Rage of Purphoros MTG Card


Rage of Purphoros - Theros
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Scry
Released2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set nameTheros
Set codeTHS
Number137
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMathias Kollros

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by handling threats and deploying creatures, which can tip the scales in your favor.
  2. Instant speed play enhances strategic flexibility, allowing reactions to changes within the game state.
  3. Can pose deckbuilding challenges due to its specific mana needs and potential card disadvantage.

Text of card

Rage of Purphoros deals 4 damage to target creature. It can't be regenerated this turn. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When casting Rage of Purphoros, players have the potential to deal with threats on the board while simultaneously introducing their own onto the battlefield. This can shift the momentum in their favor, effectively consolidating their lead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Rage of Purphoros offers an immediate boost by potentially unleashing creatures or powers locked within your hand or graveyard. This rapid deployment can overwhelm opponents who are not prepared for such a sudden surge in tempo.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of being able to cast Rage of Purphoros at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows savvy players to adapt to the evolving game state, dealing with imminent threats or making pivotal moves during the opponent’s turn. This strategic element introduces a layer of surprise and complexity to the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to Rage of Purphoros is that it necessitates discarding a card. This can potentially set you back, especially when your hand is already running low on options, thereby hindering your game plan and momentum.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mana arrangement to cast, including red mana. This stipulation can restrict its integration into multi-colored decks or ones that do not primarily use red mana, possibly causing inconsistencies in gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its effects, players may find themselves weighing the benefits of casting Rage of Purphoros against utilizing their mana for other impactful spells or creatures which could provide a greater advantage on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Rage of Purphoros in Your Collection

Versatility: Rage of Purphoros offers a flexible option for players, fitting seamlessly into red decks that prize damage spells. It can serve as both removal and a finisher, depending on your needs in-game.

Combo Potential: This card interacts well with strategies that benefit from spell casting or damage-dealing effects. Its ability to possibly remove an obstacle or diminish an opponent’s life total makes it a practical choice for synergistic deck builds.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the ever-evolving metagame, the relevance of effective burn spells remains high. Rage of Purphoros finds its place in environments where controlling the board and pacing the game with impactful plays is crucial.


How to beat Rage of Purphoros

Rage of Purphoros is a card that can quickly escalate a game in Magic: The Gathering with its potential for direct damage and possible creature removal. To effectively combat this card, a strategic approach is required. One method is to identify and deploy damage prevention or life gain spells. Cards like Healing Salve or Moment of Craving can mitigate the impact of direct damage, preserving your life total and keeping your creatures on the board.

Another tactic is to utilize counterspells to stop Rage of Purphoros before it can affect the battlefield. Consider cards like Negate or Mana Leak, which can be key in interrupting your opponent’s strategy. Additionally, efficiently managing your own threats and keeping a diverse array of creature abilities at hand can overwhelm the card’s one-time effect, allowing you to maintain an upper edge.

Countering Rage of Purphoros requires careful planning and a well-constructed deck focused on resilience and versatility. Success lies in anticipating the card’s deployment and having the right answers at the right time. By heeding these strategies, players can neutralize its impact and maintain their path to victory.


Cards like Rage of Purphoros

Rage of Purphoros is a red spell that exemplifies destruction and aggression in Magic: The Gathering. Like the famous Lightning Bolt, it delivers direct damage but with its own twist. While Lightning Bolt is known for its efficient one-mana cost for three damage, Rage of Purphoros has a different dynamic, offering a potential swath of damage depending on the number of creatures you control.

Another close relative in the MTG world is Flames of the Raze-Boar, which also dishes out damage with a variable outcome. Flames of the Raze-Boar can potentially inflict a more significant amount of damage to a single target, differing from Rage of Purphoros’s ability to spread the damage across multiple targets. Anger of the Gods is a spell that invites a comparison too. Although it clears the board with a flat three damage to all creatures, it doesn’t have the scalability or the direct player targeting that Rage of Purphoros offers.

Assessing them side by side, Rage of Purphoros may find its niche in decks that can reliably control a substantial number of creatures, enabling it to unleash considerable damage, which sets it apart from its MTG counterparts.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Raze-Boar - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Flames of the Raze-Boar - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Anger of the Gods - Theros (THS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rage of Purphoros MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Rage of Purphoros and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rage of Purphoros has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-09-15 If Rage of Purphoros resolves but the damage is redirected to a different creature or to a player, the target creature still won't be able to regenerate that turn. This is also true if the damage is prevented.
2013-09-15 Scry appears on some spells and abilities with one or more targets. If all of the spell or ability's targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't scry.
2013-09-15 When you scry, you may put all the cards you look at back on top of your library, you may put all of those cards on the bottom of your library, or you may put some of those cards on top and the rest of them on the bottom.
2013-09-15 You choose how to order cards returned to your library after scrying no matter where you put them.
2013-09-15 You perform the actions stated on a card in sequence. For some spells and abilities, that means you'll scry last. For others, that means you'll scry and then perform other actions.

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