PremodernHQ Reference Card

Channel + Fireball

Archetype:

premodernhq.com

G
R

Metadata

Difficultysimple
LegalityContains Banned
FormatStandard Premodern

The Result

"One-shot burn kill"

Required Cards

Channel

Converts life into a huge burst of colorless mana

Fireball

X-damage payoff aimed at the opponent's face

Execution Steps

1

Have Channel and Fireball in hand with a green and red source available (Channel costs {G}{G}, Fireball {X}{R}).

2

Cast Channel.

3

Activate Channel, paying a large chunk of your life total to make that much colorless mana (keeping yourself above 0).

4

Cast Fireball for X equal to your floating mana minus one, targeting the opponent.

5

Fireball deals X damage to the opponent for the win.

Important Rules Notes

Channel's life payment is not a cost that can reduce you below 0 voluntarily; you must leave yourself alive, so the kill needs enough life cushion to float lethal mana. Under modern (Sixth Edition+) rules the old 'pay to zero and still resolve Fireball' trick no longer works; you keep at least 1 life and Fireball must cover the opponent's full total. Channel is banned in Premodern; Fireball is legal.

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