Pyrophobia
Sorcery
Pyrophobia deals 3 damage to target creature. Cowards can't block this turn.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Foundations Jumpstart
- Price
- $0.08
- EDHREC rank
- #22195
Pyrophobia deals 3 damage to target creature and replaces itself — that's a removal spell with zero card-disadvantage stapled on. In Gornog, the Red Reaper decks, where you want to be pointing damage at creatures constantly to trigger your commander's ability, this is exactly the kind of efficient cantripping removal that keeps the engine running.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Gornog, the Red Reaper
Gornog, the Red Reaper rewards you every time you deal damage to creatures, so Pyrophobia pulls double duty — it kills a blocker and draws you a card while triggering Gornog's ability, making it one of the most efficient single cards the deck can run.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Pyrophobia earns its slot in any red deck that wants cheap, cantripping removal — the card-replacement means it's never a true resource loss, which matters in a format where card advantage is scarce for mono-red. In Pauper, three damage at instant speed that replaces itself is a legitimate rate; it sits behind Lightning Bolt in the hierarchy but ahead of most alternatives at common. Legacy and Vintage have access to so much broken interaction that Pyrophobia rarely competes, though a cantripping burn spell technically has a home in any format that lets you run it. Modern has pushed the ceiling on efficient removal high enough that three damage for two mana with a draw stapled on is borderline playable, especially in budget lists.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.08 bulk tier
At $0.08, Pyrophobia is deep bulk — you'll find it in the dollar box at any game store without looking hard. Bulk cantrips rarely climb in price unless a commander breaks out and creates sudden demand, so treat this as a cheap, stable pickup rather than anything to speculate on.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Gornog, the Red Reaper
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.