This may be my favorite card in the set. It's very strong and versatile. Sweet art as well. I'm really hoping I can pull a few of these!
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The poor man's Bonfire of the Damned. Sure, it doesn't hit players, but it's still one-sided board wipe. It's wonderful in EDH, too. At worst, it's a slightly worse Flame Slash. Still not bad.
SirMalkin
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
It's like a fireworks show gone horribly horribly right.
lorendorky
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is a lot more stable than Bonfire and easier to take advantage of copy effects from Chandra, the Firebrand and doesn't whiff when being played for free.
Cyberium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Would love to use this card in group games, the RRR is minor hindrance at best.
Redgurr
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Dat art! :D
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Next Bonfire? Yeah, I'm buying these while I can.
General_Naga
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Gotta love red wraths.
Lotsofpoopy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a very powerful spell that is made even more powerful with the amazing overload ability. Pros like me love overload.
Shadoflaam
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I didn't like this at first because of its speed and its inability to hit players.
About a week ago the term 'overload' kicked in.
5/5
Ferlord
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
A better, less red, more "everybody gets hurt" version of Flame Wave.
WITH the chance of going for the single creature.
Really good. Worth it's weight (but not 4.8/5)
rollinsclone
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not as good as Bonfire, but also way easier on the wallet. So I'm just gonna call this better.
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Well, Flame Slash was awesome, right? Then HAVE SOME MORE.
ninjaboy05
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Screws over hexproof and shroud. Takes care of Geist of Saint Traft and any other creatures they bring. Heck it even kills Thrun, the Last Troll barring regeneration.
Endomarru
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I pulled two at the pre-release. I won.
lagg
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Bonfire of the Damned stable version? Snapcastable spot removal? Gimme 4.
mflanaga
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
By far my number 1 all-star "hell yeah I just drew this" card at the prerelease... Goblin Electromancer makes this into 2RRR: blow up most of the creatures this set offers on the other side of the board...
ThinkOriginal
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Oh Golgari Charm...I'm wondering how many times you will save my butt from things like this...
TheManakinTransfer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It may not be the greatest burn spell ever made. But that art is glorious, and the effect reflects that perfectly. The Izzet mage launches either a single volley of flame mortars or barrages the living crap out of everything. It's one of those cards that satisfies nearly every play style and is playable in most formats excluding the eternals. Definitely my favorite card in the set.
Purplerooster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Either a high costed bomb or an efficient removal is mana ain't coming your way. Overload makes cards very versatile. 5/5.
swords_to_exile
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
You get a Flame Slash. You get a Flame Slash. You ALL get Flame Slashes. -Niv Mizzet
Jack_Poodle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Solid card, not better than Bonfire? that's situational... you would never complain about this cards in your opening hand.
Alluceanot
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I really really wish they had broken the overload "bad stuff only targets opponents, good stuff only targets you" rule for just one card at rare, and I wish it had been this one.
Imagine "Choose one: ~ deals 4 damage to target creature or ~ deals 2 damage to target opponent. Overload: 2RR
Haelthor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I put two of these in my UR delver deck (which won my local FNM 5-0!) 4.5/5! It fills the gap nicely between Pillar of Flame as your 1 drop and Flames of the Firebrand as your 3 drop. The Overload doesn't even need to happen because you have so many other burn spells, but when you do overload its always card advantage (and usually a winning turn too). Going to pick up a 3rd copy (can't afford Bonfire of the Damned) soon; although it can't hit players, it kills pretty much anything else with a big butt (Restoration Angel, Corpsejack Menace, Isperia, Odric, Loxodon Smiter just to name a few).
My only complaint is that it can't hit opposing planeswalkers :(
Jareth82
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Gisela will love this...
ndrew68
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
How exactly does this interact with Isochron Scepter? Can you overload it after paying the scepter's cost or what?
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Would have been tons better if it could deal damage to the opponent as well.
Sour_Diesel
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@wholelottalove
If this could hit players it would have been the best burn to be printed since bolt or Fireblast.
VirusVescichetta
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ndrew68
This doesn't interact with Isochron Scepter at all because this is a sorcery.
Sironos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I think I prefer this over bonfire, I've had so much bad luck of drwaing my bonfires at the wrong time, this is so much more dependable, works both early and late game, it doesn't punish you for having card draw in your deck, and doesn't break the wallet. I've grown tired of bonfire being unreliable, PLEASE WIZARDS, GIVE ME BACK MY EARTHQUAKE IN STANDARD.
Seifer447
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Fantastic burn spell. And versatile too.
NickDay
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Best thing about the Overload mechanic? It gets around creatures with hexproof or shroud.
RetroGamer3
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
It works great at the start and mid game but late game overload can be devastating. 4/5
Seriously, I bought 3 boxes and drafted/sealed a bunch of times. I pulled at least 10 of these. I traded away most fo them, but I've grown quite fond of this card.
LFW
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This + Nature's Revolt = Destroy all lands you don't control.
if you cast it twice with overload and one of your opponent's creatures survive, it probably has annihilator and its about to KILL YOU.
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Flame slash for an extra 1 colourless mana. Then, if you have the mana for it, it can be a big blowout late game. I really like it.
Tamerlein
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A one-sided sweeper is always extremely powerful, especially if it is for four damage. Even if you don't have the six mana needed for the overload cost, being able to take out your opponent's Loxodon Smiter makes it worthwhile in constructed.
So silly in EDH that I can't even.
4.5/5
Woolyer_Thoctar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of my favorite overload cards, I just wish it dealt 5 so I could deal with advent of the wurm
Bob111634
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I opened like nine of these.
Casey130
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The closest Standard Grixis Control is gonna get to a board wipe for now. I'll play 4
HotHit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
So... For the upcoming Theros standard I think this is possibly the best removal my Gruul deck's gonna get.
It answers almost everything, especially for an aggressive deck. In this block, a list of problems for that deck it doesn't answer is actually pretty short. I mean, yes, there's plenty of things at 6 CMC or higher with 5 or more toughness (things above 5 CMC usually exceed 4 toughness anyway). But they're usually a problem aggro decks have to go round or faster than, not through. So... A list of things this doesn't beat at 5 CMC or lower are:
Notice a theme? Most of these creatures are a major hassle to a non-black aggro deck, even with appropriate removal. They're intended to allow your opponent to stabilize and honestly? That's a pretty damn short list, several of which (catacomb slug, leyline phantom I'm looking at you) you're actually unlikely to see.
Casimir_the_Great
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Y'know, I think this spell is a bit too OP" -No Izzet mage ever
chrome_dome
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4/5
skorpionrazor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play this and Natural Afinitty if you want to lose some friends in EDH.
Comments (50)
About a week ago the term 'overload' kicked in.
5/5
WITH the chance of going for the single creature.
Really good. Worth it's weight (but not 4.8/5)
5/5.
-Niv Mizzet
Imagine
"Choose one: ~ deals 4 damage to target creature or ~ deals 2 damage to target opponent.
Overload: 2RR
My only complaint is that it can't hit opposing planeswalkers :(
If this could hit players it would have been the best burn to be printed since bolt or Fireblast.
This doesn't interact with Isochron Scepter at all because this is a sorcery.
I've grown tired of bonfire being unreliable, PLEASE WIZARDS, GIVE ME BACK MY EARTHQUAKE IN STANDARD.
4/5
Seriously, I bought 3 boxes and drafted/sealed a bunch of times. I pulled at least 10 of these. I traded away most fo them, but I've grown quite fond of this card.
At least I run Hidetsugu... :)
So silly in EDH that I can't even.
4.5/5
It answers almost everything, especially for an aggressive deck. In this block, a list of problems for that deck it doesn't answer is actually pretty short. I mean, yes, there's plenty of things at 6 CMC or higher with 5 or more toughness (things above 5 CMC usually exceed 4 toughness anyway). But they're usually a problem aggro decks have to go round or faster than, not through. So... A list of things this doesn't beat at 5 CMC or lower are:
Alms Beast
Armory Guard
Azor's Elocutors
Bazaar Krovod
Catacomb Slug
Deadbridge Goliath
Descecration Demon
Flux Charger (With a little izzet ingenuity to Quicken it, it can.)
Hover Barrier
Jelen Sphinx
Korozda Gorgon
Leyline Phantom
Mindeye Drake
Murmuring Phantasm
Obzedat, the Ghost Council (They're also often not on the field for you to even hit)
Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Rust Scarab
Species Gorger (Plus most of their other creatures if they've lived this long)
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice
Voice of Resurgence (That */* Elemental won't be too happy about the overload though)
Zhur-Taa Ancient (But it does likely mean you get to overload it for two mountains and another land mana)
Notice a theme? Most of these creatures are a major hassle to a non-black aggro deck, even with appropriate removal. They're intended to allow your opponent to stabilize and honestly? That's a pretty damn short list, several of which (catacomb slug, leyline phantom I'm looking at you) you're actually unlikely to see.
-No Izzet mage ever