Immolation MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Immolation removes creatures and subverts threats, offering a form of card advantage.
  2. Instant speed amplifies Immolation’s strategic value in various gameplay scenarios.
  3. The requirement to discard and a specific mana cost are notable considerations.

Text of card

Target creature gains +2/-2.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Immolation is a fantastic tool for turning the tide in your favor by allowing you to remove an opposing creature from the board, indirectly contributing to your hand by addressing potential threats.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing a mana boost, Immolation can pave the way for a more efficient use of resources by dealing with blockers or threats that require immediate answers, which can be seen as a form of acceleration towards your winning strategy.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Immolation at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to dynamic game states, orchestrate surprise plays during combat, or at the end of an opponent’s turn, elevating your strategic potential.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Immolation requires players to discard a card, which might deplete your hand and leave you without options later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Immolation’s mana cost is exclusively red, making it less versatile and potentially unable to fit into multicolored or non-red decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be considered steep for the effect it provides, there are alternative spells that could offer the same or similar effects at a lower cost, enhancing overall mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include Immolation in Your Collection

Versatility: Immolation is a flexible card that can be seamlessly integrated into various red decks. Its ability to enchant creatures adds a new layer of depth, providing both removal and buff options depending on the situation.

Combo Potential: For deck builders looking to capitalize on enchantment synergies or just needing an inexpensive way to enhance creatures, Immolation is an excellent addition. It melds well with strategies that take advantage of enchanting creatures, be it for offense or defense.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where small creatures dominate, Immolation shines by turning them into potential threats or clearing a path for your bigger attackers. Keeping in step with the current meta, this card proves to be a valuable tool in a well-rounded arsenal.


How to beat

Overcoming Immolation in your Magic: The Gathering duels requires an adept strategy, as this enchantment can quickly turn your creatures into threats against you. Recognizing that Immolation attaches to a creature and diminishes its toughness, the best approach is to focus on creatures with higher toughness or those that have indestructible attributes, rendering such enchantments ineffective. Another practical method is to employ instant spells that can remove enchantments or rescue your creature from a dire fate by returning it to your hand or giving it hexproof. Having a strategic deck that can swiftly adapt to enchantments like Immolation is key to maintaining the upper hand and securing victory in the strategic skirmishes of MTG. Ensuring your deck is versatile allows you to react to and nullify your opponent’s fiery enchantments.


Cards like Immolation

Immolation is an intriguing piece in the realm of burn or removal spells within MTG. It can be paralleled with spells like Shock, which is a classic instant removal option that also deals 2 damage to any target. However, Immolation is an enchantment aura that brings a unique angle—it enchants a creature, essentially weakening it before dealing lethal damage over time.

In the same vein, Dead Weight is another enchantment that serves a similar function of shrinking a creature’s power and toughness. While it doesn’t deal direct damage, it’s an excellent tool for neutralizing threats on the board. Then there’s Chained to the Rocks, a spell requiring a Mountain but it exiles the targeted creature as long as Chained to the Rocks remains on the battlefield. Immolation doesn’t exile, but it has the versatility of fitting into any deck with red mana, without the specific land requirement.

Assessing all angles, Immolation holds its own within the array of MTG removal options. Its enchantment nature gives players a lingering threat against their opponent’s creatures, marking its unique spot in the Magic: The Gathering landscape.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Dead Weight - MTG Card versions
Chained to the Rocks - MTG Card versions
Shock - Stronghold (STH)
Dead Weight - Innistrad (ISD)
Chained to the Rocks - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Immolation by color, type and mana cost

Earthbind - MTG Card versions
Firebreathing - MTG Card versions
Burrowing - MTG Card versions
Storm World - MTG Card versions
Eternal Warrior - MTG Card versions
Imposing Visage - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Curse - MTG Card versions
Veteran's Voice - MTG Card versions
Mob Mentality - MTG Card versions
Crown of Flames - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Rage - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Blade - MTG Card versions
Reflexes - MTG Card versions
Mark of Fury - MTG Card versions
Seal of Fire - MTG Card versions
Laccolith Rig - MTG Card versions
Brutal Suppression - MTG Card versions
Need for Speed - MTG Card versions
Crackling Club - MTG Card versions
Mass Hysteria - MTG Card versions
Earthbind - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Firebreathing - Magic 2012 (M12)
Burrowing - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Storm World - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Eternal Warrior - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imposing Visage - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Ironclaw Curse - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Veteran's Voice - Alliances (ALL)
Mob Mentality - Visions (VIS)
Crown of Flames - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Rage - Tempest (TMP)
Flowstone Blade - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Reflexes - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Mark of Fury - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seal of Fire - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Laccolith Rig - Nemesis (NEM)
Brutal Suppression - Prophecy (PCY)
Need for Speed - Odyssey (ODY)
Crackling Club - Torment (TOR)
Mass Hysteria - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Immolation MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Immolation and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Immolation Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 1531993normalblackScott Kirschner
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2041993normalblackScott Kirschner
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2041993normalwhiteScott Kirschner
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 891993normalblackScott Kirschner
52009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1031997normalblackScott Kirschner
62021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 1442015normalblackOlena Richards
72022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 1442015normalblackOlena Richards

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Immolation has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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