Blazing Effigy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	1994-06-01
Set symbol
Set name	Legends
Set code	LEG
Power	0
Toughness	3
Number	134
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Susan Van Camp

Key Takeaways

Blazing Effigy’s death-triggered ability outlines its strength as a resource accelerator and player damage source.
While its casting cost is significant, Blazing Effigy’s versatility makes it a key card for burn and combo decks.
Understanding removal and board state is crucial to thwarting the challenges posed by Blazing Effigy in games.

Text of card

When placed in the graveyard from play, Effigy does 3 damage to target creature. If an Effigy is damaged by another Effigy in this manner and is placed in the graveyard that turn, it deals the amount of damage received from the other Effigy in addition to its normal 3.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Blazing Effigy doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, when it damages an opponent, the triggered ability to exile the top card of your library and play that card this turn can lead to an indirect advantage, offering a chance to utilize additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: Blazing Effigy may not produce additional mana or Treasure tokens, but by potentially playing an additional land or casting a spell exiled with its ability, it accelerates your resource deployment, helping you to outpace your opponent in terms of board presence.

Instant Speed: Blazing Effigy itself does not have instant speed, but its ability could synergize with instant-speed spells in your deck. By exiling the top card of your library after dealing damage, you may access an instant that can be cast right away, making your strategy more flexible and reactive during the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Blazing Effigy is its potential requirement to discard cards to trigger additional effects, which might be onerous for players whose hands are already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a certain mana arrangement to cast, which may not always align with your available resources, especially if your deck is not heavily skewed towards that color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When comparing this card’s casting cost to other options available within the game, the mana required can be steep, potentially slowing down your gameplay and could be especially cumbersome in fast-paced matches where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blazing Effigy fits nicely into a variety of decks, particularly burn strategies or those that aim to capitalize on creature deaths. Its ability to damage an opponent upon death adds a layer of utility, making it more than a simple creature on the board.

Combo Potential: With its damage-triggered ability when it dies, Blazing Effigy can be instrumental in decks that play with sacrifice mechanics or those looking to exploit death triggers for strategic advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small creatures dominate and board presence is key, Blazing Effigy can serve as both an offense and a defensive measure. Its presence can deter attackers, while its death can contribute to maintaining pressure on the opponent.

How to beat

The Blazing Effigy card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature is known to inflict damage to any target when it dies, making it a potential threat if not handled correctly. To navigate this obstacle, understanding the nuances of creature removal becomes key. Strategic use of instant-speed removal spells can give you the upper hand, ensuring that the Effigy’s death-triggered ability is mitigated at the most opportune moment, preferably when no other creatures or valuable targets are on the board.

Moreover, exiling the card proves to be an excellent solution, bypassing the death trigger completely. Utilizing spells like Path to Exile or other similar effects can remove the Effigy from play without consequence. In terms of playstyle, it also pays to be mindful of the state of your own board. Avoid situations where Blazing Effigy’s exit could be detrimental to your strategy by minimizing potential targets. This limits the opponent’s ability to leverage the Effigy’s destructive death benefit when it’s inevitably dealt with.

In essence, handling a Blazing Effigy card effectively is a matter of timing, choosing the right removal, and calculating the board state to ensure its fiery departure causes minimal disruption to your game plan.

Cards like Blazing Effigy

Blazing Effigy brings a unique effect among creature cards in MTG, standing out with its ability to deal damage upon death. This card is similar to creatures like Tin Street Hooligan and Mogg War Marshal which also have impactful exit effects. While Tin Street Hooligan can destroy an artifact when it enters the battlefield, Blazing Effigy burns direct damage to a player or planeswalker upon its demise. This gives it an edge in strategies that benefit from creatures dying.

Another card that echoes the demise-triggered theme is Mudbutton Torchrunner. Like Blazing Effigy, upon death, it deals damage to any target. However, the Torchrunner’s higher damage output balances its additional mana cost. Both cards excel in red-based decks that capitalize on damage and creature sacrifice synergy. Yet, the Blazing Effigy remains a more mana-efficient choice for a quick and guaranteed damage influx.

The compelling feature of the Blazing Effigy lies in its inevitability to affect the game state. It can be an essential component in a deck that thrives on creature death, both as an offensive strategy or a defensive deterrent, marking its significance in MTG’s vast library of cards.

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blazing Effigy by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blazing Effigy MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Blazing Effigy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blazing Effigy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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