Torch the Tower MTG Card
2023-09-08 - Number 378
2023-09-08 - Number 153
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Bargain,Scry |
Text of card
Bargain Torch the Tower deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If this spell was bargained, instead it deals 3 damage to that permanent and you scry 1. If a permanent dealt damage by Torch the Tower would die this turn, exile it instead.
Cards like Torch the Tower
Torch the Tower is a dynamic spell in MTG that brings its own twist to the red spell arsenal. One can spot similarities with cards like Abrade, which also presents utility in disrupting opponents by dealing damage to creatures or artifacts. However, Abrade does not offer the scalability that Torch the Tower does with its potential to increase damage output based on the number of instants and sorceries in the player’s graveyard.
Another comparable spell is Lightning Strike, an efficient staple for direct damage dealing. Nevertheless, Lightning Strike’s power is fixed, whereas Torch the Tower’s damage potential grows along with the game’s progression, rendering it a potentially more impactful card later in the game. Magma Jet is also noteworthy, dealing two damage with the added advantage of scrying, although it lacks the raw power increase available to Torch the Tower’s arsenal.
In sum, Torch the Tower stands out among red damage spells for its unique scaling damage capability. It adds a strategic layer to gameplay, rewarding players invested in instant and sorcery-heavy decks, and showcases a distinctive strength in Magic: The Gathering’s diverse card set.
Cards similar to Torch the Tower by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Torch the Tower. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Transmogrify | Pioneer | Rakdos Transmogrify | Pioneer League 2024-05-06 |
 | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer League 2024-05-04 |
 | R | Pioneer | Pioneer League 2024-05-06 | |
 | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer | Izzet Phoenix | Pioneer League 2024-05-04 |
 | URG | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05 | |
| Izzet Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer | Izzet Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer League 2024-05-06 |
| Jeskai Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer | Jeskai Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
 | Gruul Midrange | Pioneer | Gruul Midrange | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
 | Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer | Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
 | Jeskai Ascendancy | Pioneer | Jeskai Ascendancy | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-05 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Torch the Tower shines by potentially removing an opponent’s threat while also allowing you to sift through your deck to find the right answers or threats of your own. Its ability to potentially draw you into more useful cards can tilt the scales in your favor during a match.
Resource Acceleration: By damaging an opposing planeswalker or destroying a utility land, Torch the Tower can slow down your opponent’s progress, giving you a chance to accelerate your resource development at a crucial time, setting the pace of the game.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Torch the Tower is one of its key strengths. With instant speed, you can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of MTG, disrupting your opponent’s strategy at the most opportune time. Whether it’s in response to an activation of a planeswalker’s ability or at the end of your opponent’s turn, the immediacy adds a layer of strategic depth to your gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Torch the Tower poses a sacrifice by necessitating that players discard a card. This term can be taxing, especially in the stresses of late-game scenarios where each option in hand holds tremendous value.
Specific Mana Cost: This spell demands a precise mana alignment – red mana, to be exact. That precision can constrict deck diversity, limiting its use mostly to red-centric or compatible multicolor strategies where mana fixing isn’t an issue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting higher than some alternatives, players might find themselves weighing its worth against other spells in their arsenal. Evaluating the impact of spending four mana for its effect is crucial as it can affect the tempo and flow of the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: “Torch the Tower” is a card that has a place in several deck archetypes due to its ability to remove both creatures and planeswalkers at a cost-effective rate. This broad applicability ensures that it’s a useful card in varied situations.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate with decks that manipulate damage or have spell-copying capabilities, making it a key component in potent spell-slinging combos.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving nature of the meta, a card like “Torch the Tower” can greatly disrupt opponent strategies that heavily rely on planeswalker abilities, thereby asserting its significance in the current competitive scene.
How to beat
Torch the Tower is a card that can pose a significant challenge on the battlefield. To triumph over this potent card, players should focus on swift and effective strategies. The key lies in understanding its strengths and finding the most opportune moment to act. Instants that neutralize spells or destroy artifacts and enchantments can be particularly efficacious against Torch the Tower. Swift counterplays, such as Negate or Disenchant, can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and prevent the tower from ever igniting your game plan.
Another viable approach is to employ strategies that limit your opponent’s ability to build up a strong mana base required to activate Torch the Tower’s abilities. Land destruction or denial, often frowned upon but undeniably effective, can stifle their efforts early on. Moreover, putting pressure on your opponent with an aggressive creature strategy can force them to use resources defensively, keeping the Torch from becoming a problem. Keeping up removal for key components that enable Torch the Tower can also significantly weaken its impact.
Ultimately, it’s about being proactive and maintaining control of the game state. By staying vigilant and ready to act against Torch the Tower, you can keep this fiery threat from burning down your chance of victory. Always anticipate, and have an answer ready for when the time comes to snuff out the flame.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Torch the Tower MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine and Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Torch the Tower 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
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Printings
The Torch the Tower Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Uriah Voth.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 378 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Uriah Voth | |
| 2 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 153 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Uriah Voth |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Torch the Tower 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 |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Torch the Tower card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-09-01 | Bargain means "As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token." |
| 2023-09-01 | Bargain represents an optional additional cost. A spell cast with that additional cost paid is "bargained." |
| 2023-09-01 | If you copy a bargained spell, the copy is also bargained. If a card or token enters the battlefield as a copy of a permanent that's already on the battlefield, the new permanent isn't bargained, even if the original was. |
| 2023-09-01 | Some instant and sorcery spells require additional targets if they're bargained. You ignore those targeting requirements if those spells aren't bargained, and you can't bargain those spells unless you can choose the appropriate targets. On the other hand, you can bargain a permanent spell even if you won't be able to choose targets for an enters-the-battlefield ability of that permanent once the spell resolves. |
| 2023-09-01 | Torch the Tower's last replacement effect will exile the target permanent if it would die this turn for any reason, not just due to lethal damage or having 0 loyalty. |
| 2023-09-01 | You may sacrifice only one artifact, enchantment, or token to pay a spell's bargain cost. |