Battle of Frost and Fire MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment — Saga
Abilities Scry

Key Takeaways

  1. A saga that offers comprehensive board control, scrying, and a significant card draw over several turns.
  2. Despite its power, the card is constrained by Izzet colors and may be less effective in fast-paced games.
  3. Countered by resilience and tactics that mitigate its stage-based impacts, ensuring control remains in your favor.

Text of card

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Battle of Frost and Fire deals 4 damage to each non-Giant creature and each planeswalker. II — Scry 3. III — Whenever you cast a spell with mana value 5 or greater this turn, draw two cards, then discard a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Battle of Frost and Fire enables a powerful sweep of the battlefield, potentially clearing multiple creatures off the board. In the second chapter of this saga, it lets you scry three, setting up your next draws. This sets the stage for superior card quality and better plays in subsequent turns.

Resource Acceleration: Although Battle of Frost and Fire itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its third chapter allows you to draw three cards, thereby increasing the likelihood of drawing into additional lands or ramp spells. This indirectly boosts your mana availability and can put you significantly ahead of your opponent in terms of available resources.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Battle of Frost and Fire’s impact on the board can emulate the surprise factor of instant speed spells. The first chapter can be a fierce interruption to your opponent’s board state and strategies, similar to the disruptiveness of an instant during the opponent’s turn. It leaves you in a strong position to follow up with actual instant speed plays on a cleared board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike many other sweepers, Battle of Frost and Fire doesn’t require you to discard any cards, which can be a bonus in preserving your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a more rigid mana scheme, this card necessitates both red and blue mana sources. This specificity restricts it primarily to Izzet decks, potentially hampering its play in more versatile mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to cast Battle of Frost and Fire may deter some players given its five mana requirement – three generic, one red, and one blue. While the effect is potent, in faster-paced games or metas favoring low-cost spells, it might be too slow to influence the board effectively.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Battle of Frost and Fire is a dynamic inclusion in many decks, particularly those aiming for board control. Its ability to sweep the board can reset the game’s tempo in your favor.

Combo Potential: The saga nature of this card allows it to interact seamlessly with decks that capitalize on spell synergies or care about spell casting triggers, providing consistent value over multiple turns.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Battle of Frost and Fire serves as an excellent countermeasure, keeping the battlefield clear of threats while progressing your strategic objectives.


How to Beat Battle of Frost and Fire

Battle of Frost and Fire is an impactful saga card in Magic: The Gathering that can shape the battlefield with its series of abilities. When facing this saga, the initial stage can clear out smaller creatures, thanks to its damage-dealing ability. To counteract this, prioritize playing creatures with toughness greater than 4 to withstand the initial wave, or use indestructible creatures to nullify the damage altogether.

Adaptability is key after the second lore counter is placed, as your opponent will be looking to benefit from scrying and potentially setting up their deck for future turns. Play disruption cards to tamper with their deck’s order or hand, curbing their advantage. Finally, keep in mind that after the last lore counter, your opponent will benefit from a significant card draw. Counter this by either putting pressure to end the game before they can utilize their new resources or use cards that punish drawing excessive cards.

Altogether, when dealing with Battle of Frost and Fire, a mixture of resilience, disruption, and pressure can ensure that this saga’s impact is minimized, allowing you to maintain control of the game and emerge victorious. Remember to adjust your tactics as the saga unfolds, using your deck’s strengths to counteract each stage of this powerful card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deep into the strategic complexity of MTG with cards like Battle of Frost and Fire that alter the tide of play with their multi-staged abilities. Tailoring your deck to withstand battle sweepers, exploit scrying opportunities, and efficiently managing newly drawn resources can give you the edge. Understanding the nuances of when and how to deploy such cards, or counter them, refines your gameplay. Harness the potential of sagas to forge ahead in the meta, especially when creature-heavy decks dominate. For those looking to enhance their control or combo-centric strategies, further explore the depths of your deck building and in-game tactics with us. Your journey toward ultimate deck mastery is just a click away. Join the conversation for more insightful tips and strategic gameplay advice.


Cards like Battle of Frost and Fire

Battle of Frost and Fire is a distinctive spell that adds an exhilarating dynamic to the board wipe category in Magic the Gathering. Falling under the same umbrella as cards like Storm’s Wrath, it delivers a devastating blow to creatures and planeswalkers alike. However, Battle of Frost and Fire stands out with its saga structure, bringing multiple effects to the table over several turns. In contrast, Storm’s Wrath offers a one-time damage infliction without the incremental advantages.

Another parallel can be drawn with Sweltering Suns. This card also clears the field with its one-time three damage to each creature. The key differentiator, though, is Sweltering Suns’ cycling ability, allowing a player to replace it if it’s not needed at the time. On the other hand, Battle of Frost and Fire’s saga nature provides a lingering impact, with not just initial damage but also scrying and card advantage following in subsequent turns.

When comparing these board wipes, Battle of Frost and Fire provides a strategic depth that its counterparts can’t rival. Over the course of its saga, it shapes the game significantly beyond the initial sweep, positioning it as a card of choice for players seeking versatile control tools.

Storm's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Sweltering Suns - MTG Card versions
Storm's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Sweltering Suns - MTG Card versions

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

Keranos, God of Storms - MTG Card versions
Keranos, God of Storms - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Battle of Frost and Fire MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim and Kaldheim 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 Battle of Frost and Fire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Battle of Frost and Fire Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-06. Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-02-05KaldheimKHM 2042015SagaBlackDaniel Ljunggren
22021-02-06Kaldheim PromosPKHM 204p2015SagaBlackDaniel Ljunggren
32021-02-06Kaldheim PromosPKHM 204s2015SagaBlackDaniel Ljunggren

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Battle of Frost and Fire has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-02-05 A chapter ability doesn’t trigger if a lore counter is put on a Saga that already had a number of lore counters greater than or equal to that chapter’s number. For example, the third lore counter put on a Saga causes the chapter III ability to trigger, but chapters I and II won’t trigger again.
2021-02-05 As a Saga enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it. As your precombat main phase begins (immediately after your draw step), you put another lore counter on each Saga you control. Putting a lore counter on a Saga in either of these ways doesn’t use the stack.
2021-02-05 Each symbol on the left of a Saga’s text box represents a chapter ability. A chapter ability is a triggered ability that triggers when a lore counter that is put on the Saga causes the number of lore counters on the Saga to become equal to or greater than the ability’s chapter number. Chapter abilities are put onto the stack and may be responded to.
2021-02-05 If multiple chapter abilities trigger at the same time, their controller puts them on the stack in any order. If any of them require targets, those targets are chosen as you put the abilities on the stack, before any of those abilities resolve.
2021-02-05 Once a chapter ability has triggered, the ability on the stack won’t be affected if the Saga gains or loses counters, or if it leaves the battlefield.
2021-02-05 Once the number of lore counters on a Saga is greater than or equal to the greatest number among its chapter abilities, the Saga’s controller sacrifices it as soon as its chapter ability has left the stack, most likely by resolving or being countered. This state-based action doesn’t use the stack.
2021-02-05 Removing lore counters won’t cause a previous chapter ability to trigger. If lore counters are removed from a Saga, the appropriate chapter abilities will trigger again when the Saga receives more lore counters.
2021-02-05 The triggered ability created by the chapter III ability may trigger multiple times during the turn, even though Battle of Frost and Fire will likely no longer be on the battlefield.

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