Pyromancer's Swath MTG Card


Pyromancer’s Swath can swiftly tilt the game by increasing the damage spells inflict upon adversaries. Though it demands specific deck construction, its effect on spells adds significant pressure on the battlefield. While powerful, the enforced hand discard at turn’s end poses a substantial strategic challenge for players.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

If an instant or sorcery source you control would deal damage to a creature or player, it deals that much damage plus 2 to that creature or player instead. At end of turn, discard your hand.


Cards like Pyromancer's Swath

Pyromancer’s Swath is an intriguing piece of the Magic: The Gathering puzzle that stands out among damage amplifiers. In its league, we have Furnace of Rath which also doubles the damage to opponents. Yet, Pyromancer’s Swath goes a step beyond by increasing the damage spells players cast, but at the cost of discarding your hand at the end of the turn. This creates an exciting push for a devastating single-turn impact.

Another comparable card is Fiery Emancipation, which triples the damage dealt by your sources to any target. Though the mana cost is significantly higher than Pyromancer’s Swath, the fact that there’s no hand discard downside can make it a more sustainable option in some decks. Compare these to Dictate of the Twin Gods, sharing a similar effect to Furnace of Rath but with Flash, which allows it to surprise opponents and potentially change the game outcome in an instant.

Ultimately, Pyromancer’s Swath thrives in a setting where spellslingers aim to unload their damage in one explosive turn. It requires a more careful strategy compared to its counterparts, which may offer a bit more flexibility or leniency in their damage amplification effects.

Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Fiery Emancipation - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Furnace of Rath - MTG Card versions
Fiery Emancipation - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pyromancer's Swath by color, type and mana cost

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Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions
Draconic Destiny - MTG Card versions
Mechanized Warfare - MTG Card versions
Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
Fatal Attraction - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pyromancer’s Swath significantly boosts the damage of spells leading to a potential quick depletion of your opponent’s life total, providing an overwhelming advantage. This turns every burn spell into a potential game-ender, especially when you’re aiming to finish off an opponent in one fell swoop. It transforms your direct damage spells into highly efficient removal tools as well, helping you maintain control over the game state.

Resource Acceleration: While Pyromancer’s Swath doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana, it accelerates the potential damage output. This card amplifies the power of each red spell you cast, essentially saving you mana in the context of achieving a certain amount of damage quicker than you would with the spells alone. It’s a form of accelerative force within MTG’s red-centered archetypes focused on burning down opponents swiftly.

Instant Speed: While Pyromancer’s Swath itself is an enchantment that does not operate at instant speed, it empowers your instant-speed burn spells. Casting a Lightning Bolt with Pyromancer’s Swath on the field can surprise an unwary opponent with an immediate and devastating influx of damage, swinging the game in your favor at any given moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pyromancer’s Swath comes with a significant downside of discarding your entire hand at the end of the turn. This could pose a major setback if you haven’t utilized all your cards effectively, leaving you at a potential card disadvantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The enchantment requires both generic and red mana to cast. While the red mana is thematic for a Pyromancer’s toolkit, it necessitates a focused deck build, restricting its use to red-centric or red-friendly decks and making it less versatile across the broader MTG meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana—specifically one generic and two red—places Pyromancer’s Swath on the higher end for an enchantment of its type. This can make early game plays less efficient, especially when you might want to use mana for setting up your board or using other spells that enable your strategy sooner in the game.


Reasons to Include Pyromancer’s Swath in Your Collection

Versatility: Pyromancer’s Swath is a unique enchantment that can find a home in a variety of red-based decks. With its ability to increase the damage output of instant and sorcery spells, it enhances decks that focus on spell-slinging and burn tactics.

Combo Potential: This card is notorious for its combination with spells like Grapeshot or a kicked Comet Storm. After a flurry of spells, using one of these in conjunction with the Swath can end a game quickly by multiplying the damage dealt to opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where life totals can swing massively and quickly, Pyromancer’s Swath can be a game-changer. It’s particularly relevant in metas where aggressive strategies dominate, allowing you to outpace other damage-dealing decks.


How to beat

Pyromancer’s Swath is a notorious card that can amplify damage spells in Magic: The Gathering, turning even the smallest burn spell into a roaring inferno. To effectively neutralize its impact, one strategy is to target the Swath itself with enchantment removal spells. A timely Disenchant or Nature’s Claim can take it off the board before it fuels a game-ending combo. Another approach is to put pressure on the Swath’s controller, forcing them to use their spells defensively rather than saving them to combo off.

It can also be wise to manage the spells in your hand carefully, making the most out of counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto to thwart the opponent’s key burn spells. Remember that Pyromancer’s Swath will force its controller to discard their hand at the end of turn, so timing your disruption to leave them handless can be quite effective. Finally, cards that gain you life or create a barrier against non-combat damage, such as Weather the Storm or Dragon’s Claw, can mitigate the amplified damage that Pyromancer’s Swath aims to inflict, giving you the resilience needed to outlast its fiery onslaught.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pyromancer's Swath MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Modern Masters, 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 Swath and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pyromancer's Swath Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by Hideaki Takamura.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-05-04Future SightFUT 1042003NormalBlackHideaki Takamura
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1252003NormalBlackHideaki Takamura

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pyromancer's Swath has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2007-05-01 If all damage from a source is prevented (because of Pay No Heed, for example) or if a source would deal 0 damage, the effect of Pyromancer’s Swath will not apply as that source is no longer dealing damage.
2007-05-01 If damage is being dealt to multiple creatures and/or players at the same time, the damage being dealt to each one is increased by 2.
2007-05-01 Pyromancer’s Swath doesn’t change the source or recipient of the damage.