Torchling MTG Card
2007-02-02 - Number 110
2012-03-30 - Number 58
2017-06-16 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Shapeshifter |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Torchling’s combat manipulation is akin to card advantage, providing a strategic upper hand.
- Resilient to removals, Torchling conserves mana, sustaining your board presence longer.
- Instant-speed abilities grant Torchling surprise factor, significantly shifting combat dynamics.
Text of card
: Untap Torchling. : Target creature blocks Torchling this turn if able. : Change the target of target spell that targets only Torchling. : Torchling gets +1/-1 until end of turn. : Torchling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Torchling’s ability to manipulate combat outcomes can effectively protect your other important creatures, similar to drawing into extra protective spells. Plus, its shapeshifting abilities can be a pseudo card advantage by adapting to different in-game scenarios.
Resource Acceleration: While Torchling itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its resilience to removal means you’re likely to retain a valuable asset on the board longer, saving mana over time instead of having to recast creatures.
Instant Speed: The true power of Torchling lies in its instant-speed ability activations. Changing power and toughness or altering blocking assignments can turn the tide of battle unexpectedly, giving you a considerable advantage during combat phases without having to commit mana until necessary.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside when using Torchling is that although it doesn’t directly require you to discard, managing its abilities may lead to a faster depletion of your hand, indirectly demanding careful resource management or potential card disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a heavy commitment to red mana, meaning decks without a strong red mana base could struggle to play Torchling effectively, limiting its versatility across different types of decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana to summon, Torchling is quite the investment, especially considering that many competing creatures provide comparable or greater power and versatility for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Torchling offers a range of abilities that allow it to adapt to various game situations. Its capacity to modify its power and toughness makes it a flexible threat or defender as needed.
Combo Potential: Working with cards that benefit from targeting your own creatures, Torchling can be pivotal in executing potent combos. With the ability to untap itself, it also pairs well with cards that exploit tapping and untapping mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a dynamic metagame where creature-based strategies often prevail, Torchling’s potential to dodge removal spells and wreak havoc on blocking strategies can give it a distinct advantage, ensuring it remains a relevant choice for many decks.
How to beat
Torchling, a unique creature card in MTG, offers a versatile array of abilities that can be a challenge to counter. With the capability to dodge spells and abilities, redirect damage, adjust power and toughness, and untap at a moment’s notice, Torchling requires a strategic approach to overcome.
One effective method is to limit the options for Torchling’s controller by using instant speed removal spells that don’t target, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation.” Another strategy is timing your removal spells when the opponent’s mana resources are low, ensuring Torchling’s abilities cannot be activated in response. Additionally, exile effects like “Path to Exile” provide a clean solution since Torchling’s controller can’t redirect the exile target.
Lastly, preventing Torchling from entering the battlefield in the first place with counter spells like “Counterspell” or “Dissolve” can nip potential problems in the bud. By understanding Torchling’s strengths and limitations, you can tailor your deck and play style to effectively neutralize this adaptable adversary.
Cards like Torchling
Torchling is a versatile creature within the Magic: The Gathering universe, offering a range of abilities that make it highly adaptable on the battlefield. When comparing this shapeshifter to other creature cards, the Morphling immediately comes to mind. Like Torchling, Morphling excels at flexibility, granting players the ability to modify its power, toughness, and other key features, although it is more focused on evasion and survivability.
Another card that echoes the utility of Torchling is AEtherling. As cousins in functionality, AEtherling takes adaptability further with the potential for temporary exile which protects it from removal. However, the evasion capabilities of Torchling are slightly more constrained, focusing instead on manipulating combat interactions and protecting itself from being targeted.
The elemental theme continues with Thornling, which shares the ‘ling’ lineage. Thornling also provides a toolbox of abilities tailored for resilience and combat mastery. While not as defensively inclined as Torchling, the Thornling has the advantage of inducing trample and haste, making it a formidable presence in the arena of creature combat. Despite these comparisons, Torchling’s unique set of abilities carves its own niche, proving to be a formidable choice for players seeking strategic diversity.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Torchling MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Torchling 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 Torchling Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2017-06-16. Illustrated by rk post.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-02-02 | Planar Chaos | PLC | 110 | 2003 | Normal | Black | rk post | |
| 2 | 2012-03-30 | Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth | DDI | 58 | 2003 | Normal | Black | rk post | |
| 3 | 2017-06-16 | Archenemy: Nicol Bolas | E01 | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | rk post |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Torchling has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Torchling card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-02-01 | If a spell has multiple targets, but it’s targeting Torchling with all of them (such as Seeds of Strength targeting Torchling three times), you can target that spell with Torchling’s third ability. In that case, you change all of those targets to the same new target, as long as it meets each of the spell’s targeting conditions. |
| 2007-02-01 | If a spell targets multiple things, you can’t target it with Torchling’s third ability, even if all but one of those targets has become illegal. |
| 2007-02-01 | When the third ability resolves, you must change the target if able. If you can’t choose a legal target for the spell when this ability resolves, that spell’s target doesn’t change. |
