Eternal Flame MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Released	1994-08-01
Set symbol
Set name	The Dark
Set code	DRK
Number	61
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Poole

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by combining damage output with potential card draw to maintain hand resources.
Provides strategic versatility by casting at instant speed, enabling reactive plays and disrupting opponents.
Eternal Flame synergizes with mountain-based mana, making it a potent choice for specific red decks.

Text of card

Eternal Flame does an amount of damage to your opponent equal to the number of mountains you control, but it also does half that amount of damage to you, rounding up.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Eternal Flame card offers its controller a significant benefit in terms of card advantage. By inflicting damage while potentially drawing cards, it keeps your hand replenished, providing the fuel to edge ahead of opponents in the long game.

Resource Acceleration: Grouping this card with strategies focused on resource acceleration can alter the pace of the match. It can turn excess lands or unused mana into a beneficial resource, aiding in casting more demanding spells sooner than the standard mana curve allows.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Eternal Flame at instant speed is a strategic boon. It empowers the player to adapt to the evolving game state, preserving options until the last feasible moment which can disrupt opponent strategies or maximize the card’s impact when conditions are most favorable.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Eternal Flame demands a card to be discarded when you opt to use its ability. This trade-off can deplete your hand, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage, especially if your strategy relies on maintaining a variety of options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s ability requires a specific combination of mana, including double red, to activate. This mana specificity restricts its integration across multiple deck types, often confining it to mono-red or red-heavy decks which can limit overall versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that is on the higher side for the effect it offers, it may not always align with the fast-paced nature of aggressive decks. Other cards in your arsenal may provide a more cost-effective solution or deliver more immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include Eternal Flame in Your Collection

Versatility: Eternal Flame offers a dynamic choice for any red-based deck, contributing to both board presence and direct damage potential. Its ability to scale with the game makes it adaptable for various situations.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focusing on instant and sorcery spells, providing an extra layer of damage output. It can amplify the effects of spell-based combos, turning each cast into a potential offensive movement.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that revolves around creature-heavy decks or where life totals are a constant battleground, Eternal Flame stands out. It can help control the pace of the game, making it a tactical addition to your arsenal.

How to beat

Eternal Flame can be a challenging card to face in the Magic: The Gathering arena, as it has the power to deal considerable damage with its direct damage ability. To effectively counter this card, it is useful to deploy strategies that mitigate damage or disrupt the opponent’s mana flow. Cards such as Leyline of Sanctity offer protection by making you hexproof, thereby preventing Eternal Flame from targeting you directly.

Another strategy is to focus on resource denial. Cards like Damping Sphere can impair your opponent’s ability to generate the large amounts of mana needed to fuel Eternal Flame’s damaging effect. Additionally, instant-speed removal or counter spells like Naturalize or Counterspell can stop Eternal Flame before its ability goes on the stack, preventing the damage altogether.

Ultimately, understanding the mechanics of Eternal Flame and having a game plan to neutralize its impact is key. By incorporating damage prevention, resource denial, or direct disruption into your deck, you improve your odds of dampening Eternal Flame’s fiery assault and maintaining the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering matches.

Cards like Eternal Flame

Eternal Flame stands out among Magic: The Gathering’s red sorcery spells, designed to deliver a blast of damage proportional to the number of mountains you control. It’s akin to Fireball, another MTG staple known for its customizable damage output. Eternal Flame demands a reliable mountain-based mana base to maximize its potential, while Fireball offers more flexibility since the damage can be split among multiple targets and it only requires a single red mana.

Another peer in this category is Rolling Earthquake, a classic force of nature spell that impacts all creatures and players. Both spells have the elemental burst flavor, but Eternal Flame provides a safer route for those wanting to avoid self-inflicted wounds. Its impact is solely on your opponent, while Rolling Earthquake sweeps across the board. Balancing power with precision, Eternal Flame requires strategic land play to shine.

Ultimately, in the panorama of red sorceries in Magic: The Gathering, Eternal Flame holds a unique position for players who build their deck around a mountainous mana base, rewarding them with a potentially game-ending blow.

Cards similar to Eternal Flame by color, type and mana cost

Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eternal Flame MTG card by a specific set like The Dark, 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 Eternal Flame and other MTG cards: