Firedrinker Satyr MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Satyr Shaman
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	122
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony Palumbo

Key Takeaways

Aggressive low-cost creature, useful for early-game pressure and potential resource leverage in red decks.
Requires careful play to avoid self-damage; synergizes with enrage and life-loss strategies.
Can be countered with first strike, direct damage spells, or board control tactics for strategic play.

Text of card

Whenever Firedrinker Satyr is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to you. : Firedrinker Satyr gets +1/+0 until end of turn and deals 1 damage to you.

Attending a satyr revel requires a high tolerance for pain.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Firedrinker Satyr doesn’t directly provide card advantage in the traditional sense, its aggressive nature forces opponents to deal with it quickly, effectively making them use their cards to answer this threat. This can indirectly lead to card advantage by skewing the opponent’s game plan.

Resource Acceleration: Although Firedrinker Satyr doesn’t accelerate resources in the way that mana dorks or artifacts do, its low mana cost allows for a quick deployment on the battlefield. This can lead to faster pressure on the opponent and potential resource advantage as you utilize your mana efficiently in the early game stages.

Instant Speed: Not applicable to Firedrinker Satyr as it’s a creature card without flash. However, its ability to pump itself at any time provides a form of instant speed advantage, allowing you to increase its power on the fly before damage is dealt, which can be crucial during combats or in response to spells targeting it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a player, managing your hand and resources is critical. Firedrinker Satyr comes with a built-in risk factor that can affect your board position and set you back in card advantage. Should it become a target, it forces you to discard cards, which can be challenging if you’re trying to maintain a full hand to execute your strategies effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands red mana exclusively. This requirement can restrict deck-building options and may not align with multicolored strategies. Decks that are not mono-red or heavily red-focused might find this card difficult to incorporate without disrupting their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the card’s cost-effectiveness, its one red mana cost for a 2/1 creature may seem reasonable at first glance. However, in the context of the card’s self-damaging ability, you’re paying not only in mana but in life points as well. This can put you at a disadvantage in games, especially if life preservation is crucial against your opponent’s strategy.

Reasons to Include Firedrinker Satyr in Your Collection

Versatility: Firedrinker Satyr is a reliable choice for aggressive red decks. Its ability to pump itself for extra damage reflects its flexibility in a pinch, often giving you the edge you need in tight races where every point of damage counts.

Combo Potential: With its low casting cost and ability to deal damage to itself, Firedrinker Satyr synergizes well with strategies that benefit from self-harm. This can trigger various “enrage” abilities or fuel cards that thrive on life loss such as “Spiteful Shadows.”

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fast, aggressive strategies are prevalent, this eager combatant can apply early pressure. Its relevance grows in environments where reaching critical damage thresholds quickly can disrupt slower, more controlling decks.

How to beat

Firedrinker Satyr is a card that embodies high risk for potentially high reward. In the realm of aggressive red decks, it’s a powerhouse, charging into the fray with the potential to grow stronger as it deals damage. However, its Achilles’ heel is the additional damage it inflicts on its own player when it takes hits. Recognizing this vulnerability is key to turning the tables on your opponent.

Given its drawback, direct damage spells or abilities that deal damage become an effective strategy. Creatures with first strike capabilities can dispatch the Satyr without harm to themselves, fine-tuning the battlefield to your advantage. Board control cards, like those causing creatures to tap or those that prevent damage, can negate the adverse effects and swing momentum in your favor. With careful planning and precise plays, overcoming the fiery enthusiasm of Firedrinker Satyr becomes a manageable task, aligning your strategy on the path to victory.

Ultimately, while it packs a punch in the early game, circumventing its benefits and exploiting its downside allows for a strategic defeat of Firedrinker Satyr, ensuring that it’s your opponent who feels the heat, not you.

Cards like Firedrinker Satyr

Firedrinker Satyr is a unique red creature card in Magic: The Gathering that tantalizes players fond of aggressive play styles. Its ability to pump itself up by taking on extra damage recalls the mechanics of cards like Jackal Pup. Both offer a low-cost entry to the battlefield but come with the drawback of inflicting pain back upon their controller in certain scenarios.

Another akin challenger in the fray is Stromkirk Noble. Though they differ as the Noble cannot hurt its owner, it instead grows in strength with every successful attack on the opponent. Firedrinker Satyr excels in raw power boosts but lacks the upward mobility of Stromkirk Noble’s progressive advantages.

Assessing Firedrinker Satyr alongside these similar cards, it stands out for its bravado and potential for explosive turns. While it demands a strategic balance to avoid self-impairment, it embodies the fiery spirit of red’s quick assault tactics in Magic: The Gathering, providing a reliable option for players striving for early dominion over their opponents.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Firedrinker Satyr MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Firedrinker Satyr and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Firedrinker Satyr has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	Damage dealt by Firedrinker Satyr due to its first ability isn't combat damage, even if combat damage caused the ability to trigger.
2013-09-15	Firedrinker Satyr's first ability will trigger even if it's dealt lethal damage. For example, if it blocks a 7/7 creature, its ability will trigger and Firedrinker Satyr will deal 7 damage to you.