Blastfire Bolt MTG Card
2014-07-18 - Number 130
2019-11-07 - Number 855
2020-09-26 - Number M15-130
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Key Takeaways
- Blastfire Bolt disrupts opponents, offering card efficiency by removing creatures and equipment in one play.
- Its instant speed allows for strategic flexibility, though the specific red mana cost may limit deck options.
- Versatile and meta-relevant, it can counteract aggressive strategies or synergize with damage-triggered abilities.
Text of card
Blastfire Bolt deals 5 damage to target creature. Destroy all Equipment attached to that creature.
"Encase yourself in the most elaborate armor, and cower behind the heaviest shield. I would hate for you to feel helpless." —Korig the Ruiner
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When playing Blastfire Bolt, the primary advantage often overlooked is its potential to remove two threats with one card. Hit a creature equipped with a valuable aura or take out a token alongside its generator, and you’ve upped your card efficiency.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, eliminating a key piece of your opponent’s strategy can significantly set back their resource acceleration. This disruption can indirectly accelerate your own board state as you maintain tempo and pressure.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Blastfire Bolt shines at instant speed. Control the battlefield effectively by deciding the perfect moment to strike, keeping your opponent guessing and always on their toes. Use it to ambush during combat or dismantle end-of-turn plays with precision.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Blastfire Bolt demands both generic and red mana to be cast. Requiring a specific color can restrict deck-building options, making it less versatile if your mana base isn’t tailored to include red.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Blastfire Bolt’s expense might be a stumbling block, especially in fast-paced games. There are lower mana alternatives available, which might deal damage more cost-efficiently.
Discard Requirement: While Blastfire Bolt doesn’t have a discard requirement, its high mana cost can affect hand management. Players may find themselves holding onto the card longer, potentially discarding other cards to support their game strategy while awaiting the opportunity to use it effectively.
Reasons to Include Blastfire Bolt in Your Collection
Versatility: Blastfire Bolt can be a strategic inclusion in decks that aim to control the battlefield. Its ability to deal damage not only to creatures but also to players gives it a flexible edge in various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from instants or spells being cast, Blastfire Bolt enhances synergistic plays. Its damage output can work hand in hand with abilities that trigger upon dealing noncombat damage to opponents or creatures.
Meta-Relevance: Should the meta pivot towards creature-heavy or aggro strategies, having Blastfire Bolt handy ensures you have a direct response. Its direct damage output can disrupt opposing tempo and remove key threats on the board, maintaining your foothold in the game.
How to Beat
Blastfire Bolt is a lesser-known removal spell in the vast arsenal of Magic: The Gathering’s red spells. It’s a late-game option for removing creatures, costing six mana including five generic and one red. The spell not only destroys a target creature but also has the added effect of destroying all Equipment attached to it. This can be pivotal in matchups where your opponent heavily relies on Equipment to boost their creatures.
Overcoming Blastfire Bolt requires a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, playing around the hefty mana cost is key. By applying pressure early in the game with low-cost creatures, you can potentially outpace the relevance of Blastfire Bolt since it tends to be less effective against a wide board state. Secondly, diversifying threats ensures that losing one creature to the spell doesn’t critically impact your board presence. Utilizing instant-speed effects to save your creature or counter the spell preemptively can also tilt the matchup in your favor.
In essence, while Blastfire Bolt can swing the momentum of a game by removing a cornerstone creature, recognizing its mana limitation and preparing counter strategies can mitigate its impact on the game’s outcome. Agile and diverse gameplay can effectively neutralize the threat posed by this fiery bolt.
Cards like Blastfire Bolt
Blastfire Bolt is an intriguing removal option for Magic: The Gathering players. Its similarities with cards like Incinerate are evident, as both serve the purpose of neutralizing threats on the board. Incinerate offers direct damage at a lower cost but doesn’t have the ability to remove equipment, which is where Blastfire Bolt shines. This distinction gives Blastfire Bolt an edge in dealing with creatures that are heavily reliant on artifacts to enhance their power.
Another card worthy of comparison is Turn to Slag. Both have a five mana casting cost and share the propensity to destroy equipment attached to creatures. However, Turn to Slag provides an additional benefit by dealing damage to the creature and all other Equipment attached to it, potentially clearing out more threats in one action. While Blastfire Bolt handles a single threat, Turn to Slag could be more impactful in a game where equipment strategies are prevalent.
The trade-offs among these options make blastfire Bolt a competitive alternative in decks looking to safeguard against artifact-heavy opponents. Its unique trait of equipment destruction provides a strategic advantage, particularly against decks that capitalize on boosting creature abilities through artifacts.
Cards similar to Blastfire Bolt by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blastfire Bolt MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Mystery Booster, 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 Blastfire Bolt and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Blastfire Bolt Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Phill Simmer.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 130 | 2015 | normal | black | Phill Simmer | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 855 | 2015 | normal | black | Phill Simmer | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | M15-130 | 2015 | normal | black | Phill Simmer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blastfire Bolt has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Blastfire Bolt card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Blastfire Bolt can target any creature, not just one with Equipment attached to it. The damage will be dealt to the creature even if it doesn’t have any Equipment attached to it. |
| 2014-07-18 | If the target creature is an illegal target when Blastfire Bolt tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. No Equipment will be destroyed. |
