Chandra, Torch of Defiance 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: Exile the top card of your library. You may cast that card. If you don't, Chandra deals 2 damage to each opponent. +1: Add. −3: Chandra deals 4 damage to target creature. −7: You get an emblem with "Whenever you cast a spell, this emblem deals 5 damage to any target."
Complete guide
Chandra, Torch of Defiance is a powerhouse planeswalker that offers versatility, mana ramp, and a game-ending ultimate. Whether you need to dig for answers or burn your way to victory, this version of Chandra is the definition of red's explosive potential.
A Multi-Tool for Victory
Chandra features four loyalty abilities. The first +1 ability provides card advantage or direct damage, the second +1 acts as a powerful mana ritual, the -3 offers reliable creature removal, and the -7 creates a devastating emblem that turns every spell into a massive bolt of damage.
Resolution Step-by-Step
When you activate Chandra's first +1 ability, you exile the top card of your library. You must decide whether to cast it immediately as the ability resolves. If you cannot cast it (because it is a land) or choose not to, Chandra deals 2 damage to each opponent. For the -7 ability, the resulting emblem creates a triggered ability that goes on the stack whenever you cast a spell, resolving before the actual spell does.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to play a land card exiled with Chandra's first ability; however, the ability specifically says 'cast,' which excludes lands. Additionally, remember that her second ability, which adds {R}{R}, is a loyalty ability, not a mana ability. This means it uses the stack and can only be used at sorcery speed, just like any other planeswalker ability.
When to Play Chandra
Chandra is best played when you can protect her or when you need an immediate answer to a creature. Because she can generate mana, she is excellent for jumping ahead on the curve to cast higher-cost spells the same turn she enters the battlefield.
Interaction examples
Chandra, Torch of DefianceYou activate Chandra's first +1 ability and exile a Mountain from the top of your library. Because a land cannot be 'cast', you cannot play it. Consequently, Chandra's ability moves to the next part of the effect, dealing 2 damage to each opponent.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance EmblemAfter reaching 7 loyalty, you activate the -7 ability to gain the emblem. Later, you cast a simple spell. The emblem triggers immediately, dealing 5 damage to any target of your choice. This damage resolves before your original spell even leaves the stack.
An opponent controls a creature with 4 toughness. You use Chandra's -3 ability. The ability targets the creature, and upon resolution, deals exactly 4 damage, destroying the creature unless it has protection or indestructible.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, Chandra's first ability causes 4 damage total to be dealt to the opposing team.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
An effect that instructs you to "cast" a card doesn't allow you to play lands. If the card exiled with Chandra's first ability is a land card, you can't play it and Chandra deals 2 damage to each opponent.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Loyalty abilities can't be mana abilities. Chandra's second ability uses the stack and can be countered or otherwise responded to. Like all loyalty abilities, it can be activated only once per turn, during your main phase, when the stack is empty, and only if no other loyalty abilities of the planeswalker have been activated this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You pay the costs for the exiled card if you cast it. You may pay alternative costs such as emerge rather than the card's mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The emblem created by Chandra's last ability is colorless. The damage it deals is from a colorless source.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast the exiled card, you do so as part of the resolution of Chandra's ability. You can't wait to cast it later in the turn. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored, but other restrictions (such as "Cast [this card] only during combat") are not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Chandra's emblem's ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
The Chain Veil + Chandra, Hope's Beacon + Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Ral Zarek
- 1Activate Chandra, Torch of Defiance's second ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding .
- 2Activate Chandra, Hope's Beacon's first ability by putting two loyalty counters on it, adding two mana of any color.
- 3Activate The Chain Veil by paying
and tapping it, allowing you an additional activation of your planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn. - 4Activate Ral Zarek's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, tapping any permanent and untapping The Chain Veil.
- 5Repeat.
The Chain Veil + Chandra, Hope's Beacon + Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset
- 1Activate Chandra, Torch of Defiance's second ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding .
- 2Activate Chandra, Hope's Beacon's first ability by putting two loyalty counters on it, adding two mana of any color.
- 3Activate The Chain Veil by paying and tapping it, allowing you an additional activation of your planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn.
- 4Activate Teferi's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, untapping The Chain Veil and causing you to gain two life.
- 5Repeat.
The Chain Veil + Chandra, Hope's Beacon + Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Tezzeret the Seeker
- 1Activate Chandra, Torch of Defiance's second ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding .
- 2Activate Chandra, Hope's Beacon's first ability by putting two loyalty counters on it, adding two mana of any color.
- 3Activate The Chain Veil by paying and tapping it, allowing you an additional activation of your planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn.
- 4Activate Tezzeret's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, untapping The Chain Veil.
- 5Repeat.
Cloudstone Curio + Planebound Accomplice + Chandra, Torch of Defiance
- 1Use to activate Planebound Accomplice, putting Chandra on to the battlefield.
- 2Return the other planeswalker to hand with the Curio trigger.
- 3Use Chandra's +1 ability to add .
- 4Use to activate Planebound Accomplice, putting the first planeswalker on to the battlefield.
- 5Return Chandra to hand with the Curio trigger.
The Chain Veil + Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Chandra, Bold Pyromancer + Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset
- 1Activate Chandra, Torch of Defiance's second ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding .
- 2Activate Chandra, Bold Pyromancer's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding and dealing 2 damage to a player.
- 3Activate The Chain Veil by paying and tapping it, allowing you an additional activation of your planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn.
- 4Activate Teferi's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, untapping The Chain Veil and causing you to gain two life.
- 5Repeat.
The Chain Veil + Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Chandra, Bold Pyromancer + Ral Zarek
- 1Activate Chandra, Torch of Defiance's second ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding .
- 2Activate Chandra, Bold Pyromancer's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, adding and dealing 2 damage to a player.
- 3Activate The Chain Veil by paying and tapping it, allowing you an additional activation of your planeswalkers' loyalty abilities this turn.
- 4Activate Ral Zarek's first ability by putting a loyalty counter on it, tapping any permanent and untapping The Chain Veil.
- 5Repeat.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Planebound Accomplice + Cloudstone Curio + Chandra, Acolyte of Flame
- 1Pay to activate Planebound Accomplice putting Chandra, Acolyte of Flame onto the battlefield.
- 2Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Torch of Defiance to your hand.
- 3+0 Chandra, Acolyte of Flame creating 2 1/1 elementals with haste.
- 4Then pay to activate Planebound Accomplice once again, putting Chandra, Torch of Defiance onto the battlefield.
- 5Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Acolyte of Flame to your hand.
- 6+1 Chandra adding .
- 7Repeat.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance + Planebound Accomplice + Cloudstone Curio + Chandra, Pyromaster
- 1Pay to activate Planebound Accomplice putting Chandra, Pyromaster onto the battlefield.
- 2Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Torch of Defiance to your hand.
- 3+1 Chandra, Pyromaster targeting an opponent.
- 4Then pay to activate Planebound Accomplice once again, putting Chandra, Torch of Defiance onto the battlefield.
- 5Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning Chandra, Pyromaster to your hand.
- 6+1 Chandra adding .
- 7Repeat.
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Meta decks with Chandra, Torch of Defiance
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