Oh wow, just accidentally stumbled upon this and discovered it currently has a perfect 5 star rating. Makes sense for a new set as it just gets put into the Gatherer's database, as only a few people have rated it so far, but it's still pretty weird to see, especially since I was just looking to see if there were any perfectly rated cards the other day and found none.
Well, I won't be the one to break the seal, lol. 5 Stars. 4 damage for R is great, even with the limitations. This completely and utterly creates tempo for you.
Arachobia
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Just amazing... unless they have no creatures at all
Sticksandstones
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Good for killing first turn dogs
noobmag1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5/5 for hitting things with fire, well.
MagicCritic
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
well. 5/5 Beats anything ez.
Krysto
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Very close to Lightning Bolt, but this fails for three major reasons:
Without creatures on the field, it's useless.
It cannot hit planeswalkers.
It cannot finish off an opponent at low HP.
Of course with proper redirection a-la Boros Reckoner or cards like Stuffy Doll that doesn't matter, but it's still situational.
Totema
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's really weird to see this without some kind of flavor alteration. How are the Eldrazi relevant to Innistrad again? Unless Sorin accidentally brought back some friends...
Aquillion
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
5/5. Sure, it can't hit players, but nowadays 99% of the time your opponent will have lots of creatures, and 99% of the time killing creatures is what wins games.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Usually sideboard instead of main. Normally Flametongue is early enough that you don't have to worry with this and Bolt and such covers the rest while being versatile.
Still I normally just go R/W or R/B to be sure I have good removal ready.
I still say 4/5 for being efficient mono-red 1-mana removal. 1-mana removal is *great*, especially in the most aggressive color. You *need* that door open so you can crush skulls!
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh baby. I was so happy when I stumbled upon this card. I didn't even know it existed until I bought the duel deck! It's amazing for french EDH. I can 1-shot zur the enchanter! I'm so happy :D
lilwolf2005
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
That one extra damage this has over spells like lightning bolt is surprisingly relevant. One mana to take out a creature like Rhox War Monk or Serra Angel is a great deal. This clears a path in an aggro deck against troublesome blockers.
Lifegainwithbite
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The very fact that it can compete with lightning bolt (though it has several shortcomings) makes it very very powerful. If it were standard legal when Restoration Angel was running around, it would have been a great sideboard card.
Lamaboy4
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well the only question is: "is it better that lightning bolt?" The answer depends on your deck and play style. I tend to lightning bolt creatures rather than players and for that reason, I might put one of these in my deck.
I did some research and these are the results: flame slash can hit about 6000 out of 7015 existing creatures. lightning bolt can hit about 5100 out of 7015 existing creatures. That means this card can hit about 900 more creatures than lightning bolt. That makes this card 1/6 or 16.7% better at removing creatures!
This seems to make up for its inability to hit players, especially if, like me, you often remove creatures instead of dealing direct damage to players. I give this card 5/5.
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kill it with fire. Simple as that. Better than lightning bolt if you aren't worried about instant speed and dealing damage to players. Still a good, solid card to have.
Red-White
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Erm, Lightning bolt IS better than this in general. Instant >>>>>>>>>>> Sorcery... thats a fact. and ability to hit players,planeswalkers and creatures is heavily superior to only creatures... Lightning bolt is still THE burn spell.
XepherXero
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Maybe it's me, but it looks like Reaper King is getting rocked.
graey24601
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not as good as lightning bolt, particularly if you have creatures yourself. Instant speed means you can use a bolt to add damage in the midst of combat. Huge deal when first strike is also involved. Not that this isn't a good burn spell because it is, 1:4 is nice.
Salient
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
After receiving a reminder of Zendikar's fiery temper and dislike of strangers, the Eldrazi remembered they have double-digit toughness and stomped face unabated.
It was so, so, so, so funny to see someone Top 8 a Legacy tournament with a monored Burn deck packing four of these. Merfolk had just come back in a big way thanks to their new level-up-eriffic lord, but Flame Slash kept the fish down long enough to get a few more Goblin Guide attacks through FTW.
I guess in a sense it's the Coralhelm Commanders that actually had forgotten about Zendikar's fiery temper and dislike of strangers.
Aremath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There's a lot of discussion in these comments about whether this is better than Lightning Bolt. The short answer: it isn't. Instant speed is so much more relevant than the 1 damage especially in formats like modern. You get to knock off enchantments, hold up counterspells, and eot snapcast it like nobody's business. Oh, and bolt hits players and planeswalkers, meaning you can either finish off a damaged opponent or get rid of liliana.
That doesn't make it a bad card, though. Getting 4 damage for 1 mana is impressive, and will kill most creatures you're likely to care about in an aggro deck. I give it 4/5.
Comments (19)
Well, I won't be the one to break the seal, lol. 5 Stars. 4 damage for R is great, even with the limitations. This completely and utterly creates tempo for you.
5/5
Beats anything ez.
Without creatures on the field, it's useless.
It cannot hit planeswalkers.
It cannot finish off an opponent at low HP.
Of course with proper redirection a-la Boros Reckoner or cards like Stuffy Doll that doesn't matter, but it's still situational.
Still I normally just go R/W or R/B to be sure I have good removal ready.
I still say 4/5 for being efficient mono-red 1-mana removal. 1-mana removal is *great*, especially in the most aggressive color. You *need* that door open so you can crush skulls!
The answer depends on your deck and play style. I tend to lightning bolt creatures rather than players and for that reason,
I might put one of these in my deck.
I did some research and these are the results:
flame slash can hit about 6000 out of 7015 existing creatures.
lightning bolt can hit about 5100 out of 7015 existing creatures.
That means this card can hit about 900 more creatures than lightning bolt. That makes this card 1/6 or 16.7% better at removing creatures!
This seems to make up for its inability to hit players, especially if, like me, you often remove creatures instead of dealing direct damage to players. I give this card 5/5.
Simple as that.
Better than lightning bolt if you aren't worried about instant speed and dealing damage to players. Still a good, solid card to have.
It was so, so, so, so funny to see someone Top 8 a Legacy tournament with a monored Burn deck packing four of these. Merfolk had just come back in a big way thanks to their new level-up-eriffic lord, but Flame Slash kept the fish down long enough to get a few more Goblin Guide attacks through FTW.
I guess in a sense it's the Coralhelm Commanders that actually had forgotten about Zendikar's fiery temper and dislike of strangers.
That doesn't make it a bad card, though. Getting 4 damage for 1 mana is impressive, and will kill most creatures you're likely to care about in an aggro deck. I give it 4/5.