Punishing Fire MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 142
2011-04-01 - Number 66
2011-06-17 - Number 131
2015-11-18 - Number 66
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Punishing Fire deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Whenever an opponent gains life, you may pay . If you do, return Punishing Fire from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Punishing Fire
Punishing Fire is a noteworthy component in the realm of recurring damage spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal damage repeatedly sets it apart and allows it to be likened to cards such as Flame Jab. While Flame Jab requires the player to have a land card to discard for its retrace ability, Punishing Fire relies on gaining life as the trigger for its return, offering a strategic advantage through its interaction with cards like Grove of the Burnwillows.
In comparison, we have Incinerate, another direct damage spell that has traditionally been a staple in red decks. However, it lacks the comeback capability of Punishing Fire, making it a one-shot affair. Then consider Lightning Bolt, a classic and efficient damage dealer. It strikes immediately for three damage at a low cost, but without the return mechanism that Punishing Fire wields. Each of these spells offers a unique angle on red’s direct damage approach.
Assessing the strategic value of these spells, Punishing Fire shines in its ability to be a continuous threat. Its synergies with life gain mechanics make it a fascinating and enduring choice in players’ arsenals.
Cards similar to Punishing Fire by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Punishing Fire. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lands | Legacy | Lands | Legacy Challenge 64 2024-04-07 |
 | Naya Depths | Legacy | Selesnya Depths | Legacy Preliminary 2024-04-18 |
 | BRG | Legacy | Legacy League 2024-04-18 | |
 | Naya Lands | Legacy | Lands | Circuito Legacy Catarinense | Temporada 2024 | Etapa 4 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Punishing Fire has a unique mechanism that can return it from the graveyard to your hand if an opponent gains life, ensuring recurring damage and maintaining card presence.
Resource Acceleration: In combination with cards like Grove of the Burnwillows, Punishing Fire can create a loop that effectively accelerates your resources by dealing consistent damage without expending additional cards.
Instant Speed: Its ability to be cast at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond to threats or apply pressure during the opponent’s turn, maximizing the potential for strategic play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Reflecting on Punishing Fire, one notable constraint is its reliance on a discard mechanic to complete its recursion loop. While it can be returned from the graveyard to your hand when an opponent gains life, if your hand is already empty, the benefit is lost, stalling its relentless damage capability.
Specific Mana Cost: Punishing Fire’s activation is bound by a specific mana cost, requiring both red and generic mana. Its dependency on red mana restricts its seamless integration into multicolored decks, potentially hampering deck diversity and flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the card’s efficiency, the combined cost to play Punishing Fire from your hand and to subsequently trigger its return ability can climb swiftly. In a game where mana efficiency is paramount, there are instances where less mana-intensive options could be more viable choices, enabling players to allocate resources to develop their board state or disrupt opponents more effectively.
Reasons to Include Punishing Fire in Your Collection
Versatility: Punishing Fire is a red instant that can be a key addition to multiple deck archetypes. Its ability to deal damage to creatures or players makes it useful both as a control element and as a means to apply pressure to your opponents.
Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with land cards like Grove of the Burnwillows, allowing you to return Punishing Fire to your hand and use it repeatedly. This synergy can be the cornerstone of powerful combos in the right deck build.
Meta-Relevance: Given that the MTG meta often sees creatures with low toughness, Punishing Fire can consistently control the board. It can disrupt creature-based strategies efficiently and maintain a presence throughout a match, making it a solid choice in various meta circumstances.
How to beat
Punishing Fire, a powerhouse in any MTG deck utilizing red mana, is notorious for its ability to be repeatedly used. Players face this card often in games where opponents capitalize on its damaging recurrence. One of the key strategies to counter this effect lies in preventing the card’s return from the graveyard to the player’s hand. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be game-changers by removing graveyards from the equation, thereby neutralizing Punishing Fire’s intimidating comeback potential.
Understanding the synergy between Punishing Fire and cards that allow players to gain life, such as Grove of the Burnwillows, can also be pivotal. If you can disrupt this interaction or apply pressure with aggressive, fast-paced tactics, you might outpace the incremental damage Punishing Fire causes over time. In short, rapid strikes or comprehensive graveyard lockdowns can serve as your best line of defense against this relentless card.
Crafting a preemptive sideboard or including main deck answers specifically tailored to address recurring threats may provide players an edge too. By outmaneuvering Punishing Fire with smart, tactical card choices, you can tip the scales of the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Punishing Fire MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons, 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 Punishing Fire 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Punishing Fire Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2015-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 142 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 2 | 2011-04-01 | Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons | DDG | 66 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Greg Staples | |
| 3 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 131 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 4 | 2015-11-18 | Legendary Cube Prize Pack | PZ1 | 66 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Punishing Fire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Punishing Fire card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If Punishing Fire has left your graveyard by the time its triggered ability resolves, you may still pay , but you won’t return it to your hand. This is true even if Punishing Fire has left your graveyard and returned to it by the time its triggered ability resolves. |
| 2009-10-01 | Punishing Fire’s triggered ability triggers only if it’s already in your graveyard at the time an opponent gains life. For example, you can cast it in response to a spell or ability that will cause an opponent to gain life. In that case, Punishing Fire will resolve first, so it will be in the graveyard by the time the opponent gains life. However, if you wait until an opponent actually gains life and then cast Punishing Fire, you won’t be able to return it to your hand at that time. |
| 2009-10-01 | You choose whether to pay as the triggered ability resolves. |