Past in Flames MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeSorcery
Abilities Flashback

Key Takeaways

  1. Past in Flames provides significant card advantage by enabling double casting from the graveyard.
  2. The mana cost is high, limiting its use in faster-paced games or non-red decks.
  3. Graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace are effective counters to Past in Flames.

Text of card

Each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Past in Flames offers unmatched card advantage by granting your spells in the graveyard flashback until the end of the turn. This powerful ability can turn the tide by giving you access to your entire spell history for a game-changing finale.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to cast spells from your graveyard, Past in Flames can effectively double the number of spells you cast in a single turn. This acceleration can be a crucial component in combo decks, allowing them to execute their winning strategy faster than opponents can respond.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Past in Flames means it can be cast during any point of your turn or in response to your opponent’s actions. This flexibility ensures that your strategic plays remain uninterrupted and that you can adapt to the evolving game state on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Past in Flames often means delving into your graveyard, which necessitates having spells there to begin with. For players, the requirement to have a stockpile of instants and sorceries in discard can be a drawback when those resources are low or better utilized in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: While the flashback ability of Past in Flames is a potent enabler for combo and spell-based strategies, its strict red mana cost means it is most at home in red heavily themed decks, potentially restricting its versatility in multicolored deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base mana cost that can be hefty, especially in faster-paced games, Past in Flames might be a challenging play when more immediate, lower-cost actions are necessary. Other spell recursion options might offer more efficient plays for less mana invested, appealing to players keen on striking a balance between effect and cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Past in Flames grants your spells flashback, which essentially doubles the use of your instants and sorceries. This makes it an adaptable addition to spell-heavy decks that capitalize on casting multiple spells in one turn.

Combo Potential: This card can be the cornerstone of powerful combo decks, enabling the recast of potentially game-winning spells from your graveyard. Whether you’re resurrecting a devastating storm chain or setting up for a big finish, Past in Flames is a catalyst for high-impact plays.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames dense with control strategies or where games tend to go longer, Past in Flames shines by offering a second wave of your deck’s most potent spells. This can tilt the scales in your favor, overwhelming opponents who thought they’d seen the last of your sorcery threats.


How to Beat Past in Flames

If you’re facing down the fiery cascade of spells enabled by Past in Flames, it’s essential to have a game plan. This formidable card allows players to cast spells from their graveyard, giving them a second chance to unleash powerful combos. To disrupt this, graveyard hate cards become your best allies. Consider incorporating cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void to remove the graveyard as a resource entirely.

Countermeasures like countering the initial casting of Past in Flames with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak will save you from the onslaught of repeated spells. Be mindful of timing and watch for the moment your opponent might be low on mana, which is often the best opportunity to act. Additionally, fast-paced aggressive decks can apply pressure, forcing a Past in Flames player to use their resources defensively, hindering their plan to combo off. Victory lies in anticipation and disruption—cut off the path to their graveyard, and the flames of the past will be snuffed out.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deeper into MTG strategy means recognizing the power contained within cards like Past in Flames. This enigmatic card can fuel an explosive turn, breathing life into your graveyard’s castaway spells. Understanding the nuanced gameplay it enables isn’t just for experienced players—anyone can harness its power. If you’re captivated by the thought of doubling your spell potential or carving paths to victory with complex combos, then enriching your arsenal with this card is a smart move. Eager to revolutionize your deck with Past in Flames? Join us for more insights and transform your MTG experiences from fleeting spark to raging inferno.


Cards like Past in Flames

Past in Flames offers a unique flashback boost to spells in a player’s graveyard that can turn the tide of a Magic: The Gathering match. Its closest relative in the MTG universe is Snapcaster Mage, which also grants an instant or sorcery in the graveyard a second life for a turn. However, Past in Flames edges ahead by affecting all the spells in the graveyard rather than just one.

Mizzix’s Mastery is another spell that echoes the potent ability to replay your spells. It allows for a single powerful spell to be cast without paying its mana cost or multiple with the overload cost. Although Mizzix’s Mastery has the potential for a larger immediate impact by casting an expensive spell for free, Past in Flames provides more flexibility by potentially casting numerous spells in a single turn.

In analyzing Past in Flames compared to its card counterparts, it stands out with its synergy with storm decks and can lead to game-winning turns that few other cards can replicate. The sheer potential of playing multiple spells in a turn gives it a significant place in MTG. It’s a cornerstone of any deck that aims to cast several spells each turn, thus making it a highly sought after card for spell-slinging enthusiasts.

Snapcaster Mage - MTG Card versions
Mizzix's Mastery - MTG Card versions
Snapcaster Mage - Innistrad (ISD)
Mizzix's Mastery - Commander 2015 (C15)

Cards similar to Past in Flames by color, type and mana cost

Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Flashfires - MTG Card versions
Anarchy - MTG Card versions
Phoenix Heart - MTG Card versions
Reign of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Deadshot - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Flood - MTG Card versions
Relentless Assault - MTG Card versions
Flameshot - MTG Card versions
Bend or Break - MTG Card versions
Scorching Missile - MTG Card versions
Reckless Crew - MTG Card versions
Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Demolish - MTG Card versions
Granulate - MTG Card versions
Touch and Go - MTG Card versions
Sunder from Within - MTG Card versions
Thoughts of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Inner Fire - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Slide - MTG Card versions
Shatterstorm - Antiquities (ATQ)
Flashfires - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Anarchy - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Phoenix Heart - Celebration Cards (PCEL)
Reign of Chaos - Mirage (MIR)
Deadshot - Tempest (TMP)
Flowstone Flood - Exodus (EXO)
Relentless Assault - Commander Legends (CMR)
Flameshot - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Bend or Break - Invasion (INV)
Scorching Missile - Odyssey (ODY)
Reckless Crew - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Draconic Intervention - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Demolish - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Granulate - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Touch and Go - Unhinged (UNH)
Sunder from Within - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Thoughts of Ruin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Inner Fire - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Flowstone Slide - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Past in Flames MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Commander 2016, 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 Past in Flames and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Past in Flames Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1552003normalblackAnthony Jones
22016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1312015normalblackAnthony Jones
32017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1052015normalblackAnna Steinbauer
42021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3501997normalblackAnthony Jones
52022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 206★2015normalblackJohannes Mücke
62022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2062015normalblackJohannes Mücke
72023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 432015normalblackAnthony Jones
82023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 5652015normalblackBBC Studios

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Past in Flames has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-03-19 If a card has multiple instances of flashback, you may choose any of its flashback costs to pay.
2021-03-19 If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
2021-03-19 If a card with no mana cost gains flashback, it has no flashback cost. It can't be cast this way.
2021-03-19 If a split card gains flashback, you pay only the cost of the half you're casting.
2021-03-19 If you cast a spell with flashback, you can't pay any alternative costs such as overload costs. You can pay additional costs such as kicker costs. If the spell has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the spell with flashback.
2021-03-19 If you cast an instant or sorcery with in its mana cost this way, you still choose the value of X as part of casting the spell and pay that cost.
2021-03-19 Past in Flames affects only cards in your graveyard at the time it resolves. Instant and sorcery cards put into your graveyard later in the turn won't gain flashback.
2021-03-19 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2021-03-19 You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
2021-03-19 You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
2021-03-19Flashback
-ost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying
-ost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”

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