Cinder Storm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Cinder Storm’s one-for-many card trade can shift game balance by depleting opponents’ resources efficiently.
  2. This spell’s red mana specificity caters to mono-red or red-heavy decks, limiting its multicolor deck compatibility.
  3. High mana cost and burn capabilities make Cinder Storm a potent finisher in spell-focused MTG strategies.

Text of card

Cinder Storm deals 7 damage to target creature or player.

When the sky's rain has turned to fire, what will put it out?


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cinder Storm provides a valuable trade by spending one card to potentially eliminate multiple smaller creatures or deal a significant blow to the opponent’s life total. This one-for-many exchange can tilt the game in your favor by depleting an opponent’s resources while conserving your own.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or acceleration, Cinder Storm benefits from spell synergies that ramp up your mana capabilities. In decks that utilize rituals or other temporary mana boosts, Cinder Storm can serve as a powerful finisher, coming out earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: Although Cinder Storm is not an instant, its raw damage potential makes it a keystone in turns where you go all out. Deploying it right after maximizing your mana resources can help secure a win before your opponent has the chance to fortify their defenses or recover.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cinder Storm necessitates the sacrifice of a creature you control to cast it, which can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re low on board presence or relying on your creatures for defense or future strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s cost includes three red mana symbols, making it a card that fits exclusively in red-centric or heavily red-influenced decks, thus reducing its flexibility in multicolored deck constructions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of seven mana to cast, it has a high casting threshold, and within that mana range, players could potentially deploy more impactful spells or establish a wider board presence, questioning its efficiency in a fast-paced game meta.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cinder Storm shines in a variety of red-oriented decks. It’s particularly useful in spell-focused strategies that capitalize on direct damage to finish off opponents or clear the way for creature attacks.

Combo Potential: In decks that focus on casting numerous instants and sorceries, Cinder Storm can be the final piece to a puzzle, dealing a substantial burst of damage. It amplifies the impact of spellslinging by counting each previous spell cast in the turn.

Meta-Relevance: With changes in the meta-game that favor longer matches, the ability to hold onto a powerful burn spell like Cinder Storm until just the right moment can be game-changing, making it a prudent choice for players staying attuned to shifting trends.


How to beat

Cinder Storm is a vibrant piece in the world of Magic: The Gathering, often recognized for its power to deal seven damage to any target. This red spell can sway the course of a game, potentially picking off a crucial creature or even closing out a match. Much like other heavy-hitting spells such as Fireball or Banefire, Cinder Storm requires a strategic understanding to overcome.

The key to neutralizing this spell lies in a mix of counterspells, damage prevention, and redirecting effects. Blue players might lean on counters like Counterspell or Negate to stop Cinder Storm before it unleashes its fiery might. In contrast, white spells like Dawn Charm offer protection by preventing the damage altogether, acting as an effective shield against this destructive force. Red players aren’t without recourse either—cards like Ricochet Trap can turn the tables, redirecting the damage back to the caster or to another target entirely.

Mindful play can make all the difference in outlasting a Cinder Storm. Understanding when to hold mana for a protective spell or when to challenge the board state is pivotal. By preparing the proper defenses, players can prevent their match from going up in flames.


Cards like Cinder Storm

Cinder Storm is a powerful spell card in the realm of MTG, known for delivering a substantial punch with its seven damage to any target. Looking into its peers, we find Lava Axe, another fierce card that inflicts a solid five damage but only to players. While Lava Axe also costs five mana, the more flexible targeting option of Cinder Storm justifies the higher mana demand.

Further in this category sits Flame Rift, inflicting four damage to each player at a mere two mana. It’s fast and efficient, making it a popular choice for rapid damage strategies. However, it lacks the ability to target creatures the way Cinder Storm can. Then we have Fireball, a versatile classic, capable of splitting its damage across multiple targets. It scales with the mana you invest, making it adaptable for various situations, unlike Cinder Storm’s fixed damage amount.

When weighing their uses and effects, Cinder Storm holds its ground due to its direct and high damage output. Despite its higher mana cost, it allows players to eliminate major threats or swiftly decrease an opponent’s life total, showcasing its might among burn spells in MTG.

Lava Axe - MTG Card versions
Flame Rift - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Lava Axe - Portal (POR)
Flame Rift - Nemesis (NEM)
Fireball - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Cinder Storm by color, type and mana cost

Devastation - MTG Card versions
Fire Tempest - MTG Card versions
Flame Wave - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Sledge - MTG Card versions
Over the Top - MTG Card versions
Brass's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Searing Flesh - MTG Card versions
Twist Allegiance - MTG Card versions
Fury of the Horde - MTG Card versions
Disaster Radius - MTG Card versions
Destructive Force - MTG Card versions
Rite of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Vision - MTG Card versions
Serpentine Spike - MTG Card versions
Star of Extinction - MTG Card versions
Sundering Stroke - MTG Card versions
Reckless Endeavor - MTG Card versions
Collision of Realms - MTG Card versions
Devastation - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Fire Tempest - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Flame Wave - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Thieves' Auction - The List (PLST)
Goblin Game - The List (PLST)
Kamahl's Sledge - Torment (TOR)
Over the Top - The Brothers' War Promos (PBRO)
Brass's Bounty - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Searing Flesh - Onslaught (ONS)
Twist Allegiance - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Fury of the Horde - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
Disaster Radius - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Destructive Force - Magic 2011 (M11)
Rite of Ruin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Volcanic Vision - Commander 2021 (C21)
Serpentine Spike - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Star of Extinction - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sundering Stroke - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Reckless Endeavor - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Collision of Realms - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cinder Storm MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999 and Masters Edition III, 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 Cinder Storm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cinder Storm Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-07-01 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-07-01Starter 1999S99 931997normalwhiteMark Tedin
22009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 911997normalblackMark Tedin
32018-03-16Masters 25A25 1262015normalblackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cinder Storm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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