Pyretic Hunter MTG Card


Pyretic Hunter - Conspiracy: Take the Crown
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental Cat
Abilities Menace
Released2016-08-26
Set symbol
Set nameConspiracy: Take the Crown
Set codeCN2
Power 0
Toughness 0
Number56
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byRichard Wright

Key Takeaways

  1. Strategic advantage through card interaction and instant-speed plays distinguishes Pyretic Hunter in matchups.
  2. Mandatory discard and specific mana requirements can limit the Hunter’s inclusion in diverse deck builds.
  3. Pyretic Hunter’s monstrosity and Morph abilities offer unique combo potential and adaptability in games.

Text of card

Reveal Pyretic Hunter as you draft it and note how many cards you've drafted this draft round, including Pyretic Hunter. Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Pyretic Hunter enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the highest number you noted for cards named Pyretic Hunter.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyretic Hunter can provide a strategic upper hand with the potential to create card advantage. Once it’s on the battlefield, it can repeatedly deal damage, removing your opponent’s creatures and sometimes even drawing a card if an ability or another game mechanism triggers upon dealing damage.

Resource Acceleration: This creature card can act as a conduit for resource acceleration in the right deck. In certain MTG setups, dealing damage may interact with other cards that generate additional mana or resources whenever a creature you control deals damage to a player.

Instant Speed: The hallmark of Pyretic Hunter is its capacity to operate at instant speed under certain conditions. This means you have the flexibility to play it at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, maintaining the element of surprise and potentially disrupting their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Pyretic Hunter comes with the stipulation that you must discard a card, and this can be a detriment if your hand is already stretched thin on resources. Optimizing your play strategy is essential, but being forced to lose a potentially vital card could put you at a disadvantage during critical turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a red-centric card, Pyretic Hunter demands a particular mana alignment, which can be restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in red mana might struggle to summon this creature, thus limiting its broad-spectrum playability across the various deck archetypes present in the MTG multiverse.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Four mana–not an insignificant amount–is the price you pay to call upon the Pyretic Hunter. Assessing the value of this card in contrast to others with similar costs is imperative, as there are alternatives in the card pool that may offer more impactful board presence or utility without depleting your mana reserves as greatly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyretic Hunter offers a unique form of adaptability in gameplay. Its Morph ability allows it to be played face-down and turned up at the right moment, providing a surprise factor that can adapt to various board states.

Combo Potential: As a creature with both power charges and Morph, Pyretic Hunter holds potential as a combo piece. It can be suitably included in strategies that capitalize on counters, such as with cards that proliferate or modify the number of counters.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that rewards quick adaptation and outmaneuvering opponent’s expectations, Pyretic Hunter can shine. Given that many games may shift tactics frequently, including a versatile card like this can enhance your competitive edge.


How to beat Pyretic Hunter

Pyretic Hunter is an intriguing creature that can pose a challenge on the battlefield due to its Monstrosity ability, which allows it to become more formidable as the game progresses. To effectively counteract this card, players should consider utilizing removal spells that can target Pyretic Hunter regardless of its size. Spells like Path to Exile or Terminate offer a clean solution by removing it from the field without triggering its Monstrosity. Additionally, keeping counterspells in hand for when your opponent attempts to activate its Monstrosity can be a strategic move to prevent Pyretic Hunter from getting out of control.

Players should also weigh the benefit of using board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, which can clear the field of all creatures, including an already monstrous Pyretic Hunter. Tactics that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can also be effective, sidestepping the Hunter’s size and abilities entirely. As such, it is vital to manage resources effectively and maintain control of the board state to prevent Pyretic Hunter from overwhelming your defenses and securing victory for your opponent.


Cards like Pyretic Hunter

Pyretic Hunter brings a unique flavor to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Its monstrosity ability places it in a distinct category, akin to cards like Polukranos, World Eater. Both share the ability to become monstrous, yet Pyretic Hunter offers the advantage of being unpredictable due to its coin flip mechanism. While it does not have the built-in removal ability of Polukranos, the Hunter’s potential for a sudden power surge can be game-changing.

Analogous to Ember Swallower, another creature that can become monstrous, Pyretic Hunter provides more immediate board impact. Ember Swallower requires a large mana investment to trigger its land destruction ability. The Hunter, in comparison, requires less setup and offers more flexibility during gameplay. Then there’s Stormbreath Dragon – also boasting monstrosity – which brings protection from white spells, making it a formidable opponent. However, Pyretic Hunter’s potential for growth through repeated flips can eclipse even the Dragon’s initial advantage.

Overall, while sharing the monstrosity trait with others, Pyretic Hunter stands out with its blend of unpredictability and scalability, providing a challenging and exciting experience for players navigating the dynamic environment of Magic: The Gathering.

Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions
Ember Swallower - MTG Card versions
Stormbreath Dragon - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, World Eater - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Ember Swallower - Theros Promos (PTHS)
Stormbreath Dragon - Theros (THS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyretic Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Pyretic Hunter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyretic Hunter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-08-23 For example, if you draft Pyretic Hunter as the third card in a draft round and then another one as the fourth card in a draft round, each will enter the battlefield with four +1/+1 counters.
2016-08-23 If Pyretic Hunter enters the battlefield under your control, but you didn’t draft one, the highest noted number is considered to be 0. It will enter with zero +1/+1 counters and will be put into its owner’s graveyard (unless something else is raising its toughness).

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