Pyrophobia MTG Card


Pyrophobia - Modern Horizons
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons
Set codeMH1
Number141
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byIzzy

Key Takeaways

  1. Pyrophobia offers targeted creature removal while maintaining card advantage, crucial for controlling the board.
  2. The card’s requirement to discard and specific mana cost may limit its use in certain deck types.
  3. Despite similarities to other removal cards, Pyrophobia’s unique conditions can be powerful in the right deck.

Text of card

Pyrophobia deals 3 damage to target creature. Cowards can't block this turn.

"I hate this! I hate fire! I hate you for taking me on this route!" —Norin the Wary


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyrophobia stands out as it allows you to target and damage a creature, potentially dispatching smaller threats without losing card value. This can disrupt your opponent’s board while maintaining your own hand’s momentum.

Resource Acceleration: While Pyrophobia itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, by efficiently managing threats on the board, it helps maintain parity or achieve a resource lead over your adversary, which is critical in the resource-driven dynamics of the game.

Instant Speed: Although Pyrophobia is cast at sorcery speed, its inclusion in a deck bolsters your tactical arsenal, enabling you to deal with creatures on your turn strategically. This ensures that your mana is employed effectively each turn, giving you more control over the flow of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pyrophobia necessitates pitching a card from your hand, which proves to be a setback when your hand size is dwindling and each card holds significant value.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting conditions for Pyrophobia include a particular color alignment, red mana in this instance, which may not seamlessly integrate with multi-colored or colorless deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that may be considered steep for the resulting effect, Pyrophobia could be overshadowed by alternative spells that deliver more bang for fewer resources.


Reasons to Include Pyrophobia in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyrophobia is not confined to a single strategy, providing red decks with a direct damage option that can remove creatures or puncture the opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: When incorporated into a deck with instant and sorcery synergy, Pyrophobia bolsters strategies revolving around spell casting, potentially unlocking powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based matchups are prevalent, Pyrophobia shines, efficiently handling many commonly played creatures while also being a superb tool against Cowards and Changelings.


How to beat Pyrophobia

Pyrophobia is a unique red sorcery that showcases Magic: The Gathering’s intricate interplay between card abilities and flavor. It deals 3 damage to any target and has an additional clause that causes a creature to be sacrificed if it’s a Coward, or if the targeted creature has no activated abilities. Clearly, this card can surprise an unprepared opponent by removing key creatures or simply serving as direct damage.

To effectively strategize against Pyrophobia, consider cards with hexproof to shield your valuable creatures from being targeted, such as Vine Mare or Shalai, Voice of Plenty. Additionally, deploying creatures with activated abilities ensures they’re not within Pyrophobia’s instant sacrifice criteria. Creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate, like Darksteel Myr or Reassembling Skeleton, can also help circumvent the destructive power of Pyrophobia.

Ultimately, anticipating Pyrophobia in your matches involves a mix of prevention, protection, and resilience. By curating a deck with creatures that can either avoid the targeting condition or withstand the damage, you effectively neutralize the threat of this fiery spell, ensuring your creatures remain a constant presence on the battlefield and your strategic position remains strong.


Cards like Pyrophobia

Pyrophobia finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a specialized removal spell for any player dealing with red-heavy matches. It mirrors other damage-dealing cards like Lightning Bolt, one of the game’s iconic spells that also deals three damage, but Lightning Bolt isn’t specific to creature type and can target players as well.

Flame Slash also competes in the removal category, offering four damage to a creature at sorcery speed for a single red mana. While it doesn’t cater to a creature type, it lacks Pyrophobia’s added ability to force the opponent to discard a card if a Changeling is targeted. Skewer the Critics is another similar card, providing three damage that can be aimed at any target, not just creatures, although its spectacle cost requires you to have dealt damage to an opponent that turn to take advantage of its reduced casting price.

Pyrophobia’s specificity to creature type can be a boon or breaker, proving invaluable against decks enlisting numerous Cowards or Changelings. While there are many alternative spells for dealing with creatures, Pyrophobia affords an edge in particular match-ups, making it an intriguing option for players crafting a deck with meta-specific solutions.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Skewer the Critics - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Flame Slash - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Skewer the Critics - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Cards similar to Pyrophobia by color, type and mana cost

Scent of Cinder - MTG Card versions
Spitting Earth - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Hammer - MTG Card versions
Rolling Thunder - MTG Card versions
Fanning the Flames - MTG Card versions
Strategy, Schmategy - MTG Card versions
Disorder - MTG Card versions
Fit of Rage - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Oath - MTG Card versions
Last Chance - MTG Card versions
Tribal Flames - MTG Card versions
Breath of Darigaaz - MTG Card versions
Lava Blister - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Book Burning - MTG Card versions
Incendiary Flow - MTG Card versions
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions
Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions
Mizzium Mortars - MTG Card versions
Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass - MTG Card versions
Scent of Cinder - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Spitting Earth - Duel Decks Anthology: Elves vs. Goblins (EVG)
Volcanic Hammer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Rolling Thunder - The List (PLST)
Fanning the Flames - Stronghold (STH)
Strategy, Schmategy - Unglued (UGL)
Disorder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Fit of Rage - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Warrior's Oath - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Last Chance - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tribal Flames - Modern Masters (MMA)
Breath of Darigaaz - Commander 2015 (C15)
Lava Blister - Odyssey (ODY)
Pyroclasm - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Book Burning - Judgment (JUD)
Incendiary Flow - Friday Night Magic 2017 (F17)
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Nahiri's Lithoforming - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Mizzium Mortars - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass - Zendikar Rising Promos (PZNR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyrophobia MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Pyrophobia and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyrophobia has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 Because it doesn’t modify the characteristics of creatures, Pyrophobia can affect Cowards that enter the battlefield or creatures that become Cowards after the spell resolves.
2019-06-14 Coward is a creature type. You won’t see this creature type printed on creatures (perhaps because they’re too good at hiding), but keep in mind that creatures with the changeling ability are Cowards.
2019-06-14 If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Pyrophobia tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. Cowards can block if they’re otherwise allowed to.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks