Pyromancer Ascension MTG Card

With quest counters, Pyromancer Ascension gives card advantage by copying spells, fueling faster deck cycling. This enchantment excels in spell-heavy decks, offering high combo potential and significant damage possibilities. Effective strategies against it include removal, pressure with aggressive play, and tailored sideboard cards.

Zendikar (ZEN)
2009-10-02 - Number 143

Pyromancer Ascension - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)

Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
2017-03-17 - Number 108

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ZEN-143

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment

Text of card

Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that has the same name as a card in your graveyard, you may put a quest counter on Pyromancer Ascension. Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell while Pyromancer Ascension has two or more quest counters on it, you may copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.

Cards like Pyromancer Ascension

When diving into the thrilling world of spell-slinging in Magic: The Gathering, Pyromancer Ascension is a card that stands out for its potential to turn the tide of a game. Pyromancer Ascension shines when compared to other cards that reward players for casting multiple spells, such as Guttersnipe or Young Pyromancer. While both of these creatures deal damage or create tokens respectively with every instant and sorcery played, Pyromancer Ascension elevates the strategy to the next level by copying those spells for even more impact.

Another worthy comparison would be to Mirari, a legendary artifact which also copies instant or sorcery spells. However, Pyromancer Ascension is more cost-efficient and does not have an additional mana cost to activate the copying effect. On the flip side, there’s the more recent iteration, Thousand-Year Storm, which has a massive explosive potential, though it’s more expensive and slower to get going than Pyromancer Ascension.

Ultimately, Pyromancer Ascension affords a unique advantage for decks focused around playing lots of spells within a short period, leveraging each instant and sorcery to their maximum potential, potentially creating overwhelming advantage over the course of a game.

Cards similar to Pyromancer Ascension by color, type and mana cost

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Pyromancer Ascension. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Belcher	Modern	Belcher	Modern Preliminary 2023-12-14
Gruul Breach	Modern	Gruul Breach	Modern League 2024-04-04
Storm	Modern	Storm	Modern League 2024-02-03
Pyromancer Ascension	Modern	Pyromancer Ascension	Modern League 2024-01-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyromancer Ascension, once online with two or more quest counters, doubles the impact of your spells by allowing for an additional copy to be cast without any extra cost. This significantly boosts your ability to cycle through your deck and outpace your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: By essentially doubling each instant or sorcery spell in your graveyard, you’re ramping up the sheer number of available resources at your disposal, propelling your game strategy at an accelerated rate.

Instant Speed: While Pyromancer Ascension itself is not an instant, it synergizes exceptionally well with instant-speed spells. Activating its ability during your opponent’s turn can produce overwhelming advantages, putting you firmly in the driver’s seat during each game phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Pyromancer Ascension does not directly require discarding as a cost, it does necessitate a specific setup of having two identical cards in the graveyard to achieve its potential, which can unintentionally lead to a discard-like scenario as players may need to cycle through their deck faster, potentially discarding valuable cards in the process.

Specific Mana Cost: Pyromancer Ascension asks for two red mana in its casting cost. This requirement can pigeonhole the card into red-based or red-combo decks, somewhat limiting its versatility across the wider range of available deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The enchantment comes at the moderate, yet notable, casting cost of two mana. Considering its payoff is contingent on setup—accumulating the necessary two of a kind instants or sorceries in the graveyard—this initial investment can seem steep, particularly when facing decks that aim to win quickly or disrupt your strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyromancer Ascension is a dynamic card perfect for spell-heavy decks, especially those with a focus on instants and sorceries that can quickly turn the tide of the game.

Combo Potential: This card truly shines when paired with cheap cantrips and burn spells, enabling explosive turns that can overwhelm opponents by both filtering through your deck and dealing massive damage.

Meta-Relevance: In eternal formats like Modern, where the metagame is constantly evolving, Pyromancer Ascension remains a resilient piece in various combo decks, capable of adapting to and capitalizing on the ever-changing competitive landscape.

How to beat

Pyromancer Ascension is a unique enchantment that can quickly turn the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering if left unchecked. The key to countering this card lies in disrupting the accumulation of quest counters it requires to activate its potent ability. One effective strategy involves utilizing instant-speed removal spells or abilities to target and destroy the enchantment before your opponent can gain enough momentum. Cards such as Disenchant or Krosan Grip offer straightforward solutions to eliminate Pyromancer Ascension from the field.

Another method to impede this card’s progress is to apply pressure with a swift and aggressive deck that can outpace the setup Pyromancer Ascension requires. By focusing on lowering your opponent’s life total rapidly, you force them to respond to your threats rather than build up their own game plan. Additionally, consider sideboarding cards that can exile Pyromancer Ascension or similar enchantments, ensuring they don’t make a comeback from the graveyard. Proper sideboard choices tailored to your local metagame can provide the edge needed to render Pyromancer Ascension a non-issue.

In essence, tackling Pyromancer Ascension involves a mix of strategic removal and aggressive gameplay to prevent your opponent from leveraging its full potential. Staying one step ahead and actively disrupting their strategy is crucial when facing off against this powerful MTG card.

BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the strategic intricacies of MTG often means leveraging powerful cards like Pyromancer Ascension to their fullest. Understanding its application in spell-heavy decks can ensure dominance in complex gameplay situations. Assessing the card’s strengths and potential weaknesses, you can craft a deck that transforms Pyromancer Ascension’s quest counters into an overwhelming force or prepare effective countermeasures to shut it down. Whether it’s adjusting your collection for the ever-evolving Modern format or seeking an edge in your local game nights, this card’s potential cannot be ignored. Dive deeper and learn more about optimizing Pyromancer Ascension in your MTG strategy with us.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyromancer Ascension MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Pyromancer Ascension and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pyromancer Ascension Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2017-03-17. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-10-02	Zendikar	ZEN	143	2003	Normal	Black	Kev Walker
2	2017-03-17	Modern Masters 2017	MM3	108	2015	Normal	Black	Kev Walker
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ZEN-143	2003	Normal	Black	Kev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyromancer Ascension 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 Pyromancer Ascension card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2017-03-14	If Pyromancer Ascension’s first ability triggers, you’ll put a quest counter on it even if the card in your graveyard leaves your graveyard by the time the ability resolves or if the spell you cast is countered.
2017-03-14	If either of Pyromancer Ascension’s abilities triggers, it will go on the stack on top of the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve first. If it’s Pyromancer Ascension’s second ability that triggered, the copy it creates will also resolve before the original spell. The copy is created even if the original spell has been countered.
2017-03-14	If the spell has damage divided as it was cast (like Fiery Justice does), the division can’t be changed (although the targets receiving that damage still can).
2017-03-14	If the spell that’s copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast (like Bonfire of the Damned does), the copy will have the same value of X.
2017-03-14	If the spell that’s copied is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode. A different mode cannot be chosen.
2017-03-14	If you cast an instant or sorcery spell from your graveyard (due to an ability such as flashback, for example), Pyromancer Ascension’s first ability won’t trigger unless another card with the same name is in your graveyard.
2017-03-14	Pyromancer Ascension’s second ability can copy any instant or sorcery spell, not just one with targets.
2017-03-14	The copy is created on the stack, so it’s not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won’t trigger.
2017-03-14	The copy will have the same targets as the spell it’s copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can’t choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
2017-03-14	The second ability triggers only if Pyromancer Ascension already has two quest counters on it at the time you cast an instant or sorcery spell. This means a spell can’t cause the second counter to be put on Pyromancer Ascension and then become copied. It also means a player can’t remove Pyromancer Ascension in response to you casting an instant or sorcery spell in order to prevent the ability from triggering.
2017-03-14	You can’t choose to pay any alternative or additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any alternative or additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy.