Sunfire Torch MTG Card

Sunfire Torch - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip
Released	2023-11-17
Set symbol
Set name	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Set code	LCI
Number	167
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	David Szabo

Key Takeaways

Sunfire Torch provides card advantage and the potential to remove multiple threats, sustaining player dominance.
It challenges hand management and requires precise mana alignment, which may limit its broader utility.
Despite its mana cost, its versatility and meta-relevance make it a formidable card in various strategies.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+0 and has "Whenever this creature attacks, you may sacrifice Sunfire Torch. When you do, this creature deals 2 damage to any target." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

"Let Tilonalli's light burn a path through this darkness."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sunfire Torch contributes to the ever-important card advantage in MTG by offering the ability to potentially remove multiple threats with its activated ability. This ensures you maintain pressure on the board, keeping your opponent on the defensive and securing your lead.

Resource Acceleration: With Sunfire Torch, you not only get a versatile removal tool but also a potential source of resource acceleration. If the conditions are right, the card can effectively thin the battlefield, allowing your creatures to swing in unopposed and accelerate your route to victory.

Instant Speed: The ability of Sunfire Torch to be activated at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond to threats or create opportunities at the most opportune moments. Whether it’s disrupting an opponent’s strategy or clearing the way for a decisive attack, the instant-speed activation of this card is a powerful asset in any match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sunfire Torch poses a challenge when it comes to hand management as it necessitates the discarding of a card to activate its effect. This could put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Sunfire Torch requires a precise mana alignment, which could be restrictive. Deck strategies not heavily invested in red might find it difficult to accommodate the specific mana needs of Sunfire Torch.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Sunfire Torch’s effect can be impactful, its mana cost is on the higher side. Players might opt for alternatives that could provide a similar level of benefit for a lower investment, making it a less efficient choice in mana-tight situations.

Reasons to Include Sunfire Torch in Your Collection

Versatility: Sunfire Torch is a flexible card that can find its way into various deck archetypes. As an artifact, it can be easily included without worrying about color restrictions, providing utility across different strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to deal damage, Sunfire Torch can be a key piece in combos that require damage triggers or that capitalize on repeated activations through untapping mechanisms.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small creature strategies are prevalent, Sunfire Torch offers a repeatable source of board control. Its relevance shifts with the meta, but it can often serve as a useful tool against numerous common threats.

How to beat

The Sunfire Torch card presents a distinctive challenge on the MTG battlefield with its utility and potential for disruption. Players looking to counter this artifact must consider strategies that focus on swift removal or nullification of its abilities. Timing is crucial. An early dispatch can prevent the accrual of potent counters that are essential for its late-game impact.

Effective removal spells, such as Naturalize or Disenchant, can dismantle the Sunfire Torch’s presence on the field, while cards like Pithing Needle offer a preemptive solution by shutting down its activated abilities. Additionally, consider cards that can bounce permanents back to the owner’s hand, stalling their game plan and granting you tempo advantage.

Deck resilience is also key. Incorporating cards that can safeguard your creatures from Sunfire Torch’s damage or recurring your threats after they have been dealt with ensures sustained board presence against this powerful card. Ultimately, strategic planning and resource management are your best assets in overcoming the obstacle that Sunfire Torch represents in MTG gameplay.

Cards like Sunfire Torch

Exploring the arsenal of Magic: The Gathering, Sunfire Torch offers a blend of versatile damage and potential card advantage. Sibling to cards like Pyrite Spellbomb, Sunfire Torch provides the flexibility to deal damage to any target. While Pyrite Spellbomb also allows you to draw a card by sacrificing it without mana, Sunfire Torch requires mana investment to unlock its card-drawing ability.

Looking at other cards like Red Elemental Blast, which can target a blue spell or a blue permanent, Sunfire Torch stands out with its broader range of target selection. It’s not restricted by the color of the cards it can impact, setting it apart from color-specific spells. Then there’s Fireball, an older but still relevant comparison, that offers the capability to distribute multiple points of damage across several targets. However, Fireball lacks the card-drawing potential inherent to Sunfire Torch.

Ultimately, Sunfire Torch carves its niche within Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique tool for players who value direct damage coupled with the potential to gain card advantage, thus making it an asset in various strategic situations.

Cards similar to Sunfire Torch by color, type and mana cost

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Mishra's Research Desk - MTG Card versions

Dire Flail // Dire Blunderbuss - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sunfire Torch MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Sunfire Torch and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sunfire Torch has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2023-11-10	The source of the damage is the equipped creature, not Sunfire Torch.
2023-11-10	You don't choose a target for the triggered ability granted by Sunfire Torch at the time it triggers. Rather, a second "reflexive" ability triggers when you sacrifice Sunfire Torch this way. You choose a target for that ability as it goes on the stack. Each player may respond to this triggered ability as normal.