Prodigal Pyromancer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Prodigal Pyromancer facilitates board control through its targeted damage ability each turn.
  2. It plays a central role in accelerating game outcomes by consistently diminishing life totals.
  3. Utilizing its ability at the end of an opponent’s turn optimizes mana and pressure.

Text of card

: Prodigal Pyromancer deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

"Learn to burn!" —Institute of Arcane Studies motto


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Prodigal Pyromancer may not draw cards directly, its ability to ping creatures or players each turn can chip away at opposing forces, making it easier to maintain board control.

Resource Acceleration: Prodigal Pyromancer’s consistent damage output can contribute to whittling down opponent’s life totals, potentially accelerating the path to victory in a game where each point of damage counts.

Instant Speed: Prodigal Pyromancer’s ability may not be an instant, but it offers versatility by allowing you to use it at the end of your opponent’s turn, maintaining pressure and maximizing your mana usage throughout the entire game cycle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unfortunately, Prodigal Pyromancer does not demand a discard from your hand, which means this point is not applicable to the card’s functionality. Finding the right synergies is essential to maximizing your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Prodigal Pyromancer requires a particular combination of mana, specifically two generic and one red mana, which could pose a limitation in multicolor decks that can’t consistently produce the necessary red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Prodigal Pyromancer may be considered expensive given that it has a power of only 1 and a toughness of 1. There are creatures and spells in this mana range that could potentially offer more board impact or versatility.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Prodigal Pyromancer is a classic utility creature that can be slotted into various deck types. Its ability to deal damage directly to creatures or players makes it a flexible choice for controlling the board or chipping away at your opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Prodigal Pyromancer can become a key component in an infinite combo, pairing with cards that untap creatures to create a loop of unending damage.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to disrupt small creatures, Prodigal Pyromancer can be particularly effective in metas where utility creatures and mana dorks are prevalent, helping to maintain board control.


How to Overcome Prodigal Pyromancer

Prodigal Pyromancer presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to ping any target for one point of damage. This may seem minimal, but over the course of a match, it can add up, exerting pressure on opponents and slowly chipping away at their life total or board presence.

One effective strategy to beat Prodigal Pyromancer involves utilizing instant-speed removal such as Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile to dispatch the Pyromancer before it gets a chance to deal substantial damage. Shields are also essential; creatures with abilities like hexproof or shroud prevent targeting by Prodigal Pyromancer, ensuring your critical pieces stay secure on the board.

Moreover, any card that can grant your creatures indestructibility for a turn, like Boros Charm or Heroic Intervention, means you can ignore the pesky pings and continue with your strategy unhindered.

In essence, beating Prodigal Pyromancer boils down to timing your spells effectively, protecting your key creatures, and not underestimating the gradual damage it can inflict. Neutralizing it quickly or mitigating its impact ensures that this irksome card won’t be the linchpin of your opponent’s victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we’ve explored the nuances of Prodigal Pyromancer, it’s clear that every card holds potential to tip the scales in MTG. The Pyromancer, with its methodical damage dealing, can be a thorn in the side of your opponents, disrupting their plans and offering you a subtle edge. While this card alone might not clinch victory, it’s these incremental advantages that shape the path to becoming a seasoned MTG player. Wisdom in MTG involves a deep understanding of each card’s possibilities. Want to master these strategic nuances? Engage with our community and expand your MTG knowledge even further, starting with the clever tactics surrounding Prodigal Pyromancer.


Cards like Prodigal Pyromancer

Prodigal Pyromancer offers MTG players a steady source of damage, tapping to deal one damage to any target. This ability is reminiscent of cards like Tim, a nickname for Prodigal Sorcerer, which also pings for one damage. The Pyromancer stands out with its red mana alignment, compared to the sorcerer’s blue, aligning with red’s aggressive playstyle.

Goblin Sharpshooter is another card operating similarly, but with the potential for more damage after creatures die. It doesn’t need to tap for its first shot, making it especially powerful in creature-heavy battlefields. Norin the Wary is yet another fascinating comparison, as while it doesn’t deal damage directly, its quirky return-to-the-battlefield mechanic triggers enter-the-battlefield effects, potentially causing more impactful turns over time.

Evaluating the usefulness of Prodigal Pyromancer requires a look at these counterparts as well. Although it doesn’t have the same explosiveness as Goblin Sharpshooter in the right deck or the peculiarity of Norin the Wary, its reliability and fit within red’s damage-dealing strategy mark its place in the pantheon of MTG tap-to-damage cards.

Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sharpshooter - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Goblin Sharpshooter - Onslaught (ONS)
Norin the Wary - Time Spiral (TSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Prodigal Pyromancer MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Tenth Edition, 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 Prodigal Pyromancer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Prodigal Pyromancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Jeremy Jarvis.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 1182003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2212003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
32009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1512003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
42010-06-04Duels of the PlaneswalkersDPA 512003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
52010-07-16Magic 2011M11 1522003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
62017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1422015normalblackJeremy Jarvis
72021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1802015normalblackJeremy Jarvis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Prodigal Pyromancer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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