The answer to such a question is conditional, anyway.
For some of us who don't have the luck (or the money) to own a Banefire, Demonfire is a good alternative, plus you don't have to pay more than 5 mana just to protect the blast from counters and damege prevention.
sarroth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Vinifera, mr_Trickster: Also, Demonfire exiles a destroyed creature, whereas Banefire does not.
redsoxftw
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I think banefire is better, because you can still have a hand and not feel totally helpless with it.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Conditionally this is the most powerful blaze spell in the game. Very fun in a deck with 4 Everflowing Chalice.
Cyberium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Demonfire is better with aggressive decks, since they tend to run on low mana and low hand. Banefire is better for a tempo or control deck, slower but tends to get enough mana for a 5+ damage.
With that said, I think both are good in their own field. One clear advantage Demonfire has is that not only it exiles creatures it doesn't have to be 5+ to achieve its highest effect. However, such power comes at a requirement of empty hand, which isn't always the best thing (or the easiest) for non-aggressive decks.
Latronis
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
If you're a pyro and you know it clap your hands!
BonniePrinceCharlie
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Disintegrate is a great card anyway, so these powered up variants suit me just fine. 5/5
bluemaxx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
flavourly speaking, i would like to include this and banefire to a modified Tariel EDH deck.
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card: Better for low mana decks like aggro, also allows you to use other Hellbent cards and to exile annoying creatures if needed
Banefire: Potential for more damage and allows you to have other cards in hand, but requires more mana for that ability. Also more cash to buy it
This card is 4.5 for me, a cheap and very similar alternative to Banefire
JFM2796
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It seems ironic how the flavor behind hellbent is "playing on the edge and being reckless" but on this card when you achieve the hellbent bonus you are given safety and reassurance.
penguinmage25
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
bang!
leomistico
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you don't meet the hellbent condition, you still have an almost Disintegrate (which prevent regeneration). The ability to exile the dying creature is something that I value very high, for all the recurring ability like Unearth, Persist, Undying, Dredge and so on... The hellbent ability is just a nice surplus, that if you want to gain you have to plan it a little during deckbuilding, or know that this is you last spell you cast. That's another nice thing that makes me love this more than Banefire: it's the definitive spell, your last resource, your final answer...
Comments (14)
For some of us who don't have the luck (or the money) to own a Banefire, Demonfire is a good alternative, plus you don't have to pay more than 5 mana just to protect the blast from counters and damege prevention.
Also, Demonfire exiles a destroyed creature, whereas Banefire does not.
With that said, I think both are good in their own field. One clear advantage Demonfire has is that not only it exiles creatures it doesn't have to be 5+ to achieve its highest effect. However, such power comes at a requirement of empty hand, which isn't always the best thing (or the easiest) for non-aggressive decks.
Banefire: Potential for more damage and allows you to have other cards in hand, but requires more mana for that ability. Also more cash to buy it
This card is 4.5 for me, a cheap and very similar alternative to Banefire
Nice art, also!
5/5