Torch Fiend MTG Card

Dark Ascension (DKA)
2012-02-03 - Number 106

Magic 2013 (M13)
2012-07-13 - Number 151

Conspiracy (CNS)
2014-06-06 - Number 153

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 166

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 367

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Devil
Power	2
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Instant-speed artifact removal allows strategic advantage and flexible response to threats during gameplay.
Activation cost requires sacrificing the Fiend, a trade-off to consider for maintaining board presence.
Efficient inclusion for red decks, bolstering adaptability in both aggressive and control strategies.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Torch Fiend: Destroy target artifact.

Devils redecorate every room with fire.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Torch Fiend itself may not directly provide card draw, it excels in removing your opponent’s artifacts, potentially disrupting their card advantage. This can result in a swing in momentum as you dismantle key pieces of their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Torch Fiend doesn’t inherently accelerate your resources. However, by efficiently spending one red mana to disrupt artifact-based strategies, it ensures your resources are allocated to impacting the board state rather than dealing with threats later on.

Instant Speed: Torch Fiend’s ability to destroy artifacts at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond during your opponent’s turn. This can force your opponent to play around the potential threat of losing their artifacts, giving you a psychological edge and a tactical advantage in the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The effectiveness of Torch Fiend can sometimes be overshadowed by its activation cost, which requires you to sacrifice it. This may hinder your board presence, especially if you’re already struggling to maintain a lineup of creatures on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Torch Fiend comes with a red mana cost, making it exclusive to decks that run Mountain or have access to red mana sources. This can be restrictive and doesn’t always fit into the mana curve seamlessly, especially in multicolored decks that need a more flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its ability to destroy artifacts could be useful, the overall mana investment including the casting cost and activation might not be the most cost-effective solution. Players could find themselves using two mana for a one-time effect, which may not always align with the tempo and strategy of more competitively tuned decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Torch Fiend is a flexible addition that can slide into various red-themed decks. Its ability to destroy artifacts at a moment’s notice makes it a handy tool in both aggressive and controlling strategies, adapting to your tactical needs on the fly.

Combo Potential: This card can interact with decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for benefits or those that benefit from repeatable artifact destruction. Torch Fiend’s ability can be used strategically to disrupt your opponent’s plays or to clear the way for your winning moves.

Meta-Relevance: With artifacts being a common component in many popular decks, having an accessible artifact removal option like Torch Fiend can give you an edge. Its low mana cost ensures that you can respond promptly to threats, making it a wise choice for staying competitive in evolving meta environments.

How to beat

Torch Fiend is a card that can be quite a nuisance in MTG, especially if you’re relying on artifacts for your strategy. So how do you get around this fiery adversary? Your best bet is to limit the number of valuable artifacts on your battlefield or have a way to protect them. Cards like Darksteel Forge can make your artifacts indestructible, thereby nullifying the destructive ability of Torch Fiend.

Another strategy is to remove Torch Fiend before it becomes a problem. Instant-speed removal spells like Murder or Path to Exile can dispatch the Fiend before it wreaks havoc on your board state. Alternatively, you could shift to a less artifact-centric game plan if Torch Fiend becomes prevalent in your play environment.

The key is to assess whether the Fiend poses a significant enough threat to your particular setup and then adjust accordingly. Sometimes, the smart move is to bait out its ability and then follow up with more crucial plays once the path is clear. In MTG, adapting to these small threats can be just as important as combating the big ones.

Cards like Torch Fiend

Torch Fiend stands out in the Magic: The Gathering landscape for its practicality and versatility among red creatures. It’s akin to the functional simplicity of Manic Vandal, as both creatures offer a way to destroy artifacts upon entry onto the battlefield. However, Torch Fiend offers a flexible advantage; rather than a one-time use on entry, it can choose the timing of the artifact’s destruction at the cost of one red mana.

Gleeful Sabotage is another player in this realm, known for its targeted artifact removal as well. The sabotage carries convoke as a bonus, potentially lowering the casting cost, but it lacks the strategic creature presence that Torch Fiend provides in creature-based red decks. In contrast, Viashino Heretic offers repeated artifact removal abilities, but its higher mana cost and activation requirement make it less nimble compared to the swift Fiend.

Assessing Torch Fiend against its peers, it rises as a notably flexible option. The card’s ability to interact with the board at instant speed while still contributing to aggressive strategies positions it well in decks that might need to switch gears between attacking life totals and handling problematic artifacts.

Cards similar to Torch Fiend by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Torch Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Magic 2013, 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 Torch Fiend and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Torch Fiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-02-03	Dark Ascension	DKA	106	2003	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
2	2012-07-13	Magic 2013	M13	151	2003	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
3	2014-06-06	Conspiracy	CNS	153	2003	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
4	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15	166	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson
5	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP	367	2015	Normal	Black	Winona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Torch Fiend has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal