Pyroceratops MTG Card


Pyroceratops - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental Dinosaur
Abilities Trample
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number130
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJason A. Engle

Key Takeaways

  1. Pyroceratops grows with noncreature spells, creating a larger threat with each cast.
  2. It fits well in spell-heavy decks and presents a recurrent danger to opponents.
  3. Despite mana costs and casting requirements, it offers great potential for powerful plays.

Text of card

Trample Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Pyroceratops.

"I always thought wizards were supposed to have owls or one-eyed cats for familiars, but flaming dinosaurs work, too."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyroceratops thrives in an environment where you’re casting multiple noncreature spells. Each spell not only boosts its power but also contributes to your overall card advantage by making Pyroceratops a more formidable threat without having to play additional creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Pyroceratops itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, it benefits greatly from spells that do. Spells that untap lands or generate additional mana can lead to a faster escalation in the creature’s size, allowing you to leverage your resources for both development and defense.

Instant Speed: Pyroceratops excels in decks designed around instant-speed interaction. It can grow unpredictably during your opponent’s turn, creating a shifting power dynamic and pressuring your adversary to answer or risk falling prey to its increasing strength. This reactive growth can turn the tide of the game, especially when combined with spells that draw cards or remove threats at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Pyroceratops necessitates careful hand management. Players who wish to make the most out of this creature must strategize their discards, which can be particularly challenging when hand size is already diminished.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a casting cost demanding red mana, Pyroceratops may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks. This limitation can stifle its integration into diverse mana-base strategies, potentially impeding deck versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Pyroceratops arrives on the battlefield with a relatively steep mana investment. Considering the creature’s initial stats, there are alternatives in the four-mana slot that bring more immediate board presence or offer additional utility which could lead to more favorable board states.


Reasons to Include Pyroceratops in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyroceratops is a dynamic addition to any deck looking to capitalize on casting multiple spells in a single turn. As it gains a +1/+1 counter with each noncreature spell you cast, it can rapidly become a formidable threat on the board.

Combo Potential: In decks built around spell-slinging, Pyroceratops shines. Each instant or sorcery not only contributes to your overall game plan but also turns Pyroceratops into an even larger creature, capable of delivering massive damage.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that don’t immediately address growing threats, Pyroceratops can take over the game. In metagames where longer turns and casting multiple spells are common, this card could easily become a key player in maintaining board presence and pressuring opponents.


How to beat

Pyroceratops thrives in MTG decks that concentrate on spell casting, especially those that utilize non-creature spells to trigger its ability. This formidable dinosaur excels in environments rich with instants and sorceries, as each cast allows it to gain a +1/+1 counter, boosting its power and toughness significantly. However, to tackle this creature effectively, consider using removal spells that can bypass its growing size. Instant speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dispatch Pyroceratops before it becomes too large to handle.

It’s also wise to disrupt the rhythm of a spell-heavy opponent. Counterspells can prevent the cast of key instants and sorceries, in turn preventing Pyroceratops from bulking up. Alternatively, employ board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the playing field. Keeping Pyroceratops off the board is an optimal strategy, so opt for exile effects or spells that prevent counter generation. If Pyroceratops does become a threat, using targeted spells like Cast Down or Dismember can prove invaluable. Ensuring you have a balanced mix of early-game interaction and late-game answers is key when facing this growing threat.


Cards like Pyroceratops

Pyroceratops thrives in spellcasting-centric decks within the MTG universe, akin to many creatures that grow as you cast noncreature spells. Its closest relative is likely the Enigma Drake, which shares the ability to accumulate power based on the number of spells within your graveyard. However, Pyroceratops gains a distinct advantage with its scaling power and toughness, allowing it to become a threat in both dimensions with each spell cast.

Another card that echoes this prowess-building mechanism is the Wee Dragonauts. While the Dragonauts gain a temporary boost with each instant or sorcery spell, Pyroceratops potently evolves with a permanent +1/+1 counter, providing a lasting impact on the board. Nivix Cyclops also follows this theme, though it only increases in power until the end of turn without impacting toughness.

Overall, Pyroceratops distinguishes itself with its ability to permanently grow stronger and tougher over time, a trait that, while shared to an extent by others, is uniquely maximized in this fiery dinosaur. Such characteristics make Pyroceratops a dynamic inclusion in spell-heavy red or Izzet decks, promising escalating power as the game advances.

Enigma Drake - MTG Card versions
Wee Dragonauts - MTG Card versions
Nivix Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Enigma Drake - Amonkhet (AKH)
Wee Dragonauts - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)
Nivix Cyclops - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyroceratops MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Pyroceratops and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyroceratops 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 Pyroceratops card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-04-17 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

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