Pyrophobia MTG Card

Pyrophobia offers targeted creature removal while maintaining card advantage, crucial for controlling the board. The card’s requirement to discard and specific mana cost may limit its use in certain deck types. Despite similarities to other removal cards, Pyrophobia’s unique conditions can be powerful in the right deck.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set name	Modern Horizons
Set code	MH1
Number	141
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Izzy

Text of card

Pyrophobia deals 3 damage to target creature. Cowards can't block this turn.

"I hate this! I hate fire! I hate you for taking me on this route!" —Norin the Wary

Cards like Pyrophobia

Pyrophobia finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a specialized removal spell for any player dealing with red-heavy matches. It mirrors other damage-dealing cards like Lightning Bolt, one of the game’s iconic spells that also deals three damage, but Lightning Bolt isn’t specific to creature type and can target players as well.

Flame Slash also competes in the removal category, offering four damage to a creature at sorcery speed for a single red mana. While it doesn’t cater to a creature type, it lacks Pyrophobia’s added ability to force the opponent to discard a card if a Changeling is targeted. Skewer the Critics is another similar card, providing three damage that can be aimed at any target, not just creatures, although its spectacle cost requires you to have dealt damage to an opponent that turn to take advantage of its reduced casting price.

Pyrophobia’s specificity to creature type can be a boon or breaker, proving invaluable against decks enlisting numerous Cowards or Changelings. While there are many alternative spells for dealing with creatures, Pyrophobia affords an edge in particular match-ups, making it an intriguing option for players crafting a deck with meta-specific solutions.

Cards similar to Pyrophobia by color, type and mana cost

Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions

Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions

Shatterskull Smashing // Shatterskull, the Hammer Pass - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyrophobia stands out as it allows you to target and damage a creature, potentially dispatching smaller threats without losing card value. This can disrupt your opponent’s board while maintaining your own hand’s momentum.

Resource Acceleration: While Pyrophobia itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, by efficiently managing threats on the board, it helps maintain parity or achieve a resource lead over your adversary, which is critical in the resource-driven dynamics of the game.

Instant Speed: Although Pyrophobia is cast at sorcery speed, its inclusion in a deck bolsters your tactical arsenal, enabling you to deal with creatures on your turn strategically. This ensures that your mana is employed effectively each turn, giving you more control over the flow of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pyrophobia necessitates pitching a card from your hand, which proves to be a setback when your hand size is dwindling and each card holds significant value.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting conditions for Pyrophobia include a particular color alignment, red mana in this instance, which may not seamlessly integrate with multi-colored or colorless deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that may be considered steep for the resulting effect, Pyrophobia could be overshadowed by alternative spells that deliver more bang for fewer resources.

Reasons to Include Pyrophobia in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyrophobia is not confined to a single strategy, providing red decks with a direct damage option that can remove creatures or puncture the opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: When incorporated into a deck with instant and sorcery synergy, Pyrophobia bolsters strategies revolving around spell casting, potentially unlocking powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based matchups are prevalent, Pyrophobia shines, efficiently handling many commonly played creatures while also being a superb tool against Cowards and Changelings.

How to beat Pyrophobia

Pyrophobia is a unique red sorcery that showcases Magic: The Gathering’s intricate interplay between card abilities and flavor. It deals 3 damage to any target and has an additional clause that causes a creature to be sacrificed if it’s a Coward, or if the targeted creature has no activated abilities. Clearly, this card can surprise an unprepared opponent by removing key creatures or simply serving as direct damage.

To effectively strategize against Pyrophobia, consider cards with hexproof to shield your valuable creatures from being targeted, such as Vine Mare or Shalai, Voice of Plenty. Additionally, deploying creatures with activated abilities ensures they’re not within Pyrophobia’s instant sacrifice criteria. Creatures with indestructible or those that can regenerate, like Darksteel Myr or Reassembling Skeleton, can also help circumvent the destructive power of Pyrophobia.

Ultimately, anticipating Pyrophobia in your matches involves a mix of prevention, protection, and resilience. By curating a deck with creatures that can either avoid the targeting condition or withstand the damage, you effectively neutralize the threat of this fiery spell, ensuring your creatures remain a constant presence on the battlefield and your strategic position remains strong.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyrophobia MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Pyrophobia and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyrophobia has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pyrophobia card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2019-06-14	Because it doesn’t modify the characteristics of creatures, Pyrophobia can affect Cowards that enter the battlefield or creatures that become Cowards after the spell resolves.
2019-06-14	Coward is a creature type. You won’t see this creature type printed on creatures (perhaps because they’re too good at hiding), but keep in mind that creatures with the changeling ability are Cowards.
2019-06-14	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Pyrophobia tries to resolve, the spell doesn’t resolve. Cowards can block if they’re otherwise allowed to.