Comprehensive Guide to Furnace of Rath in Magic: The Gathering

Furnace of Rath is a powerful and iconic card in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) known for its ability to double damage dealt by creatures you control. This article explores its mechanics, uses, deck compatibility, and strategic impact in various formats. Furnace of Rath’s unique effect has made it a staple in aggressive and combo decks alike, emphasizing the importance of understanding its strengths and limitations in gameplay.

Aspect	Details
Card Type	Enchantment
Mana Cost	3RR (3 Generic, 2 Red Mana)
Effect	Doubles damage dealt by creatures you control
Format Usage	Commander, Modern, Casual
Popular Combos	Damage doubling, Token strategies, Aggro decks

What Is Furnace of Rath in Magic: The Gathering?

Furnace of Rath is a red enchantment card first released in the set Planar Chaos. It bears the text: “If a source would deal damage to a creature or player, it deals double that damage to that creature or player instead.” This effect means any damage dealt by your creatures, or potentially other sources you control, is doubled, making it a devastating card in aggressive and burn strategies.

Key Mechanics and Card Interactions

The core mechanic of Furnace of Rath revolves around damage doubling. This interacts with any damage source you control, including combat damage, burn spells, or abilities that deal damage. The doubling effect stacks with other damage modifiers, but care must be taken when combining with effects that increase damage in other ways to avoid inefficient damage calculations.

Damage Doubling Explained

• If a creature normally deals 3 damage, with Furnace of Rath on the battlefield, it deals 6 damage instead.
• This doubling includes combat damage and damage from abilities like “deals X damage.”
• Damage doubling applies after other modifications, meaning it multiplies total damage dealt.

Synergies with Other Cards

Furnace of Rath works best paired with creatures or spells that already deal significant damage or have aggressive combat capabilities.

• Combos with Token Generators: Doubling damage of multiple small creatures can quickly overwhelm opponents.
• Works with Burn Spells: Paired with direct damage spells (e.g., Lightning Bolt), Furnace of Rath doubles the burn damage output.
• Enhancement from Combat Triggers: Cards that grant additional combat damage or double strike increase the damage explosion when Furnace of Rath is active.

Furnace of Rath in Popular Deck Archetypes

This card shines in decks designed for aggressive or combo-oriented play, capitalizing on rapid damage output. Whether in Commander, Modern, or casual games, Furnace of Rath adds a layer of lethality to decks centered on damage-dealing strategies.

Aggro Decks

Fast-paced red aggro decks benefit from Furnace of Rath by doubling the damage swift creatures inflict. This synergy often results in rapid board control and swift victories.

Commander Deck Builds

In the Commander format, Furnace of Rath enhances commanders who focus on combat damage or damage-based combos, such as those using the Krenko, Mob Boss or Neheb, the Eternal. It also pairs well with numerous token generators to amplify damage output efficiently.

Combo and Burn Decks

Decks that rely on burn spells or damage combos use Furnace of Rath to maximize damage potential. Doubling the output of key spells can finish games quickly or apply constant pressure on opponents.

Strategies to Maximize Furnace of Rath’s Potential

To leverage Furnace of Rath effectively, players must build decks that consistently exploit its damage doubling while mitigating risks such as opponent damage or board control spells.

Maximizing Damage Output

• Use creatures with high damage potential, including those with double strike, to maximize doubled damage.
• Incorporate spells and effects that deal damage to creatures or players to enhance overall board pressure.
• Generate multiple attacking creatures to distribute doubled damage and overwhelm defenses.

Protection and Resilience

• Include cards that protect Furnace of Rath from removal spells, such as Lightning Greaves or Greater Auramancy.
• Add ways to rebuild or recur Furnace of Rath quickly if it is removed, ensuring continuous pressure.
• Optimize deck resilience to opponent’s disruption through counters or defensive spells.

Common Weaknesses to Address

Since Furnace of Rath doubles all damage, including damage to yourself or your creatures, managing this risk is essential. Decks should incorporate:

• Creature care like lifelink or damage prevention abilities.
• Ways to mitigate self-damage or control the timing of damage dealing.
• Backup plans to prevent loss from board wipes or heavy interaction.

Comparison with Similar Cards

Card	Effect	Key Differences
Furnace of Rath	Doubles damage dealt by creatures you control	Enchantment focused on creature damage doubling
Gratuitous Violence	Doubles damage dealt by creatures	Similar to Furnace but not limited to player’s creatures
Dictate of the Twin Gods	Damage dealt by sources you control is doubled	Broader damage doubling affecting all sources, not only creatures

Key Tips for Playing Furnace of Rath

• Plan turns carefully: Activate combat and damage spells strategically to leverage the doubled damage most efficiently.
• Protect the enchantment: Keep Furnace of Rath on the battlefield as losing it can drastically reduce damage output.
• Evaluate opponent’s board: Be cautious when your creatures are vulnerable to huge retaliation due to double damage.
• Combine with haste or evasion: Increase damage potential in the turn the creature enters the battlefield for surprise kills.