Igneous Pouncer MTG Card
2009-04-30 - Number 40
2011-09-02 - Number 57
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Cycling,Haste,Mountaincycling,Swampcycling |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Haste Swampcycling , mountaincycling (, Discard this card: Search your library for a Swamp or Mountain card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)
Cards like Igneous Pouncer
Igneous Pouncer stands out in the realm of hasty landcyclers within Magic: The Gathering. It shares common ground with cards like Valley Rannet, a creature that also offers landcycling for two mana. Nonetheless, Igneous Pouncer has the advantage of haste, enabling it to attack immediately, unlike Valley Rannet which must wait a turn. Another similar card is Twisted Abomination, which provides the swampcycling ability as well, but it requires a higher investment of mana to cast normally.
Comparatively, we see that Shoreline Ranger can also fetch an Island from the deck, yet it lacks the immediacy and aggressive presence of Igneous Pouncer. While Shoreline Ranger is a flying creature, its higher casting cost and lack of haste make it less of a threat early in the game. Another notable comparison is with the cycle-giant Greater Sandwurm. Although it cannot be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less, its lack of haste and higher cycling cost put it at a slight disadvantage to the prompt and fast-paced Igneous Pouncer.
Assessing the usefulness and adaptability, Igneous Pouncer holds its own among landcycling creatures. Its swift entry into play and dual landcycling option make it a versatile choice for players seeking immediate board impact and efficient mana fixing.
Cards similar to Igneous Pouncer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Igneous Pouncer’s capability to fetch a Swamp or Mountain card from the deck provides a consistent way to thin out your deck, giving you a greater chance of drawing into more impactful cards as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: The land cycling ability of Igneous Pouncer acts as a form of resource acceleration, ensuring that you hit your land drops and maintain the necessary pace against your opponents. This can be crucial for decks that aim to deploy threats quickly or stabilize their mana base.
Instant Speed: Although Igneous Pouncer itself is not an instant, its land cycling ability can be used at instant speed. This allows for strategic plays during the end step of your opponent’s turn, keeping your options open and reacting to the board state more effectively without compromising your main phase actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Igneous Pouncer demands you discard another card to harness its full potential. This can be burdensome if your hand is already running thin, forcing tough decisions about resource management during critical game phases.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating its landcycling ability requires precise mana colors – black and red. This requirement can be restrictive, making it less flexible outside of decks that fully support these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined converted mana cost of six, it’s on the heftier end for a creature of its stature. In many scenarios, deploying the Igneous Pouncer can mean forgoing other strategic plays or using up valuable mana that could be allocated elsewhere.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Igneous Pouncer has adaptability in multicolor land-focused decks as it can be a source of both black and red mana. Given its ability to enter the battlefield untapped with landcycling, it’s a flexible pick for various game situations.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from graveyard interaction or landfall triggers, Igneous Pouncer’s landcycling becomes a tool to enable these synergies, adding another layer of depth to your strategic plays.
Meta-Relevance: As players constantly assess the shifting trends of the meta, Igneous Pouncer’s utility can make it a worthwhile sideboard option or main deck choice, particularly in environments where having the right mana at the right time is crucial.
How to beat
Igneous Pouncer, while not the most formidable creature card in MTG, can still pose a strategic threat on the battlefield. Its hastened approach to the game through its landcycling ability allows players to smooth out their mana while deploying a quick attacker or blocker. To effectively counteract Igneous Pouncer’s influence, it’s crucial to have a plan in place to mitigate its advantages.
One effective strategy is the use of spot removal spells. Because Igneous Pouncer has to hit the battlefield to make an impact, instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dispatch it before it gets a chance to swing. Moreover, graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus can disrupt any tactics focusing on retrieving the Pouncer from the graveyard, limiting its utility and recurrence. Lastly, general board control cards like Wrath of God can clear the board of Igneous Pouncer alongside any other threats, resetting the state of play and negating the speed advantage that the Pouncer provides.
When facing off against any MTG card, the key is anticipation and preparation. By understanding Igneous Pouncer and having the right answers ready, you can keep your opponent’s strategies at bay and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Igneous Pouncer MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, 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 Igneous Pouncer and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Igneous Pouncer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2011-09-02. Illustrated by Chippy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-04-30 | Alara Reborn | ARB | 40 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chippy | |
| 2 | 2011-09-02 | Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas | DDH | 57 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chippy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Igneous Pouncer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Igneous Pouncer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-05-01 | A landcycling ability lets you search for any card in your library with the stated land type. It doesn’t have to be a basic land. |
| 2009-05-01 | Landcycling is a form of cycling. Any ability that triggers on a card being cycled also triggers on a card being landcycled. Any ability that stops a cycling ability from being activated also stops a landcycling ability from being activated. |
| 2009-05-01 | Unlike the normal cycling ability, landcycling doesn’t allow you to draw a card. Instead, it lets you search your library for a land card of the specified land type, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. |
| 2009-05-01 | You can choose to find any card with the appropriate land type, including nonbasic lands. You can also choose not to find a card, even if there is a land card with the appropriate type in your library. |
| 2009-05-01 | You may only activate one landcycling ability at a time. You must specify which landcycling ability you are activating as you cycle this card, not as the ability resolves. |