Burrenton Forge-Tender is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Protection from red Sacrifice this creature: Prevent all damage a red source of your choice would deal this turn.
Complete guide
Burrenton Forge-Tender is a cornerstone of defensive strategies, offering a cheap Kithkin body that excels at shutting down red-based aggression. Its combination of inherent protection and a flexible sacrifice ability makes it a versatile tool for protecting your life total and your key creatures.
Understanding Protection from Red
Burrenton Forge-Tender possesses Protection from Red, which follows the DEBT acronym: it cannot be Damaged, Enchanted/Equipped, Blocked, or Targeted by anything red. This allows it to block red creatures indefinitely without taking damage or survive powerful red board wipes like Anger of the Gods.
Sacrificing for Prevention
The second ability allows you to sacrifice Burrenton Forge-Tender to choose a red source and prevent all damage it would deal this turn. Crucially, this ability does not target, meaning you can choose a source with Hexproof or Shroud. If you choose a red spell on the stack that becomes a permanent (like a red creature), the prevention effect continues to apply to that permanent for the remainder of the turn.
Resolution and Color Changes
When the ability resolves, you choose the red source. If that source changes color to something other than red before the damage is dealt, the prevention effect will no longer apply. You can also activate this ability even if there is currently no red source on the battlefield or stack, though it will have no effect unless a source is chosen upon resolution.
When to Deploy
Play Burrenton Forge-Tender early to discourage aggressive starts from red decks. Against combo or burn decks, hold the sacrifice ability for the specific spell that would end the game or clear your board. It is particularly effective at protecting other high-value creatures from targeted red removal.
Interaction examples
Esper SentinelIf an opponent casts a red damage spell targeting your Esper Sentinel, you can sacrifice Burrenton Forge-Tender in response. You choose the red spell as the source. When the spell tries to resolve, the damage is prevented, keeping your Esper Sentinel on the battlefield to continue taxing your opponent's spells.
Ornithopter of ParadiseAn opponent casts a red spell that deals damage to all creatures. You sacrifice Burrenton Forge-Tender and choose that red spell. The damage that would be dealt to Ornithopter of Paradise is prevented, ensuring your mana fixing and acceleration remain intact for your next turn.
Against a deck using red creatures, Burrenton Forge-Tender can act as an 'infinite' blocker. Because it has protection from red, damage from a red creature is reduced to zero. You can block every turn without needing to sacrifice the Forge-Tender until a non-combat damage spell threatens your game plan.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Burrenton Forge-Tender
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the red source you chose changes colors before it deals damage, the damage-prevention effect doesn’t apply.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The last ability of Burrenton Forge-Tender doesn’t target anything. You choose a source of damage as the ability resolves, if able. You can activate it even if there is no source to choose.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent spell is chosen as the source of damage, Burrenton Forge-Tender’s prevention effect continues to apply for the rest of the turn to the permanent that spell becomes once it has entered the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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