Chandra's IgnitionHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Force of Nature

When you cast Chandra's Ignition, you choose one target creature you control. As the spell resolves, it checks that creature's current power and causes the creature itself to deal that much damage to every other creature on the battlefield and every opponent. Crucially, the damage source is the creature, not the sorcery, which means keywords like lifelink, deathtouch, and wither will apply to all damage dealt.

Resolution and Timing

The damage amount is determined only as the spell resolves. If your creature’s power changes in response to the spell, Chandra's Ignition will use the new power value. However, if the creature leaves the battlefield or becomes an illegal target before resolution, the entire spell fails to resolve (fizzles), and no damage is dealt to anything.

Common Pitfalls

A frequent mistake is forgetting that the target creature does not damage itself. It only hits 'each other creature.' Also, remember that protection from red will not stop the damage if the target creature is a different color, even though the spell itself is red. Conversely, if your creature is red, a creature with protection from red will be safe from the blast.

Strategic Deployment

This spell is best used when you have a high-power creature that can survive a cluttered board or when you need to finish off an opponent while clearing their blockers. It is especially potent in multiplayer games, as it hits every opponent at once.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Fire

Mana Geyser

First, you cast Mana Geyser when your opponents have several tapped lands to generate a large amount of red mana. You then spend five of that mana to cast Chandra's Ignition, targeting a massive creature. This combo allows you to clear the board and pressure opponents' life totals even after a big turn of spellcasting.

Comparing Board Wipes

Chain Reaction

If you cast Chain Reaction, the spell itself deals damage based on the number of creatures, hitting everything including your own target. If you follow up with Chandra's Ignition, you must ensure your target creature survived the Chain Reaction. Unlike Chain Reaction, Chandra's Ignition allows your specific creature to remain untouched while it destroys the rest of the field.