Pyroclastic Elemental MTG Card
2019-07-12 - Number 296
2020-07-17 - Number 356
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers card advantage through potential multilateral creature removal, shifting game balance to your favor.
- Instant speed activation allows disruptive play, enhancing flexibility and strategic depth during games.
- Demands careful resource management due to its discard condition and specific mana-cost requirements.
Text of card
: Pyroclastic Elemental deals 1 damage to target player.
"Whoever thought of making mobile volcanoes was a genius." —Chandra Nalaar
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Pyroclastic Elemental offers a significant edge via its ability to potentially remove multiple creatures on the board. This can turn the tide by whisking away opponents’ threats while keeping yours in play, essentially maintaining a robust presence and tipping the balance in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: In the right deck, this elemental can be a catalyst for resource acceleration. It fits in strategies that benefit from Elemental or spell synergy, potentially paving the way for more substantial plays much earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: Its activated ability can be utilized at instant speed, giving you the versatility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn. This opens up strategic plays where you have the option to react swiftly to the changing pace of the match, keeping opponents guessing and on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Pyroclastic Elemental comes with a necessity to discard another card, often putting players at a resource disadvantage, particularly when options in hand are limited or all critical for gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost includes both generic and red mana, making it challenging to incorporate into decks that aren’t heavily leaning towards red mana resources or are three or more colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding mana cost for its abilities, Pyroclastic Elemental competes with cards that may provide greater utility or impact on the board at a similar or lower cost threshold.
Reasons to Include Pyroclastic Elemental in Your Collection
Versatility: Pyroclastic Elemental offers a unique blend of direct damage and creature control, allowing it to adapt to a wide range of situations on the battlefield. It can be a key player in decks that capitalize on instant and sorcery spell casting or those requiring a robust defense against creature-heavy opponents.
Combo Potential: Players looking to craft powerful interactions will find Pyroclastic Elemental to be an ally. Its ability to deal damage directly to creatures can be paired with cards that trigger off of noncombat damage or spell casting, creating opportunities for effective board control and combo setups.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where board presence is crucial, Pyroclastic Elemental steps up as a formidable option. It is particularly useful in metas with creature-based aggro decks, providing the necessary firepower to maintain control and influence the pace of the game.
How to beat
The Pyroclastic Elemental emerges as a force on the battlefield with its potential to deal direct damage to either creatures or players when it becomes tapped. While it might seem daunting at first, overcoming it requires a strategic approach. The key is to limit its ability to become tapped without engaging in combat. This can be achieved by employing cards that restrict activations such as Suppression Bonds or pacifism effects to nullify its abilities.
In addition, spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder can effectively dispatch the Pyroclastic Elemental before it becomes a larger threat. Board wipes such as Wrath of God are also invaluable to clear out such threats in one fell swoop. Lastly, counter spells play a critical role; by forestalling the elemental’s arrival on the board altogether, you can maintain the upper hand. Considering these tactics, you can strategically dismantle the threat posed by the Pyroclastic Elemental and secure your position in the game.
When matched against this fiery adversary, a methodical and reactive deck build that emphasizes control is often your best bet. With the right mix of restraint and removal, the Pyroclastic Elemental becomes a surmountable challenge in MTG play.
Cards like Pyroclastic Elemental
Delving into the dynamic world of red elemental creatures in MTG, Pyroclastic Elemental emerges as a compelling choice. Yet, it’s worthwhile to draw parallels with its elemental cousins. Embermaw Hellion is one card that blazes in the same category. While both thrive in red-centric decks that favor damage amplification, Embermaw Hellion specifically boosts red sources of damage, which can lead to explosive turns. Though they don’t share exact abilities, both cards carry the potential to tilt the battlefield in your favor through amplified damage.
Chandra’s Spitfire echoes similarities too, as a creature that flourishes alongside spells that deal damage. While the Spitfire requires a buildup of noncombat damage to opponents to reach its soaring power peaks, Pyroclastic Elemental stands independent, laden with its own innate pressure. The comparison becomes interesting, given that Spitfire might offer higher damage potential but relies on an incremental strategy, while Pyroclastic Elemental assures immediate presence. Moreover, when it comes to mana costs and initial impact, these cards delineate distinct paths for red deck builders.
Ultimately, these elemental forces serve nuanced roles within their fiery realms. Evaluating them against one another, Pyroclastic Elemental holds its own as a robust option, particularly for players seeking straightforward aggression combined with the elegance of enriched red gameplay in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pyroclastic Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Jumpstart, 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 Pyroclastic Elemental and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Pyroclastic Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 296 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 356 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pyroclastic Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
