Despite being the lowest rarity in MTG, it’s clear that players shouldn’t count out common cards. Even though they fill out packs of cards, some commons are so powerful that they’re banned even in the likes of Legacy. These cards also have massive print runs, meaning that Commander players can find some powerhouses for cheap if they know where to look.
Thanks to a new MTG Avatar Commander, one reprinted common is beginning to see some extra attention. It may not look like much on the surface, but in some focused strategies, Fists of Flame can become surprisingly potent, in more than one way.
Fists of Flame MTG
Fists of Flame is an explosive combat trick that grows in potency as you draw more cards. The instant replaces itself at a bare minimum, drawing a card and granting a creature one power and Trample. When built around, however, Fists of Flame can easily become a knockout blow.
In multiple different Commander decks, drawing a flurry of cards makes Fists of Flame a lethal combat trick. All kinds of Spellslinger decks that use lots of cantrips like Opt and Consider are a great example of this. A few specific Spellslinger Commanders, like Elsha, Threefold Master and Bria, Riptide Rogue, can squeeze the utmost value this way, maximizing the extra damage Fists of Fury deals. Fists of Flame can undeniably find great homes here, but there are a few Commanders that can go a bit further.
Despite being an uncommon pick for the deck, Fists of Flame is extremely scary alongside Magic’s latest villain poster boy, Vivi Ornitier. While Vivi is more than capable of killing someone in a big turn with this card, you can also use Fists of Flame as a massive mana generator. If you can draw enough cards before using Vivi’s mana ability, Fists of Flame can refuel your resources, letting you draw even deeper.
Fists of Flame even performs well in atypical Spellslinger decks that eschew blue. The card is a standout choice for Heroic Commanders like Feather the Redeemed that can recycle targeted spells. Between cards like Defiant Strike and Shelter, it’s surprisingly easy for Feather to draw lots of cards in a turn, putting a lot of power behind Fists of Fury. At worst, Feather can continually recycle this card, drawing an extra card every turn.
Copying Fists of Flame
From competitive cEDH results, it’s become clear that drawing a ton of cards isn’t actually the best way to use Fists of Flame. Copying the spell is instead the most straightforward path to victory. Using this strategy at its absolute best, Fists of Flame becomes capable of knocking out an entire table of players.
If you want to push Fists of Flame as far as it can possibly go, Zada, Hedron Grinder is the home you’re looking for. If you’re able to go wide quickly, Fists of Flame draw an absolutely ridiculous amount of cards, creating multiple lethal attackers. Despite Fists of Flame seeing cEDH play across many different Commanders, Zada is the most commonly found home for the card.
Fists of Flame excels in both Narset, Enlightened Exile, and Veyran, Voice of Duality for the same reason. Narset can use Fists of Flame to Flashback massive spells from the graveyard, while also having an option to double up on Fists of Flame. Veyran may not have incredible synergy with Fists of Flame itself, but it heavily encourages copying your spells, making Fists of Flame plays particularly explosive.
This card’s newest fan is also, rather flavorfully, one of the best homes for it. Avatar: The Last Airbender’s ever-popular Fire Lord Azula easily copies Fist of Flame while attacking, turning the card into a two-mana draw two. This, alone, merits including the card in the deck, but prepping your Fists of Flame with a few smaller instant-speed cantrips can allow you to knock out an opponent with Commander damage.
Regardless of whether you’re trying to draw your deck or have the ability to copy and recycle cards, Fists of Flame makes for a powerful, unexpected knockout punch. The card has tons of printings, too, costing only 50 cents to pick up. Considering its incredible price point, there’s little reason not to try this in your next card-drawing brew.
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