Is Braid of Fire really that good?

Asked by djdauenbaugh 13 years ago

It seems to me like every red deck would include Braid of Fire if it works the way that I'm thinking it does. Every turn its in play it increases the amount of mana it generates per age counter on it?

djdauenbaugh says... #1

Now looking at it, I guess maybe I should have asked why not have Braid of Fire in a red deck?

December 9, 2010 4:27 p.m.

patrickd117 says... Accepted answer #2

You cannot use the mana generated with it on anuthing but instants, as it is added during your upkeep and empties before your main phase.

December 9, 2010 4:47 p.m.

AEONriiFt says... #3

that's why you go G/R and run upwelling. :) but yes it is generally not that great

December 9, 2010 5:34 p.m.

MagnorCriol says... #4

*"Generally needs to be built around." Fixed that for you. =p

But yes, it would be amazing if the mana came at a different time than your upkeep, or if the card said the mana could last into the main phase. OR if you use something to save that mana somehow; Upwelling is a good example. Omnath, Locus of Mana would also work if you somehow change the mana to green mana (or text-change his ability to red mana). Or have something in your deck you don't mind pouring mana into. Helix Pinnacle perhaps? Now there's an idea. Helix, Braid, perhaps some Privileged Position s or similar things that give shroud to your enchantments...

December 9, 2010 5:42 p.m.

peppyhare says... #5

When it was printed, mana burn was still around, so basically this thing meant some hefty damage to your own face. The pool emptying is a pretty hefty downside too.

December 9, 2010 5:59 p.m.

mistergreen527 says... #6

It interacts well with fire breathing too.

December 9, 2010 7:03 p.m.

KrazyCaley says... #7

Yep. I tried to build a deck based entirely on it - Diet Burn. It really isn't all that great. Yeah, you can only use it on instants, and enchantment removal kicks you in the face.

December 9, 2010 8:37 p.m.

hamburgers says... #8

I like the card a lot. The best I ever got with it was an Ensnaring Bridge Comet Storm deck that threw random burn spells till I could drop down one of the double red instant and sorcery damage 5 cost creature dude and then force a draw by nuking everyone in game for like sixty. Unforunately, I dissasembled it and my old PINGAASSSSSS wizard Timmy deck to build an EDH deck :/

December 10, 2010 3:10 a.m.

r3h0ld3r says... #9

Or, build it U/R with Leyline of Anticipation .

December 10, 2010 9:47 a.m.

Micah_408 says... #10

I built a pretty decent deck around the card, i didn't use LOA because the deck is mono red, but it turned out pretty well i think. The deck is called Koth's Home Base.

December 17, 2010 11:10 p.m.

misterjanky says... #11

If you go Temur (RUG), Kruphix, God of Horizons and Prophet of Kruphix would synergize fairly well. Make blue about drawing cards (cards like Military Intelligence and Dictate of Kruphix), green about ramp and pump and red about burn.

January 4, 2015 8:42 p.m.

This discussion has been closed