Pyroblast MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Instant |
Text of card
Counter target spell if it is blue or destroy target permanent if it is blue.
"Just the thing for those pesky water mages." —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Cards like Pyroblast
Pyroblast stands out in the arsenal of counter and destroy spells tailored for red deck users in Magic: The Gathering. Its specialty lies in its laser-focused ability to counter or destroy a blue spell or blue permanent, an ability shared by its cousin, Red Elemental Blast. Though both cards offer the same utility, Pyroblast’s unique quality is that it can be cast even when there’s no blue spell on the stack, which can be leveraged in niche scenarios involving cards that care about spells being cast.
Hydroblast serves as a blue counterpart; this spell can neutralize red threats in a similar fashion. It’s the yin to Pyroblast’s yang, creating a dynamic interplay between blue and red decks. Blue Elemental Blast also stands in parallel, offering a blue-aligned mirror to Red Elemental Blast, reinforcing the binary opposition of these elemental forces in the game’s rich lore and strategic play.
Analyzing the differences and strategic applications, Pyroblast offers precise power in the context of blue-heavy metagames, providing red mages with an efficient tool to protect their strategy and disrupt their opponents, solidifying its place in competitive and casual formats alike.
Cards similar to Pyroblast by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Pyroblast. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Painter | Legacy | Painter | Legacy Preliminary 2024-04-18 | |
Grixis Tempo | Legacy | Grixis Tempo | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-21 | |
5c Delver | Legacy | Temur Delver | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28 | |
Grixis Tinker | Vintage | Blue Tinker | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-25 | |
Grixis Underworld Breach | Vintage | Underworld Breach | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-20 | |
4c Underworld Breach | Vintage | Underworld Breach | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-20 | |
Izzet Tempo | Vintage | Blue Tempo | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-20 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pyroblast offers a powerful option in hand by potentially nullifying an opponent’s key blue spell. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, the strategic removal of an opponent’s threat effectively works towards card advantage by disrupting their planned sequences or protecting your own strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Though Pyroblast itself doesn’t generate mana or accelerate resources directly, it contributes to resource acceleration by keeping mana costs low. At a single red mana, it allows players to effectively counter or destroy an opponent’s blue spell while still advancing their board state with other mana-using plays.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Pyroblast gives players the flexibility to respond during an opponent’s turn, affording the element of surprise. This allows you to efficiently manage your resources while waiting for the perfect moment to disrupt an opponent’s play, tip the game in your favor, or protect your own interests without having to preemptively commit mana during your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Pyroblast does not explicitly require you to discard a card, it’s a single-use spell that’s removed from your hand upon casting. This can pressure your hand size and diminish your pool of reactive options.
Specific Mana Cost: Pyroblast demands a red mana for activation, which inherently restricts its inclusion to red-centric or multicolored decks that can accommodate red mana easily.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Pyroblast is economical at a single red mana, in the realm of counter spells and removals, it competes with alternatives that may provide additional versatility or broader targets for a similar or even lower cost.
Reasons to Include Pyroblast in Your Collection
Versatility: Pyroblast can be incorporated into a wide array of red-based decks and is particularly useful due to its ability to counter or destroy key blue spells. Its low mana cost makes it a flexible addition to any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: This card has significant potential when combined with spells that copy or recur instants and sorceries, allowing red mages to repeatedly disrupt opponents’ strategies, especially in blue-heavy metas.
Meta-Relevance: Given that blue spells and decks often represent a significant portion of competitive play, Pyroblast serves as an efficient tool to gain an edge in these matchups, making it a staple sideboard card for red players facing blue-dominated fields.
How to Beat
Pyroblast stands as a potent tool in the arsenal of any player looking to gain an upper hand against blue spells in Magic: The Gathering. This powerful red instant can counter any blue spell or destroy any blue permanent at a mere cost of one red mana, making it both efficient and devastatingly precise. The key to overcoming Pyroblast relies on versatility and strategic planning.
Employing non-blue cards is one essential tactic, as Pyroblast’s limitation is its singularity of purpose. Similarly, baiting out the Pyroblast with less critical spells or summoning multiple threats at once can stretch your opponent’s resources thin, forcing them to make tough decisions. Lastly, incorporating cards that can protect your spells or permanents, or cards that can’t be targeted by instants, can also ensure your key pieces stay on the battlefield. Diversifying your strategy and anticipating the timing can tilt the odds in your favor against this iconic card.
Understanding the mechanics and limitations of Pyroblast is crucial in contending with players who wield this card. By adapting your playstyle and maintaining a dynamic deck composition, you can navigate the challenges posed by this MTG classic and keep your game plan intact.
BurnMana Recommendations
Pyroblast is a must-have for any player aiming to strengthen their arsenal against blue-centric strategies in MTG. Offering the tactical advantage of countering or destroying blue spells at instant speed, this red instant is a low-cost powerhouse that keeps you in control. Whether in competitive or casual formats, understanding the applications of Pyroblast can shift the tides of your matches. Balance your deck, anticipate blue confrontations, and deploy Pyroblast to dismantle your opponent’s game plan. Enhance your MTG experience by mastering this spell; become adept in the art of red magic and safeguard your victories against the wave of blue strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pyroblast MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Pyroblast 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
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Printings
The Pyroblast Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2023-01-01. Illustrated by 4 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 213 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj213sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
3 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 262 | 1997 | Normal | White | Kaja Foglio | |
4 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | js262sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
5 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | jk262sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
6 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | pm262sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
7 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bs213sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
8 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | br213sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Kaja Foglio | |
9 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 69981 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joseph Meehan | ||
10 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 107 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
11 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | B24 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Kaja Foglio | |
12 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 142 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lake Hurwitz | |
13 | 2023-01-01 | Wizards Play Network 2023 | PW23 | 8 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Takuma Ebisu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pyroblast has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pyroblast card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | The decision to counter a spell or destroy a permanent is a decision made on announcement before the target is selected. If the spell is redirected, this mode can’t be changed, so only targets of the selected type are valid. |
2016-06-08 | Pyroblast can target any spell or permanent, not just a blue one. It checks the color of the target only on resolution. |