Pyromancer's Assault MTG Card

Pyromancer's Assault - Oath of the Gatewatch

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Number	115
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Todd Lockwood

Key Takeaways

Pyromancer’s Assault enables sustained damage and strategic play by rewarding frequent spell casting.
It demands a specific mana pool and consistent spell flow, posing both a tactical challenge and opportunity.
Versatile in red-centric decks, it combines well with fast spells and prowess for powerful synergies.

Text of card

Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, Pyromancer's Assault deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Never ask a pyromancer if that's the best she's got.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyromancer’s Assault is recognized for its unique ability to grant you repeatable damage output, essentially furnishing continuous card advantage. Imagine pairing it with a flurry of spells per turn – that’s several shots to whittle down an opponent without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While this fiery enchantment doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure, it does amplify the speed at which you can affect the board. By enabling an additional damage source each turn, you’re effectively accelerating your game plan and consolidating your resources toward your aggressive strategy.

Instant Speed: The real charm of Pyromancer’s Assault lies in its synergy with instant-speed spells. Launching spells on your turn followed by quick instants on your opponent’s turn racks up the triggers, unleashing multiple bursts of damage and keeping the pressure dialed up while maximizing the effect of every card played.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: On the surface, Pyromancer’s Assault can be a powerful card for spell-heavy decks, but it does come with drawbacks, including a necessity for a consistent stream of spells to trigger its ability. This demand can often lead to a depletion of your hand, which, if not managed properly, can leave you at a disadvantage without the necessary cards to maintain pressure or respond to opponents’ threats.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana requirements for Pyromancer’s Assault are very specific, needing two red and two generic mana to be cast. This specificity can pose a restriction on deck-building, making it less flexible and requiring a commitment to red mana sources, which might not always align with a player’s strategy or deck archetype. Players not running a red-centric or red-compatible deck might find this card hard to integrate effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Pyromancer’s Assault is on the higher end of the mana curve for an enchantment that requires further investment to reap benefits. There are cards at similar or lower mana costs that could potentially provide more immediate impact on the game or have a lower threshold to trigger their effects, which could be considered over this enchantment in a tightly curated deck list.

Reasons to Include Pyromancer’s Assault in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyromancer’s Assault is a robust addition to a range of red strategies, particularly useful in decks that cast multiple spells each turn, allowing for repeated damage to opponents or creatures.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with low-cost spells or prowess mechanics, transforming an ordinary spell-slinging turn into a barrage of damage, intensifying the assault on your adversary.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where slower, grindy games prevail, Pyromancer’s Assault provides consistent pressure and chip damage, potentially tipping the scales in your favor over the course of a match.

How to beat

Cracking the code to effectively counter Pyromancer’s Assault in your MTG duels hinges on disrupting the rhythm of your opponent’s spells. This enchantment thrives in decks designed to cast multiple spells each turn, carving a path to inevitable damage against your life total. To neutralize its fiery onslaught, consider adopting strategies that limit spell casting or remove the enchantment directly from the battlefield.

Denying your opponent the ability to perform consecutive spells is key. Countermagic like Negate or Dispel can halt important triggers, while board wipes clear the slate of pesky creatures that fuel those spells. Disenchant effects also shine here; cards like Naturalize or Disenchant itself can remove Pyromancer’s Assault, dousing the flames before they spread. Alternatively, focusing on aggressive early game tactics can pressure your adversary, leaving them to play defense rather than chaining spell after spell to activate Pyromancer’s Assault.

In essence, either take a proactive stance with enchantment removal and counterspells or outpace the Pyromancer’s Assault by ramping up your offensive game early. Firmly understanding the matchups and meta allows you to select the right tools to keep this card, and any similar threats, in check during your MTG battles.

Cards like Pyromancer's Assault

Pyromancer’s Assault is an intriguing enchantment that MTG players often compare to other damage-dealing cards in the game. It shares similarities with cards like Thermo-Alchemist, which also rewards players for casting multiple spells by dealing damage to opponents.

Looking at Guttersnipe, another analogous card, we see that it, too, causes damage whenever you cast an instant or sorcery, but without the requirement of needing to cast multiple spells in one turn. Conversely, Pyromancer’s Assault necessitates the casting of at least two spells to trigger its ability. While it requires more effort to activate, once unleashed, it can deal consistent damage turn after turn.

Swapping gears, we can’t overlook Young Pyromancer, a creature card that lacks direct damage ability but instead creates 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens with each instant or sorcery spell cast. Though the latter doesn’t deal damage directly, the potential board presence it can build is noteworthy. Each card boasts its unique approach, but for players aiming to control the game with repeated damage, Pyromancer’s Assault remains a solid choice for causing persistent trouble for opponents in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyromancer's Assault MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Pyromancer's Assault and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyromancer's Assault has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-01-22	The ability can trigger only once each turn. The ability will resolve before the second spell resolves. It doesn’t matter if the first spell you cast that turn has resolved, was countered, or is still on the stack.