Chandra, Novice Pyromancer MTG Card


Boosts card draw and mana acceleration, pivotal for maintaining resource flow and game momentum. Limited by specific mana cost and discard requirement, which can affect hand stability and deck diversity. Her versatility and combo potential make her a valuable asset in red-centric strategies and meta play.
Chandra, Novice Pyromancer - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Chandra
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Loyalty 5
Number128
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAnna Steinbauer

Text of card

+1: Elementals you control get +2/+0 until end of turn. −1: Add . −2: Chandra, Novice Pyromancer deals 2 damage to any target.


Cards like Chandra, Novice Pyromancer

Chandra, Novice Pyromancer stands out in the realm of planeswalker cards in MTG, particularly those that focus on red mana strategies. Similar to Chandra, Pyromaster, this card offers a direct way to inflict damage while also granting strategic benefits. However, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer is designed with a more accessible mana cost and focuses on supporting elemental creatures, giving a unique advantage in elemental-themed decks.

Another comparable card is Koth of the Hammer. Like Chandra, Novice Pyromancer, Koth emphasizes strengthening red mana production, albeit in a different manner by turning mountains into temporary sources of power. The Novice Pyromancer, while not morphing the landscape, instead gives you the continuous ability to boost your elemental forces and ramp up your offensive tactics turn by turn.

Chandra, Acolyte of Flame is yet another relative within the Chandra family, offering a different set of abilities but remaining in the support role for red strategies. While Chandra, Acolyte of Flame provides versatility and recursiveness for red spells, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer excels in enhancing creature performance and chipping away at opponents’ life totals.

Chandra, Pyromaster - MTG Card versions
Koth of the Hammer - MTG Card versions
Chandra, Acolyte of Flame - MTG Card versions
Chandra, Pyromaster - MTG Card versions
Koth of the Hammer - MTG Card versions
Chandra, Acolyte of Flame - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chandra, Novice Pyromancer excels in granting card advantage by supplying players with additional draw options. This is particularly beneficial in decks that rapidly deplete their hand, ensuring a steady flow of resources and maintaining pressure on the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This planeswalker aids in resource acceleration, enabling players to accumulate loyalty counters to activate more powerful abilities ahead of schedule. Chandra’s presence on the board can transform the tide of the game by pushing you to achieve critical game objectives faster than usual.

Instant Speed: While Chandra herself isn’t an instant, her ability to provide instant speed interactions through the spells she enhances is invaluable. Her loyalty abilities often allow players to cast spells at times they normally couldn’t, keeping opponents on their toes and providing strategic advantages during crucial moments of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chandra, Novice Pyromancer forces a discard when using her second ability. This can backfire if you’re holding on to key pieces in your hand, as it pressures you to choose between maintaining card advantage and leveraging her full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: With her casting cost requiring exclusively red mana, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer can be difficult to play in multi-colored decks. This ties you to red mana sources and can hinder flexibility in deckbuilding and mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at four mana, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer’s cost might seem steep when compared to other planeswalkers or impactful four-mana spells. Certain decks might prefer cards that have an immediate impact on the board state or provide more significant card advantage.


Reasons to Include Chandra, Novice Pyromancer in Your Collection

Versatility: As a flexible planeswalker, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer readily finds a place in red-based decks. Her abilities to ramp, deal damage, and buff creatures make her adaptable to various situations on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This incarnation of Chandra excels at enabling combos with her ability to add substantial amounts of red mana, which can be pivotal for casting game-changing spells or activating expensive abilities efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: Given her skillset, Chandra, Novice Pyromancer thrives in environments where aggro and midrange decks prevail. Her potential to impact the board right away makes her a competent contender in current strategies.


How to beat

Chandra, Novice Pyromancer is a formidable planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering, known for her ability to elevate red decks with her fiery skills. With abilities focused on boosting mana and dishing out damage, she proves to be a substantial threat once on the battlefield. Against her, precise timing and strategy take center stage. Disruption is key; targeting her directly with removal spells before her loyalty builds up or her -2 ability can be used effectively. Consider spells like Murderous Rider or Bedevil that can handle planeswalkers.

Countering her abilities indirectly is another viable approach. Reducing her impact by playing creatures with superior defensive stats can neutralize the incremental damage her +1 ability provides. Creatures with protection from red are particularly adept at this. Moreover, enchantments like The Immortal Sun can suppress her abilities while providing you card advantage and other benefits. Utilizing instant speed interaction will prevent your opponent from capitalizing on the mana advantage Chandra’s -1 ability offers. Ultimately, managing Chandra, Novice Pyromancer, revolves around prevention, preparedness, and proactive control of the game state.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chandra, Novice Pyromancer MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Chandra, Novice Pyromancer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chandra, Novice Pyromancer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chandra, Novice Pyromancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-07-12 Because it’s a loyalty ability, Chandra’s second ability isn’t a mana ability. It can be activated only any time you could cast a sorcery. It uses the stack and can be responded to.
2019-07-12 Chandra’s first ability affects only Elementals you control at the time it resolves. Elementals you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +2/+0.