Pyrokinesis MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Pyrokinesis offers card advantage and powerful board control without using mana by trading off another red card.
  2. Instant speed allows for unexpected plays, making Pyrokinesis a strategic tool for disrupting enemy tactics.
  3. The card’s drawbacks include a significant discard requirement and a potentially prohibitive mana cost.

Text of card

You may remove a red card in your hand from the game instead of paying Pyrokinesis's casting cost. Pyrokinesis deals 4 damage, divided any way you choose among any number of target creatures.

"Anybody want some . . . *toast*?" —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyrokinesis is a powerhouse in eliminating multiple threats at once without spending mana, allowing you to maintain card advantage while shaping the board to your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Though it doesn’t directly accelerate resources, Pyrokinesis frees up mana for other spells or abilities in the same turn, effectively speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be played at instant speed makes Pyrokinesis a versatile tool for disrupting your opponent’s strategy during their turn, protecting your permanents, or clearing the way for a decisive attack.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pyrokinesis demands that you throw away another red card just to cast it for free. In intense games, this could put you in a bind, reducing your hand and possibly leaving you without critical plays later on.

Specific Mana Cost: This card strictly needs red mana to activate its abilities, which can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks that might struggle to have the right mana at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Pyrokinesis can be quite powerful, it comes at a somewhat hefty total mana cost. An investment of four mana for a direct damage spell could possibly be directed towards more impactful or versatile cards, given the vast array of choices in Magic the Gathering.


Reasons to Include Pyrokinesis in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyrokinesis is a flexible card that not only acts as removal but can also be a surprise element against your opponent’s creatures. Its zero mana cost option, by discarding a red card, enables surprise plays and rapid board changes, suitable for various red-focused decks seeking control or tempo advantages.

Combo Potential: In decks that thrive on card synergy, Pyrokinesis works well with strategies that manipulate the graveyard. Cards that benefit from having specific card types in the graveyard or that allow you to retrieve cards back into your hand or onto the battlefield can turn Pyrokinesis from a one-off spell to part of a damaging recurring combo.

Meta-Relevance: Particularly effective in a meta filled with creature-heavy decks, Pyrokinesis can clear multiple threats at once without spending mana. This can tilt the game’s balance during critical turns, especially when resources are tight, and establishing board presence is crucial.


How to beat

Unleashing the raw destructive power of Pyrokinesis can be a defining moment in any Magic: The Gathering match. As a tool for removing multiple creatures without spending mana, it can swing games in your favor swiftly. However, even the most fiery spells have their Achilles’ heel. To outplay Pyrokinesis, consider the timing of your plays and the range of your threats. Diversified threats across different creature types can help mitigate the damage it can inflict, particularly if the creatures have toughness greater than 4 or possess abilities that prevent damage.

It’s essential to recognize that Pyrokinesis requires a nonland card to be exiled from your hand to cast it for free. This implies that if you can apply enough pressure or force your opponent to exhaust their hand, the efficiency of Pyrokinesis diminishes. Cards that provide player hexproof can render it virtually useless against you. Lastly, counterspells can also adeptly intercept it, ensuring that your board presence remains unharmed. Therefore, understanding the counters and playing around what your opponent might be holding is key to beating Pyrokinesis in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players seeking to enhance their gameplay will find Pyrokinesis an invaluable addition to their arsenal. With its potential to swiftly change the tides of battle, this card proves its worth in decks designed to maintain card advantage while disrupting opponent strategies. Whether you’re aiming to outmaneuver creature-heavy decks or incorporate it into intricate card synergies, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Pyrokinesis is vital. It’s not just about the card itself but also how you weave it into your strategic fabric. Deepen your understanding and refine your deck with our insights. Dive into the world of MTG strategy on BurnMana and optimize your play to secure victory after victory.


Cards like Pyrokinesis

Pyrokinesis, a removal staple in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, finds its kin in other free-cast spells like Fireblast. Both cards allow players to unleash powerful effects at no mana cost, with Pyrokinesis offering the ability to deal 4 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures for the cost of exiling a red card from your hand. Fireblast, however, demands a higher price by sacrificing two Mountains, but it hurls 4 damage directly at any target, a direct hit to either creature or player.

Likewise, the formidable Force of Will bears a resemblance to Pyrokinesis by allowing players to counter a spell without paying mana, instead paying the alternative cost of exiling a blue card from their hand and losing 1 life. What sets Pyrokinesis apart is its focus on widespread creature removal rather than countering spells, emblematic of red’s direct and aggressive play style.

Pyrokinesis also echoes with the more recent Skred, a snow spell that deals damage to a creature equal to the number of snow permanents you control. Unlike Pyrokinesis’s instant swiftness and flexibility, Skred is more synergistic in decks designed around snow lands and permanents. Comparing these cards highlights Pyrokinesis’s unique role as a flexible and quick answer to multiple threats on the board.

Fireblast - MTG Card versions
Force of Will - MTG Card versions
Skred - MTG Card versions
Fireblast - MTG Card versions
Force of Will - MTG Card versions
Skred - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pyrokinesis by color, type and mana cost

Fireblast - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Flame Javelin - MTG Card versions
Soulblast - MTG Card versions
Fiery Fall - MTG Card versions
Runeflare Trap - MTG Card versions
Stone Idol Trap - MTG Card versions
Thunderous Wrath - MTG Card versions
Explosive Impact - MTG Card versions
Blastfire Bolt - MTG Card versions
Steamfloggery - MTG Card versions
Diabolical Salvation - MTG Card versions
Inescapable Blaze - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Raze-Boar - MTG Card versions
Shatter the Source - MTG Card versions
Fireblast - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Flame Javelin - MTG Card versions
Soulblast - MTG Card versions
Fiery Fall - MTG Card versions
Runeflare Trap - MTG Card versions
Stone Idol Trap - MTG Card versions
Thunderous Wrath - MTG Card versions
Explosive Impact - MTG Card versions
Blastfire Bolt - MTG Card versions
Steamfloggery - MTG Card versions
Diabolical Salvation - MTG Card versions
Inescapable Blaze - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Raze-Boar - MTG Card versions
Shatter the Source - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyrokinesis MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Pyrokinesis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pyrokinesis Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-06-10AlliancesALL 781993NormalBlackRon Spencer
21997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm78sb1997NormalGoldRon Spencer
31997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm781997NormalGoldRon Spencer
42002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 436402003NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
52008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1471997NormalBlackRon Spencer
62013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 322003NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
72016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 1432015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyrokinesis has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-06-08 Each target must be assigned at least 1 damage.
2016-06-08 If another effect causes Pyrokinesis to cost more, you must pay that additional cost even if you pay its alternative cost.
2016-06-08 You divide the damage as you cast Pyrokinesis, not as it resolves. If any of the targets become illegal, damage is dealt to the other targets as originally assigned. If all targets are illegal, Pyrokinesis doesn’t resolve.

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