Coldsnap arrives this Summer, the long-lost
expansion set for Ice Age. Some people are
excited to see an expansion to Ice Age, one of
the oldest sets in Magic, and others (like
myself) are skeptical at best. However, if even
a fraction of the cards in Coldsnap have as long
a shelf life as Ice Age has, it will be a great
success. Pyroclasm is just such a card. Since it
was first printed in the Summer of 1995,
Pyroclasm has been the best choice for sweeping
the board of small creatures. All that for just
1R. Pyroclasm is a legitimate first pick in any
limited format in which it is a part. In
constructed formats, from Standard all the way
to Type 1.5, Pyroclasm continues to be an
important sideboard card for decks playing red.
This is an old staple that I was glad to see get
reprinted. It serves as a solid method of
creature removal. It always hold a decent trade
value, because it seems SOMEONE always needs
this card. Strange considering its just an
uncommon.
Pyroclasm -
From the very first time I saw Pyroclasm, I
loved it. Even back then (in Ice Age), it was a
very cool card. We had Earthquake, of course,
but sometimes Pyroclasm was just what was
needed. It's been a bane of weenie decks (black,
white or red) for a long time. It's
cost-effective in the extreme, capable of wiping
out many creatures for only two mana. It's
indiscriminate of flyers and untargetable
creatures. It only has one colored mana in the
cost, so it splashes well. And the Ice Age art
and flavor text are great. Pyroclasm has been a
sideboard staple more than 10 years, and I
expect it will continue to show up in
constructed tournaments as long as it's legal.
As for limited, any format where removal is good
(in other words - all formats) loves Pyroclasm.
An instant classic.
Constructed - 3.9
Casual - 3.5
Limited - 3.9
Christine
Gerhardt
Pyroclasm
An excellent card seeing a lot of constructed
play. Great for a quick board sweep for not a
lot of mana, especially against rush decks. Pyro
also sees the light of day in limited decks to
control the board a bit.
Constructed - 3.5
Casual - 2.5
Limited - 3.5
Scott
Gerhardt
Pyroclasm:
It’s hard to say enough good things about this
card. From a control aspect, the ability to wipe
a weenie deck clean for only 2 mana can be
absolutely devastating. At any point the control
red player can cast what often amounts to be a
Wrath of God, or sometimes more devastating, a
Plague Wind at his whim. Now in constructed this
card will seldom see main board play unless the
Metagame really calls for it, and even then, it
will generally need some more other burn support
to make it truly viable. This card, though, can
make entire genres of decks almost disappear
from the format simply because of it’s
prevalence and the sheer power it holds against
some decks.
In limited, it’s generally a pick 2-4 and will
make the main in 95% of all decks. Even if
you’re playing small creatures, it’s like a
Wrath of God you can play around. I’ve wrecked
and been wrecked in draft by this card more
times than I care to count.
Constructed: 4
Limited: 4.5
Secret Squirrel
Pyroclasm is a
really solid card. It doesn't target, and it'll
kill almost anything in the early game and may
help you again in the late game. With all of
white's pump spells (Glorious Anthem, Jitte) it
may lose some value in the late game, but even
at 2 for 1, it's still a great deal.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 3
Limited: 4
BMoor
Pyroclasm
The card that makes weenie rush and Saproling
decks quake in fear. The card that makes pro
players afraid to use Blood Moon against the
Urzatron. The Red Wrath of God. This card has
tremendous impact on any format it's legal in.
Casual, not so much, but still a force to be
reckoned with.
Constructed- 3.9
Casual-2.9
Limited- 4.9
