Will definitly see play in Boros and RDW, but as for Jund and Naya, Sideboard at best. When it comes down to it, Bolt can end the game and this cannot. Amazing card, however. Makes me feel that Broodmate Dragon is going to be used less now.
Also, this has less chances to hit animated Manlands. The opponent would have to animate during your turn, and that shouldn't happen if you have R open and they know you run Flame Slash.
Still made of OP
thrallallmighty
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
This is almoast better than lightning bolt its a shame it is a socery wery good card ! 5/5
chrishocker
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Goodbye Putrid Leech. Goodbye half of Broodmate Dragon. RDW already was a good matchup against Jund, and now it's nearly unstoppable.
AngelxLegna
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(7 votes)
Great for Pauper players on MTGO
DonRoyale
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
All I have to say is, thank GOD it's a sorcery. If it were an instant, God forbid what we'd be in for...
Ridiculous card, but the sorcery speed REALLY hurts it.
BrutalJim
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
If this were an instant, it would be amazing, it could easily see more play than Lightning Bolt. As it is it's still really nice, 1 mana to kill basically anything up to a 3 drop, and still easily most 4 and 5 drops is sick.
PS: 4 isn't the magic number anymore.
Kataklyzmik
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Stuffy doll, just in case?
dudecow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One mana, 4 damage. Sure, it's a sorcery while Lightning Bolt is an instant, and it can't hit players, while the Bolt can. It's still 1 MANA FOR 4 DAMAGE! There are certainly times when it's worse than Bolt, but there are also times when it's better (if that's even possible). This will be heavily played.
stratoscythe
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is sooo goood.. The fact that most of the time you cast Searing Blaze or Lightning Bolt during your turn to get that threat removed. 5/5
Vinifera7
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At first glance, I thought they did the unthinkable by one-upping Lightning Bolt, but this only targets creatures and it's a sorcery.
SolidSoldier
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Absolutely amazing in limited.
Not so much in constructed. Give it instant-speed then we'll talk.
thornraven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh by the way, Raymond Swanland's art is so cool. EVERYTIME.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Why wizards.. why!!! First everything with 3 and less toughness is bolt bait, now everything 4 and less is flame slash bait. Honestly, it sounds bad because its sorcery.. but seriously, its 1 mana. How many times do you have like 1 mana laying around and nothing else to spend it on? The reality is that it being sorcery only prevents you from using it as a combat trick, beyond that its still an amazing removal that kills malakir bloodwitch instantly. W/g/r decks got some serious removal these days.
Eternal_Blue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
huh. i was hoping to switch out my skreds for this, but i think it being a sorcery is going to hurt it way too much. doubt this will see much play other than in--yup, you guessed it--limited.
Tezz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
flavor text fail: take that Eldrazi? spawn maybe?
EvilCleavage
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
I have been gawking at this card for the last three hours almost more than any other out of all the packs I got. I seriously didn't realize until literally right now when I read this, that it was an instant. I didn't even look I just assumed it was! I was thinking oh my god man this is toooo good. For real, like too good. Not in a good way. I'm glad it's not an instant. I think this is going to get more play than everyone thinks.
True_Mumin
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Sorcery? Really? I'm sorry, but we live in the wake of Lightning Bolt, this really should have been made into an instant.
daemonfrog
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
seriously, guys. lightning bolt is cycling out in june, unless they bring it back in M11. if they don't, this will be lightning bolt and oust will be path.
sarroth
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(22 votes)
I see no reason to complain about a 1 drop that will kill off Serra Angel no problem. It doesn't need to be an instant. If it was, no duh it would be better than Lightning Bolt, but bolt is the epitome of red and is perfectly balanced, so why do we need a card that is clearly better than it in all aspects? People worry about Power Creep in this game, saying Wizards is making cards too powerful, but they do it to please the same fans that complain that Flame Slash should have been an instant. Making a card more powerful than \ Lightning Bolt is asking for power creep, not balance. Bolt is good enough; if you want another bolt, then hope for a reprint. But if you expect a card to come out that is better than it in every way, you're asking for power creep to dominate all new sets.
HairlessThoctar
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
And just like that; 3 is no longer the magic toughness number.
Ezenthar
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Even at sorcery speed, this card is fine, because your opponents creatures still have to wait a turn to attack you, don't they? So this can hit them the turn after they came down. Only thing to worry about is creatures with Haste.
nammertime
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Ah, sorcery speed, the true test of whether you can play smart or not.
scutemob
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
i like it. PURE POWER.
Lunarblade
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Bai bai, Wall of Omens :P
Gaussgoat
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(4 votes)
I think it is indicative of Magic's overall power-creep that people don't see this as a 5/5 card. It does 4 damage... for 1 mana. Yeah, it isn't an instant or it would be the most ridiculous card of all time.
Totally insane damage potential for red. Thank God it can't target players.
5/5
A3Kitsune
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4 damage. 1 mana. 5 stars.
Not an instant? Can't hit players? Still 5 stars. It's 4 DAMAGE FOR 1 MANA.
Sironos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Come on, 4 dmg to creature at sorcery speed for 1 mana, this makes so many red dmg spells look ridiculous in comparison. Now my creatures have to be f*cking toughness 5(!) for me to not worry about red's 1 mana removal... god damn it wizards...
Gezus82
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
so... it's killing a nest invader... why does it need 4 damage?
Eved
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Because red really needs another way to kill my Platinum Angel?
Colossus_of_Darkstee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Why would anyone play this over lightning bolt? you cant kill manlands with this, you cant finish games with this, and 1 more damage really isn't gonna help you as much as you think. you guys are overestimating this card. 3/5
sancrosact
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm not seeing why everyone thinks this is better than bolt..it is decidedly not. a proper red burn or goblin deck relies on options, including the option of playing a burn spell during an opponent's turn, or on a creature OR player. This will still get some play here and there in some formats, but red decks will continue to prefer the temporal and target flexibility of bolt.
nibelheim_valesti
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Not sure I would play this over Bolt even at instant speed.
And no, using sorcery speed burn well isn't an IQ test. Choosing whether to play it at all is.
SlickDragon
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
In Roe limited this card reads "Kill target Drana" .
Laguz
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
Obviously it would be better as an instant, but in the long run, who cares? This kills so much stuff.
achilleselbow
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(8 votes)
Perfectly balanced against Lightning Bolt. Everyone saying this is better has never played a real red deck, where so many games are ended with "double bolt you, good game." I still prefer Bolt and even Searing Blaze, but this is a good addition.
Zoah
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Why is there not a one cost "counter target spell unless it's controller pays three" for blue?
This is absurd. Red is by far the most broken color. The closest thing to this in black is Deform which doesn't come close to how nasty this is.
Then there is Lightning bolt which, though not as powerful, is twice as flexible. I hate red, I really do. Ever since my friend discovered boil Red has just looked nastier and nastier.
Just... Yuck.
Selez
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(9 votes)
Okay, why in the infernal hells is anyone complaining about this being sorcery speed? It's already the most effectively-costed defensive red spell ever, you need it to have aggressive connotations as well? This card isn't meant to go in aggressive red decks; it's meant to go in more control-oriented responsive decks with access to red so stop complaining about its speed and lack of target-flexibility because it's already ridiculously good at what it does!! (albeit pretty odd for a red card.)
Also, this card shouldn't be compared to Lightning Bolt in terms of better or worse, it's totally different; instead, compare the two to show what the reprinting of Lightning Bolt has allowed Red to get away with.
And oh yeah, has anyone else noticed that the art is depicting an Obsidian Fireheart blowing the ever-lovin crap out of a spawn token? I friggin love it.
DespisedIcon
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(5 votes)
4 damage. No drawbacks (aside from the speed). ONE mana. Sh!t, what are you complaining about? Do a little research on gatherer and see what 4 damage has costed throughout MTG's history. Noobs.
It's a 1-dmg weaker goblin grenade, without you sacrificing a goblin. The way I see it, this card deserves at least 4.5
EDIT: oh, okay, can't hit players... minus * then....
Falgorn
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
I just can't believe there are people complaining about this. Seriously, do you remember that Lightning Bolt hadn't seen print for years due to its power level? Taking that into account, you still complain that this is not an even more powerful version of Lightning Bolt? Go and ask for Shivan Meteor to be reprinted but being able to target players while you 're at it.
EvilCartographer
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If it were Instant, it would be OP. If it could target creatures OR opponents, it would be OP. As it is, a well-balanced removal. Not preferable to Lightning Bolt if you have the option, but brilliant for Block-play.
Henrietta
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(6 votes)
One of the most ridiculously overrated cards I've ever seen. This card sees literally zero competitive play in constructed formats (except maybe in Block? I don't play Block), and isn't even that interesting in casual play. Trading instant speed AND targeting of players, and more importantly, Planeswalkers (AKA Jace) for just 1 damage makes it worse than Lightning Bolt. Not a terrible card, by any means, but it hardly raises the magic toughness number up to 5, or demonstrates power creep, given that it's worse than a perfectly balanced card and sees no real competitive usage.
One extra damage doesn't even accomplish anything in the current Standard environment - at the time of writing this, the top decks are Caw-blade, Splinter Twin, and RUG, with Valakut falling a bit behind but also still having a presence. The only things with 4 toughness in any of these decks are Batterskull on a Germ token, Stoneforge Mystic with a Sword equipped, and Deceiver Exarch. And Flame Slash is literally useless against two of those, not very useful against one. Given that Batterskull is flashed in with Stoneforge Mystic, it will get a chance to swing before you get a chance to Flame Slash it, either swinging the life totals by 8 or by 4 with one of your creatures dead. Against a Stoneforge Mystic with a Sword equipped... whoops, it has a Sword of War and Peace, you can't target it. Against a Deceiver Exarch... it'll be flashed in at end of your turn and your opponent will win the game come his turn if you don't have an instant-speed answer for it. Instead you could play Lightning Bolt, which can kill Stoneforge Mystic before it can flash any equipment into play, and still be able to kill everything Flame Slash would, plus Jace and other, less important Planeswalkers, at instant speed. And there isn't room in any competitive deck for both Flame Slash and Lightning Bolt.
It could have one niche use if Spellskite sees more serious play, but it's not worth using even sideboard slots for to be able to deal with just one card.
oh, so you think this card is second-rate because it's a sorcery? ok, you think that, while I tear your army apart with this amazing one mana card.
remember, 90% of the time instant-speed isn't NECCESSARY. it's just convenient.
helluin
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
"One of the most ridiculously overrated cards I've ever seen. This card sees literally zero competitive play in constructed formats (except maybe in Block? I don't play Block), and isn't even that interesting in casual play." - Henrietta
So you don't play block... do you actually believe that means the ratings of those who do are irrelevant?
Take a look, 3 of the 8 top decks here used Flame Slash: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/ptsj10/t8blockdecklists
As for casual, your comment shows a decided lack of imagination. As of this writing, an advanced Gatherer search shows 64 different creatures with toughness 4 and a rating of 4.5 or above; to kill such a creature for is a bargain.
With the thousands of MtG cards that have been printed over the years, surely you can come up with an "interesting" deck concept that utilizes Flame Slash.
001010011100101110
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just looooooove the artwork.
SirZapdos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Useful card. Cool artwork. Raymond Swanland reminds me of Richard Kane-Ferguson. They both have a style that really stands out.
steez4days
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like how this is rated better than baneslayer but cost 120 times less.
EDIT: @scumbling1 you're right, i wrote this when i was first starting to play, my sincerest apologies.
ninjabear
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
1) Instant-speed removal is *very convenient* because it can easily generate 2x1 in response to enchants, giant growth-style cards, or other pumpers. it also allows you to cast it in the other player's turn, when you have the most information of what he's going to do, so you can take better decisions. 2) Not being able to hit players is... well, lame. As creature removal it's ok, but it's not fantastic; imho, it's just a bad-quality Path to Exile/Swords to Plowshares/Doom Blade/Go for the throat. But it's in red so it's ok, it's still one of the best creature-removal spells in red. 3) The comparison to Lightning Bolt is, imho, completely dummy. Lightning wins hands down. Still, the bolt is a versatile and powerful card that sets the "gold standard" for direct damage. The only case in which this would be preferred to the bolt is in a meta crowded with 4-toughness creatures (Rhox War Monk, Serra Angel, and the like). And even then, I would probably run the bolt :)
alphagprime
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Reasons to hold your Lightning Bolts until your turn anyway:
All of these creatures will allow you to get extra (better) mileage out of your instants if you cast them on your turn. Might as well swap your Lightning Bolts for Flame Slash with these creatures and use it to clear your path.
Just depends on the other cards in your deck.
PinkleDadandy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
no instant speed =_= I like lightning bolt better
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I mean, I like it for itself. But it just makes me so sad to see what this does to the rating of such a cool flavor-tastic card like Consuming Bonfire. Being 1 cmc certainly makes this card pretty good...but, as I noted on Consuming Bonfire, the two qualities that are most important for Burn are-
-Instant speed
-can it hit BOTH creatures and players?
this fails both of those but makes up for it in a stupid discount on damage-for-mana.
Bonfire also fails both of those, and was not given an exciting upside. I really wish Bonfire had had Lava Axe stapled onto it- would have made the card so much better.
Cygore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wish it was an instant. :/ Good card though. 4/5.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I don't think it should be an instant. I do, however, think it should deal 5 damage instead of 4.
psychichobo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Eh, not being instant doesn't both me much. Sometimes you need solid cheap damage to kill the things bolt can't kill, and when used with bolt you can take out toughness 7 and co.
I fight a lot of tribal decks, and there's so many +1/+1 buffs going around you need to be able to provide spells that can do more damage.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hiiiyah!
azure_drake222222
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Compared to Lightning Bolt or Shock, it does 1 or 2 more damage, however it's a sorcery and can only target creatures. I think that puts this card in between them.
kogar15
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Holy shit this card is the picture opposite of banefire!Seriously go look at the artist is too.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I agree with Ninjabear on basically everything. Instant speed is needed to screw up equips, enchants, and deal with lopsided toughness nasties that have haste or are going to get shroud if you can't blow them off the board. Hitting players allows you to finish off combo decks, finish off a player in the end game, while still controlling the board.
While this is decent removal and has beautiful art, if I'm in burn there are nicer options usually. Low toughness? Forked Bolt is beautiful. High toughness? I should have a beater the same size in power or better, I'm in red...
Burn covers most everything else.
Earthdawn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Dragon Hatchling, Use Flame Slash!"
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@helluin
It's used in Legacy, that bears a lot of weight. Who cares it just targets creatures, it's a different application than lightning bolt. In a deck that needs red removal not face burn, this is primo. The extra one point of damage makes this kill hundreds more creatures. 4.5/5
MDG117
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm a huge mono red player, and while lightning bolt is amazing, as a red player I can easily appreciate this card. While lightning bolt always going to be one of (if not) the best red cards ever, flame slash just does thinks bolt just can't, sure it's only a sorcery and it can't damage players but it still removes some larger creatures quicker/easier than bolt will in certain circumstances. If you don't like flame slash that's fine, don't play it, but don't rain on everyone else's parade. I give this card a 4/5
Comments (64)
Also, this has less chances to hit animated Manlands.
The opponent would have to animate during your turn, and that shouldn't happen if you have R open and they know you run Flame Slash.
Still made of OP
its a shame it is a socery
wery good card !
5/5
Ridiculous card, but the sorcery speed REALLY hurts it.
PS: 4 isn't the magic number anymore.
Not so much in constructed. Give it instant-speed then we'll talk.
Totally insane damage potential for red. Thank God it can't target players.
5/5
Not an instant? Can't hit players? Still 5 stars. It's 4 DAMAGE FOR 1 MANA.
And no, using sorcery speed burn well isn't an IQ test. Choosing whether to play it at all is.
This is absurd. Red is by far the most broken color. The closest thing to this in black is Deform which doesn't come close to how nasty this is.
Then there is Lightning bolt which, though not as powerful, is twice as flexible.
I hate red, I really do. Ever since my friend discovered boil Red has just looked nastier and nastier.
Just... Yuck.
Also, this card shouldn't be compared to Lightning Bolt in terms of better or worse, it's totally different; instead, compare the two to show what the reprinting of Lightning Bolt has allowed Red to get away with.
And oh yeah, has anyone else noticed that the art is depicting an Obsidian Fireheart blowing the ever-lovin crap out of a spawn token? I friggin love it.
Sh!t, what are you complaining about? Do a little research on gatherer and see what 4 damage has costed throughout MTG's history.
Noobs.
EDIT: oh, okay, can't hit players... minus * then....
One extra damage doesn't even accomplish anything in the current Standard environment - at the time of writing this, the top decks are Caw-blade, Splinter Twin, and RUG, with Valakut falling a bit behind but also still having a presence. The only things with 4 toughness in any of these decks are Batterskull on a Germ token, Stoneforge Mystic with a Sword equipped, and Deceiver Exarch. And Flame Slash is literally useless against two of those, not very useful against one. Given that Batterskull is flashed in with Stoneforge Mystic, it will get a chance to swing before you get a chance to Flame Slash it, either swinging the life totals by 8 or by 4 with one of your creatures dead. Against a Stoneforge Mystic with a Sword equipped... whoops, it has a Sword of War and Peace, you can't target it. Against a Deceiver Exarch... it'll be flashed in at end of your turn and your opponent will win the game come his turn if you don't have an instant-speed answer for it. Instead you could play Lightning Bolt, which can kill Stoneforge Mystic before it can flash any equipment into play, and still be able to kill everything Flame Slash would, plus Jace and other, less important Planeswalkers, at instant speed. And there isn't room in any competitive deck for both Flame Slash and Lightning Bolt.
It could have one niche use if Spellskite sees more serious play, but it's not worth using even sideboard slots for to be able to deal with just one card.
remember, 90% of the time instant-speed isn't NECCESSARY. it's just convenient.
- Henrietta
So you don't play block... do you actually believe that means the ratings of those who do are irrelevant?
Take a look, 3 of the 8 top decks here used Flame Slash:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/ptsj10/t8blockdecklists
As for casual, your comment shows a decided lack of imagination. As of this writing, an advanced Gatherer search shows 64 different creatures with toughness 4 and a rating of 4.5 or above; to kill such a creature for
With the thousands of MtG cards that have been printed over the years, surely you can come up with an "interesting" deck concept that utilizes Flame Slash.
EDIT: @scumbling1 you're right, i wrote this when i was first starting to play, my sincerest apologies.
2) Not being able to hit players is... well, lame. As creature removal it's ok, but it's not fantastic; imho, it's just a bad-quality Path to Exile/Swords to Plowshares/Doom Blade/Go for the throat. But it's in red so it's ok, it's still one of the best creature-removal spells in red.
3) The comparison to Lightning Bolt is, imho, completely dummy. Lightning wins hands down. Still, the bolt is a versatile and powerful card that sets the "gold standard" for direct damage. The only case in which this would be preferred to the bolt is in a meta crowded with 4-toughness creatures (Rhox War Monk, Serra Angel, and the like). And even then, I would probably run the bolt :)
Wee Dragonauts
Charmbreaker Devils
Gelectrode
Kiln Fiend
All of these creatures will allow you to get extra (better) mileage out of your instants if you cast them on your turn. Might as well swap your Lightning Bolts for Flame Slash with these creatures and use it to clear your path.
Just depends on the other cards in your deck.
=_=
I like lightning bolt better
-Instant speed
-can it hit BOTH creatures and players?
this fails both of those but makes up for it in a stupid discount on damage-for-mana.
Bonfire also fails both of those, and was not given an exciting upside. I really wish Bonfire had had Lava Axe stapled onto it- would have made the card so much better.
I do, however, think it should deal 5 damage instead of 4.
I fight a lot of tribal decks, and there's so many +1/+1 buffs going around you need to be able to provide spells that can do more damage.
While this is decent removal and has beautiful art, if I'm in burn there are nicer options usually. Low toughness? Forked Bolt is beautiful. High toughness? I should have a beater the same size in power or better, I'm in red...
Burn covers most everything else.
It's used in Legacy, that bears a lot of weight. Who cares it just targets creatures, it's a different application than lightning bolt. In a deck that needs red removal not face burn, this is primo. The extra one point of damage makes this kill hundreds more creatures. 4.5/5
I give this card a 4/5