Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 1

You must pay the costs for the spell you wish to cast with Chandra's second ability. If that spell has any alternative costs, you may pay those.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 2

If you wish to cast the target card, you must cast it while Chandra's second ability is resolving. You can't cast it later in the turn.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 3

If you have no cards in hand while Chandra's last ability is resolving, you still draw seven cards and may cast spells from your hand without paying their mana costs this turn.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 4

Chandra's last ability doesn't change when you may cast those spells. For example, you can't cast a sorcery spell from your hand during combat.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 5

If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 6

If a spell has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst — ruling 7

In a Two-Headed Giant game, Chandra's first ability causes the opposing team to lose 6 life.

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Chandra, Flame's Catalyst 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

+1: Chandra deals 3 damage to each opponent. −2: You may cast target red instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. If that spell would be put into your graveyard, exile it instead. −8: Discard your hand, then draw seven cards. Until end of turn, you may cast spells from your hand without paying their mana costs.

How it works : Chandra, Flame's Catalyst

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
You must pay the costs for the spell you wish to cast with Chandra's second ability. If that spell has any alternative costs, you may pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If you wish to cast the target card, you must cast it while Chandra's second ability is resolving. You can't cast it later in the turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If you have no cards in hand while Chandra's last ability is resolving, you still draw seven cards and may cast spells from your hand without paying their mana costs this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Chandra's last ability doesn't change when you may cast those spells. For example, you can't cast a sorcery spell from your hand during combat.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Chandra's first ability causes the opposing team to lose 6 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

#1
Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Planebound Accomplice + Cloudstone Curio + Chandra, Flame's Catalyst
Infinite damageInfinite planeswalker activations
1Pay to activate Planebound Accomplice putting Chandra, Flame's Catalyst onto the battlefield.
2Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Torch of Defiance to your hand.
3+1 Chandra, Flame's Catalyst dealing damage to each opponent.
4Then pay to activate Planebound Accomplice once again, putting Chandra, Torch of Defiance onto the battlefield.
5Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Flame's Catalyst to your hand.
6+1 Chandra adding .
7Repeat.

#1
Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Planebound Accomplice + Cloudstone Curio + Chandra, Flame's Catalyst
Infinite damageInfinite planeswalker activations
1Pay to activate Planebound Accomplice putting Chandra, Flame's Catalyst onto the battlefield.
2Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Torch of Defiance to your hand.
3+1 Chandra, Flame's Catalyst dealing damage to each opponent.
4Then pay to activate Planebound Accomplice once again, putting Chandra, Torch of Defiance onto the battlefield.
5Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Flame's Catalyst to your hand.
6+1 Chandra adding .
7Repeat.

#2
Chandra, Novice Pyromancer + Planebound Accomplice + Cloudstone Curio + Chandra, Flame's Catalyst
Infinite damageInfinite planeswalker activations
1Pay to activate Planebound Accomplice putting Chandra, Flame's Catalyst onto the battlefield.
2Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Novice Pyromancer to your hand.
3+1 Chandra, Flame's Catalyst dealing 3 damage to each opponent.
4Then pay to activate Planebound Accomplice once again, putting Chandra, Novice Pyromancer onto the battlefield.
5Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Flame's Catalyst to your hand.
6-1 Chandra adding .
7Repeat.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions Chandra, Flame's Catalyst.

Chandra's Firemaw

Haste When this creature enters, you may search your library and/or graveyard for a card named Chandra, Flame's Catalyst, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you search your library this way, shuffle.