Pardic Arsonist MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Barbarian
Abilities	Threshold
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	105
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

Pardic Arsonist can force opponents to adapt, setting the pace with its damage-dealing ability.
Maintaining resource advantage is key with Pardic Arsonist, given its card discard requirement.
Its specific mana cost may limit deck diversity but adds potency to red-centric strategies.

Text of card

Threshold When Pardic Arsonist comes into play, it deals 3 damage to target creature or player. (You have threshold if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Otaria's epidemic of insanity didn't affect certain barbarians—but no one noticed.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Pardic Arsonist excels in offering players the ability to incrementally weaken their opponent’s board presence while maintaining their own. By dealing damage to creature or player, it effectively chips away at the opponent’s resources and can alter the state of the game with each turn.

Resource Acceleration: This fiery card doesn’t directly produce additional resources in the traditional sense of generating mana or treasure tokens. However, by pressuring the opponent, it may accelerate your board position advantage, as removing key creatures can provide a clear path for your other attackers, indirectly accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Albeit the Pardic Arsonist operates at sorcery speed, its inherent value remains in its repeatable effect. The ability to consistently apply pressure each turn paralleling the strategic value of instant-speed spells by dictating the pace of the match and forcing opponents to adapt to its recurring threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pardic Arsonist requires you to discard a card when utilizing its ability. This can be detrimental during gameplay, particularly when your hand is already running low on useful cards. Such a condition can force difficult decisions and might deplete your resources faster than anticipated.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s reliance on a strictly red mana cost confines its integration mainly to red-centric decks. Players looking to include Pardic Arsonist in a multicolored deck may find the mana cost restrictive, as it cannot be as easily splashed into decks without a significant red mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to get Pardic Arsonist on the battlefield is considerable. When you assess the mana cost relative to the card’s abilities, it becomes apparent that there are alternative creatures or spells in the same mana range that could potentially provide greater impact or flexibility within a match.

Reasons to Include Pardic Arsonist in Your Collection

Versatility: Pardic Arsonist can seamlessly integrate into a variety of red-centric or multicolored decks. The card’s direct damage ability makes it a formidable choice for aggressive strategies or as a removal tool in midrange decks.

Combo Potential: As a piece in intricate card interactions, its ability to deal damage can complement strategies centered around enablers of prowess and other damage amplification mechanics. This can potentially turn it into a game-ending threat.

Meta-Relevance: The ever-fluctuating MTG metagame often elevates the importance of versatile removal options. The Pardic Arsonist’s flexible damage output can become crucial in matchups where it’s essential to keep the board clear of specific threats or to finish off an opponent during a tight race.

How to beat

The Pardic Arsonist emerges as a noteworthy threat within the pantheon of red creatures in MTG. With its ability to pack a punch and potentially deal extra damage to opponents or planeswalkers, understanding how to counter this card can be crucial for maintaining an edge in the game. One of the most effective strategies to neutralize the Pardic Arsonist is by deploying early removal spells. Instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can swiftly take the Arsonist off the board before its damage dealing ability ramps up.

Beyond standard removal, control decks can manage the Arsonist by countering it before it ever touches the battlefield. Spells like Counterspell or Essence Scatter are powerful tools in ensuring the Arsonist’s ability never becomes a player’s downfall. Lastly, ensuring a lineup of creatures with higher toughness can also serve as a defensive bulwark against the Arsonist’s aggression, making it a less imposing presence on the battlefield and enabling a controlled and strategic path to victory.

Understanding the balance of removal, counters, and creature toughness is essential for any player facing a Pardic Arsonist. This approach allows for an adaptive game plan, keeping players one step ahead of this fiery adversary in MTG.

Cards like Pardic Arsonist

Pardic Arsonist joins the roster of damage-dealing creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It can easily be compared with cards like Pyre Charger, as both have the ability to ramp up damage with an investment of mana. Where the Arsonist requires a more significant initial cost, Pyre Charger offers a lower starting point but can incrementally increase its strength.

Another comparison brings in the Kiln Fiend, a creature that gets temporarily buffed with each instant or sorcery spell cast. While the Arsonist offers a steady option for consistent damage dealing, Kiln Fiend carries explosive potential but requires additional spells to shine. Then comes Guttersnipe, which deals a direct gut punch of damage to each opponent every time you cast an instant or sorcery, supporting a different style of play that rewards spell casting rather than direct attacks.

Evaluating these counterparts, Pardic Arsonist holds its ground with a different appeal, focusing on flexibility and steady pressure. It might not have the explosive turns of a Kiln Fiend or the constant threat of a Guttersnipe, but its power lies in its ability to adapt and pivot strategies throughout the progression of the game.

Cards similar to Pardic Arsonist by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pardic Arsonist MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Pardic Arsonist and other MTG cards: