Fire Urchin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Trample
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Fire Urchin’s prowess ability incentivizes casting more spells, indirectly providing card advantage.
  2. Mana specificity may limit deck inclusion, despite its ability to increase tempo.
  3. Trample and synergy with instant spells make it a strong aggressive play option.

Text of card

Trample Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Fire Urchin gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

Rain runoff in the Smelting District is known to spontaneously burst into flame.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Fire Urchin’s prowess ability can function as an indirect form of card advantage. Each spell you cast not only contributes to your overall strategy but also makes the Fire Urchin a more threatening creature to contend with, potentially out-sizing the defender’s capabilities without expending additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While the Fire Urchin itself does not directly accelerate your resources, it demands an immediate answer from your opponents, allowing you to play a tempo game. This can lead to a resource advantage as it forces opponents to use their mana inefficiently.

Instant Speed: The Fire Urchin synergizes well with instant speed spells, as casting them during the combat phase can unpredictably increase its power, potentially turning the tide of battle in your favor without advance warning to your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Fire Urchin does not have a discard requirement, so this is not applicable.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to cast Fire Urchin is very specific, requiring both red and generic mana. This can potentially limit the types of decks it’s included in, particularly if you’re working towards a multicolored build and need more versatile mana options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not excessively costly, at two mana, players might find that Fire Urchin isn’t as efficient against cards with the same mana cost, especially considering its initial power and toughness of 1/3. In fast-paced games, the mana could be allocated towards more impactful creatures or spells that offer immediate board presence or utility.


Reasons to Include Fire Urchin in Your Collection

Versatility: Fire Urchin provides a red creature option that’s at home in aggressive strategies, with its Trample ability allowing it to sneak extra damage through the defenses.

Combo Potential: As a creature that gets stronger whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, it synergizes well with spell-heavy decks that aim to cast multiple spells in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where fast, prowess-like mechanics thrive, Fire Urchin can be a powerful addition to any deck that aims to quickly overwhelm opponents with a flurry of spells and combat damage.


How to beat

Fire Urchin is a card that can be a persistent thorn in an opponent’s side if not dealt with promptly in Magic: The Gathering. This creature is known for its prowess ability, which gives it an additional power boost whenever you cast a noncreature spell during your turn. Although it may appear formidable at first, there are several strategies to outmaneuver this fiery adversary.

One of the simplest ways to defeat Fire Urchin is through the use of removal spells. Given its modest toughness, a straightforward Shock or Fatal Push can send the Urchin packing before it can make a significant impact on the board. Another technique is to prevent it from getting triggered in the first place by countering key noncreature spells that your opponent casts, thus keeping its power in check. Cards like Essence Scatter or Negate are prime examples of how to interfere with your opponent’s game plan. In addition, placing blockers with higher toughness can deter attacks from a powered-up Fire Urchin, as it rarely achieves overwhelming strength. Keep your strategizing sharp and your reflexes sharper, and this pesky creature will be reduced to embers in no time.


Cards like Fire Urchin

Exploring the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Fire Urchin is known for its functionality in red spellslinger decks. Analogous to this feisty little 2-mana card is the prowess-enabled creature, Spellgorger Weird. While both cards benefit from the casting of noncreature spells, the Weird gains a permanent +1/+1 counter, whereas Fire Urchin sees a temporary power boost during your turn only.

Comparing both, it’s evident each card has its situational advantages. Fire Urchin’s trample allows excess damage to spill over to opponents, making it a threat even when blocked. Monastery Swiftspear, another kin in this category, also has prowess and haste, offering a quicker but less durable option for the red deck enthusiasts. It’s excellent at delivering fast, early blows but lacks the staying power without the continuous casting of spells.

For those who consider the synergy of spells and creatures, Fire Urchin proves its merit when chained with numerous spells, forcing opponents to face a potentially overwhelming attacker on your turn. While it doesn’t grow indefinitely like its relatives, its immediate impact on the board can apply significant pressure in the right setup.

Spellgorger Weird - MTG Card versions
Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions
Spellgorger Weird - MTG Card versions
Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions

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Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fire Urchin MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica: Clue Edition, 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 Fire Urchin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fire Urchin Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1012015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1332015NormalBlackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fire Urchin has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-10-05 Fire Urchin’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

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