Scalding Devil MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Devil
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	155
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Erica Yang

Key Takeaways

Scalding Devil’s repeatable damage can yield significant long-term advantage against opponents.
Its instant-speed ability allows tactical flexibility, maximizing mana potential every turn.
Discard requirement and specific mana cost pose potential strategic challenges for players.

Text of card

: Scalding Devil deals 1 damage to target player.

Demons massacre. Devils annoy.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scalding Devil offers a repeatable source of damage, which can incrementally whittle down an opponent’s life total. Over multiple turns, the card can potentially provide a significant advantage without the need to expend additional cards from hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Scalding Devil itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the constant threat of its activated ability can force opponents to deal with it quickly, potentially disrupting their own plays and conserving your resources for more strategic moves.

Instant Speed: Scalding Devil’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, allowing you to end your turn without committing mana and still pose a threat during the opponent’s turn. This tactical flexibility ensures you can maximize the potential of your mana each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Scalding Devil’s ability, you need to pitch another card from your hand. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: Scalding Devil requires a precise blend of mana, one red and three of any type. This setup can be a stumbling block in multi-color decks that might struggle to produce the right mana at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost to get its ability moving, Scalding Devil asks for a significant mana investment. Players may find this cost steep when looking for immediate board impact, especially when there are cards offering similar abilities for less.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Scalding Devil functions well in an array of decks that aim to win by direct damage or utilize mana sinks effectively. Its ability to convert spare mana into direct damage at any time makes it a flexible threat in many game scenarios.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Scalding Devil has the potential to be part of a powerful combo. In decks that generate abundant mana or can untap creatures easily, it can repeatedly utilize its activated ability, chipping away at the opponent’s life total swiftly.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where games tend to go longer, Scalding Devil’s persistent damage output can become increasingly valuable. It becomes a relevant card that can apply consistent pressure on the opponent’s life total, navigating through stalemates and control setups.

How to beat

The Scalding Devil card poses a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield, offering players a tactical advantage with its mana-activated ability to deal damage. To overtake this fiery adversary, it’s essential to employ swift removal tactics. Direct removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently extinguish the threat before it siphons away life totals. Similarly, countering the creature spell on the stack with spells such as Cancel or Mana Leak prevents it from ever hitting the field.

Board wipes are equally effective in clearing Scalding Devil from the board. A timely Wrath of God or Damnation ensures that the Devil and any other pesky creatures are swept away in one fell swoop. Alternatively, taking the offensive route with aggressive creatures can pressure players who invest mana into activating Scalding Devil’s ability instead of developing their board presence. By maintaining card advantage and applying constant pressure, the Scalding Devil can be rendered less of a concern in the broader scope of the match.

Adjusting your playstyle to remain one step ahead, either by removing the threat immediately or by outpacing your opponent, is crucial when dealing with Scalding Devil. Recognize that the longer it remains on the field, the potential damage it can inflict over time becomes a real danger that must be dealt with hastily.

Cards like Scalding Devil

Scalding Devil finds its niche within the red burn cards in Magic: The Gathering, bringing flair to the battlefield with its damage-dealing abilities. When looking for cards with a smoldering resemblance, one might consider Prodigal Pyromancer. This creature offers consistent pinging to whittle down opponents over time. They share the tap-to-deal-damage feature, but Scalding Devil takes it up a notch, pairing its ability with mana investment for amplified effect.

Next up is Cinder Pyromancer, which not only taps to deal damage but can also untap whenever a red spell is cast, potentially leading to multiple activations in a single turn. Scalding Devil, meanwhile, stays tapped until your next turn, but you can pump more mana into it for increased damage, whereas Cinder Pyromancer’s output is fixed.

Compelling in its function, Scalding Devil allows for a strategy that scales with your available mana, balancing between a steady burn or an explosive payload, depending on the state of the game. Its potential to swing matches could certainly deem it a hot pick for enthusiasts seeking to turn up the heat in their MTG decks.

Cards similar to Scalding Devil by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scalding Devil MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Scalding Devil and other MTG cards: