Sizzling Barrage MTG Card


Sizzling Barrage - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Number162
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohann Bodin

Key Takeaways

  1. Though not a card advantage tool, it decisively alters the board by potentially removing creatures.
  2. Instant speed allows flexible combat responses, adding strategic depth to gameplay.
  3. Limited to red mana decks, its scope can be narrow but highly effective in the right build.

Text of card

Sizzling Barrage deals 4 damage to target creature that blocked this turn.

"A thousand sparks can burn through your defenses just as quickly as one massive blaze." —Attikar, Akoum elementalist


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Sizzling Barrage doesn’t directly provide card advantage, it can shift board state in your favor, potentially removing an opponent’s creature which cost them a card.

Resource Acceleration: This card represents resource acceleration in terms of damage efficiency. It can remove a blocker or an attacking creature at a low mana cost, helping you maintain tempo and potentially leading to a quicker victory.

Instant Speed: Sizzling Barrage’s strength lies in its ability to be played at instant speed, allowing for strategic defensive or offensive plays during combat on your opponent’s turn. This flexibility can give you the upper hand when timing is critical.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sizzling Barrage doesn’t necessitate discarding, which means this drawback isn’t a concern for players using this card.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring red mana to cast, Sizzling Barrage fits primarily in red decks, potentially limiting its versatility across different deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing two red mana, some players may find the effect of dealing damage to a blocked creature less impactful compared to other spells at a similar cost that offer more flexibility or immediate board presence.


Reasons to Include Sizzling Barrage in Your Collection

Versatility: Sizzling Barrage offers a flexible tool for red burn decks, slotting in easily to deliver direct damage when targeting creatures that were specifically blocked this turn. Whether you’re defending against an aggressive creature or supporting an attack, its versatility shines in various gameplay scenarios.

Combo Potential: Within red-centric or aggressive decks that are built around combat tricks and creature removal, Sizzling Barrage can become a key part of a damage-dealing combo. It can synergize well with cards that encourage blocking or with effects that boost damage.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG scene evolves, creature-based strategies often remain relevant. Sizzling Barrage holds potential in a meta filled with creature combat, disrupting opponent plays by providing an efficient form of creature elimination after blocks, keeping your path to victory clear.


How to beat

Sizzling Barrage stands out in MTG as a direct damage spell targeting creatures that have already been blocked this turn. This can potentially make an opponent think twice about attacking or blocking when this instant spell could be looming in your hand. It harnesses the power to tip combat in your favor, ensuring that an opposing creature not only fails to deal its intended damage but also gets eliminated from the battlefield.

To effectively counter Sizzling Barrage, prioritize creatures with abilities that shield them from being targeted, or employ spells that offer hexproof to your creatures temporarily. Creatures with indestructible also stand tall against such direct removal. Alternatively, combat tricks that can untap and remove your creature from combat, thus negating the “blocked” clause, can nullify Sizzling Barrage’s effect. Enhancing your deck with these options makes it robust against surprise removals, giving you the upper hand even when your creatures plunge into the red-hot fray. Ensuring creature protection and strategic combat decisions are key to outmaneuvering Sizzling Barrage’s fiery assault.


Cards like Sizzling Barrage

Sizzling Barrage steps into the MTG battlefield as a notable member of the red spell arsenal, providing damage potential to creatures that blocked this turn. This card can be seen as paralleling the functionality of other red spells such as Chandra’s Pyrohelix and Twin Bolt, which also deal two points of damage. However, Sizzling Barrage targets only creatures that have blocked, limiting its versatility compared to the aforementioned cards that can hit unblocked creatures or even directly damage players.

Heavenly Blademaster and Sure Strike are other comparisons to consider. Both amplify a creature’s power, although they’re not identical in execution. Sure Strike gives a creature a significant power boost and first strike for a single turn, valuable for unexpected combat tricks. In contrast, Sizzling Barrage is reactive, dealing damage post-combat to a blocker, potentially clearing the way for future attacks but not influencing combat outcomes directly like Sure Strike.

Measuring these cards side by side, Sizzling Barrage presents a unique niche within red spells in MTG. Its conditional damage can be a game-changer in the right decks, particularly when combined with creatures that benefit from the destruction of blockers, though its usage is more situational compared to its counterparts.

Chandra's Pyrohelix - MTG Card versions
Twin Bolt - MTG Card versions
Heavenly Blademaster - MTG Card versions
Sure Strike - MTG Card versions
Chandra's Pyrohelix - Kaladesh (KLD)
Twin Bolt - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
Heavenly Blademaster - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Sure Strike - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Cards similar to Sizzling Barrage by color, type and mana cost

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Gorilla War Cry - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Flame Burst - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Shatter - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Blasting - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Incinerate - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Guerrilla Tactics - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Gorilla War Cry - Alliances (ALL)
Aleatory - Mirage (MIR)
Orcish Catapult - Astral Cards (PAST)
Blood Frenzy - Tempest (TMP)
Fling - Jumpstart (JMP)
Falter - Urza's Saga (USG)
Shattering Pulse - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Flowstone Strike - Nemesis (NEM)
Flame Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Shrapnel Blast - Mirrodin (MRD)
Glacial Ray - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Smash to Smithereens - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Comet Storm - Commander 2017 (C17)
Searing Spear - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Starstorm - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
First Volley - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sizzling Barrage MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Sizzling Barrage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sizzling Barrage has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sizzling Barrage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-09-25 Destroying a blocking creature doesn’t cause the creature it was blocking to become unblocked.
2020-09-25 Sizzling Barrage can target a creature that’s currently blocking or one that blocked earlier in the turn and is no longer blocking.

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