODY)
Goblin Bombardment - The List (PLST)
Underworld Breach - Theros Beyond Death Promos (PTHB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Braid of Fire MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Braid of Fire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Braid of Fire Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 782003normalblackCyril Van Der Haegen
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 7292015normalblackSam Burley
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12472015normalblackSam Burley
42020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 472003normalblackCyril Van Der Haegen
52020-09-26The ListPLST CSP-782003normalblackCyril Van Der Haegen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Braid of Fire has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 Any of this mana that isn’t spent during your upkeep step will be removed before your draw step begins. You cannot save it to be spent on the card you will draw this turn.
2009-10-01 Braid of Fire is a very unusual card. “Add ” is a cost. This enchantment does nothing but add increasing amounts of mana to your mana pool during your upkeep.

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