Brimstone Volley MTG Card


Brimstone Volley excels in tempo, offering instant-speed flexibility and impactful damage when a creature dies. Mana constraints and the need for a morbid trigger can make it less efficient without setup or in multicolor decks. Inclusion in a collection bolsters burn strategies and enables potent combos, adapting well to shifting metagames.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Morbid

Text of card

Brimstone Volley deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Morbid — Brimstone Volley deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if a creature died this turn.


Cards like Brimstone Volley

Brimstone Volley holds its own within Magic: The Gathering’s vast arsenal of direct-damage spells. Like Lightning Bolt, a staple in most red decks, Brimstone Volley also offers an untargeted damage potential. Where Lightning Bolt offers a swift 3 damage to any target for a single mana, Brimstone Volley delivers a solid 3 damage at 3 mana. It distinguishes itself with morbid—a powerful mechanic that triggers an additional 2 damage when a creature dies the same turn, unleashing 5 damage in total.

In kinship with Brimstone Volley is Searing Spear, another 3-damage dealer worth consideration. At 2 mana, Searing Spear lacks the morbid upside but compensates with a more economical casting cost. There’s also Incinerate, which flatly denies regeneration, a utility that’s absent in Brimstone Volley’s destructive portfolio.

Considering the potential for massive damage output, Brimstone Volley finds a niche. Its morbid bonus can be a game-changer in situations where creature battles are frequent, offering a strategic advantage for players adept at timing and resource management within the realm of Magic: The Gathering.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Brimstone Volley. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Red BurnMono-Red Burn GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Mono-Red AggroMono-Red Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brimstone Volley has the potential to deliver a significant impact on the board, leading to advantageous trades or decisive game moments. Its morbid ability, triggered when a creature dies, adds to this advantage by potentially dealing 5 damage instead of 3.

Resource Acceleration: While Brimstone Volley doesn’t directly contribute to mana acceleration, its efficient cost to damage ratio can help you save mana for other spells and strategies, indirectly accelerating your overall resource deployment.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Brimstone Volley gives players the versatility to respond to opponents’ actions during their turns, making it a powerful tool for interaction and surprise. Whether it’s removing a key creature or finishing off an opponent, its instant speed makes it a flexible addition to any deck’s arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brimstone Volley necessitates a morbid trigger to reach its full potential, meaning a creature must have died this turn. Without this condition being met, you could be holding a card that doesn’t utilize its maximum efficiency.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating one red mana can constrain decks that run multiple colors, potentially making Brimstone Volley a less attractive option compared to more flexible damage spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of three mana for an initial three damage can be steep, especially given that numerous spells offer immediate damage for less. This could lead to inefficiencies in fast-paced game scenarios where mana conservation is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brimstone Volley offers a dynamic approach to game mechanics, catering to various strategies. It serves well in a burn deck or as a surprise finisher, adding that extra punch when you need it most.

Combo Potential: Given that Brimstone Volley deals extra damage if a creature died this turn, it harmonizes perfectly with sacrifice mechanics or board-cleaning spells, enabling high-impact combos for game-winning moves.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting MTG scene, Brimstone Volley maintains relevance by challenging creature-heavy formats and striking hard when opponents least expect it. It’s a powerful choice for keeping pace with current trends.


How to Beat Brimstone Volley

Brimstone Volley is a potent direct damage spell that offers considerable impact, particularly in scenarios involving creature deaths. Players engaging against Brimstone Volley should be wary of the Morbid trigger, where the card’s damage output escalates significantly if a creature has died this turn. To mitigate its effect, one should consider playing in a way that limits creature fatalities, especially during their own turn.

Conversely, strategies may include deploying counter spells to nullify Brimstone Volley before it takes effect or utilizing damage prevention effects that can be activated in response to it. Additionally, playing creatures with higher toughness can help absorb the damage from Brimstone Volley without triggering its Morbid condition. Keeping in mind the three-mana requirement for casting Brimstone Volley could also help players plan their turns to either leave mana open for countermeasures or apply pressure in such a way that casting Brimstone Volley becomes less attractive for the opponent. In essence, careful play and a strategic approach to managing the board state are key to coming out ahead against this fiery threat.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brimstone Volley MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Conspiracy, 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 Brimstone Volley and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brimstone Volley Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Eytan Zana.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1322003NormalBlackEytan Zana
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1382003NormalBlackEytan Zana
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1202015NormalBlackEytan Zana
42023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 382015NormalBlackEytan Zana

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brimstone Volley has restrictions

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