Incendiary Sabotage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2016-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Kaladesh
Set code	KLD
Number	119
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ben Maier

Key Takeaways

Offers board control by managing multiple threats with a single card, aiding in card economy.
Instant speed allows for flexible and tactical play, disrupting opponents effectively.
Demands careful play around the discard requirement and specific mana cost constraints.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Incendiary Sabotage, sacrifice an artifact. Incendiary Sabotage deals 3 damage to each creature.

"All of those Consulate safety measures undone with one simple tweak."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Incendiary Sabotage doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can dismantle multiple threats on the board at once. This capability of dealing with several creatures or artifacts with a single card can effectively put you ahead in terms of card economy, especially if it leads to a significant shift in the board state.

Resource Acceleration: While Incendiary Sabotage does not offer a direct mechanism for resource acceleration, it is cost-effective at just four mana. Its ability to potentially remove multiple key threats from your opponent can effectively accelerate your game plan by slowing theirs down, thus creating an indirect form of tempo advantage.

Instant Speed: The strength of instant speed is the flexibility it provides, and this card flourishes here. You can disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn or at the end of their turn, which preserves your options and keeps your opponent guessing about what you have in hand. It’s this capacity for surprise and tactical response that makes instant speed cards valuable in a deck.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Incendiary Sabotage puts your hand at a disadvantage by necessitating the discard of a card before it can be played. This can be particularly challenging in critical moments where retaining all cards in hand is crucial for strategic plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Incendiary Sabotage is contingent upon having both generic and red mana available. Its red mana requirement may restrict it to red-based or multicolor decks with a red component, rendering it less versatile in decks that don’t favor the color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including the specific need for two red sources, Incendiary Sabotage is on the higher end of the mana curve for its effect. Players may opt for lower cost alternatives for removal or damage dealing spells that do not carry the additional discard condition.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Incendiary Sabotage is a flexible card that can be slotted into various artifact-centric decks. It provides the dual ability to deal damage and act as removal, allowing for strategic board control.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with decks that benefit from having artifacts in the graveyard as it can serve as a catalyst for powerful graveyard-based synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggro decks are prevalent, Incendiary Sabotage can serve as a pivotal sweeper. It can clear multiple creatures off the board, making it a valuable tool for stabilizing the game in your favor.

How to beat

Incendiary Sabotage is a powerful card in MTG that can clear the board with its explosive ability, dealing damage to each creature and player. To successfully navigate against such a sweeping effect, it’s essential to understand how to maintain an upper hand. One strategy is to bait out the spell by not overcommitting creatures to the board. Play conservatively and force your opponent to use their Sabotage at a less opportune moment for them, or when its impact is minimized on your side.

Another tactic is to employ creatures with indestructible or those that benefit from dying, transforming what seems like a setback into an advantage. Cards with abilities that trigger upon death, or ‘die’ effects, can turn a board wipe into a fertile ground for your strategy. Additionally, having instant speed spells that can save your key creatures or counteractions that disrupt your opponent’s play can tip the scales in your favor against Incendiary Sabotage.

Understanding the meta and preparing your deck with these strategies can make Incendiary Sabotage less of a threat to your game plan. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll find yourself poised to maintain control, even in the face of destructive power.

Cards like Incendiary Sabotage

Incendiary Sabotage stands out as a unique red instant in Magic: The Gathering that deals damage while requiring an artifact sacrifice. When examining similar cards, Slagstorm springs to mind as it also deals three damage to each creature. However, Slagstorm offers versatility allowing a choice to deal damage to players instead, which Incendiary Sabotage does not.

Another card worthy of comparison is Pyroclasm. This card deals two damage to each creature for a lower mana cost, though it lacks the artifact interaction Incendiary Sabotage boasts. Moving up in mana cost we find Star of Extinction, which destroys a land on top of dealing a massive 20 damage to each creature and each planeswalker. It’s far more destructive, but Incendiary Sabotage operates at a lower and more accessible mana tier.

Considering these options, Incendiary Sabotage claims a niche spot with its blend of damage and self-sacrifice for a strategic advantage. The card secures its place among red sweepers by offering a balance of cost to effect benefit, especially attractive in artifact-heavy decks that can capitalize on the sacrifice requirement.

Cards similar to Incendiary Sabotage by color, type and mana cost

Hidetsugu's Second Rite - MTG Card versions

Parallectric Feedback - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Incendiary Sabotage MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh, 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 Incendiary Sabotage and other MTG cards: