[Free Article] A Portrait of the Pyromancer as a Young Man

[forests failed you]

Looking for Vintage decks featuring M2014's Young Pyromancer?

http://www.starcitygames.com/article/26568_Young-Pyromancer-In-Vintage.html

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Brian DeMars

[Guli]

Should the stonelade 4c fish have Young Pyromancer somewhere? Good read, thanks!

[PeAcH]

A very nice and interesting article on a new card that gives some room for creativity from several builder's points of view.

I really enjoyed it!

Well played, Sir

[DubDub]

It's funny that you didn't make the same comparison to Quirion Dryad that Steve/Kevin did in their podcast.  I thought the vertical (+1/+1 counters) versus horizontal (elemental tokens) dynamic was interesting to explore.  The more positive interactions with bounce like Jace and permanent counting things like Tangle Wire are crucial.  But you leapt straight to Empty the Warrens, which has a more similar 'horizontal effect', though it's less similar than Young Pyromancer and Dryad in their incrementality.

Anyway, I am in total agreement that Young Pyromancer is going to be a longtime staple in Vintage.  I'm looking forward to seeing the many ways it will be utilized.  It's going to be fun.

[forests failed you]

The 4c Fish deck is being updated, that was a typo.

I don't really think Dryad is a good comparison for Pyromancer.  They are similar to the clock they produce 1 spell = 1 damage per turn.  The problem is that a 1/1 is so much better than a +1/+1 counter.  There is so much more we can do with an extra permanent than with a counter boosting power and toughness.  I can't imagine that Quiron Dryad will ever be played in Vintage again as a result of this new card.

[DubDub]

I don't really think Dryad is a good comparison for Pyromancer.  They are similar to the clock they produce 1 spell = 1 damage per turn.  The problem is that a 1/1 is so much better than a +1/+1 counter.  There is so much more we can do with an extra permanent than with a counter boosting power and toughness.  I can't imagine that Quiron Dryad will ever be played in Vintage again as a result of this new card.

Oh I agree.  I was just thinking about the framework for discussion and how clearly this underscores that horizontal is preferable to vertical.

I mean, with Golgari Charm and Lightning Bolt it's possible that a single larger threat would be more durable, and you may desire a 9/9 Dryad to go over the top of Griselbrand to force no/bad blocks where a swarm doesn't present a problem etc., but the value of horizontal growth vastly outweighs these corner cases.

[vaughnbros]

Overall a great article.  I think you covered all the conventional bases where young pyromancer could see play, and you created starting point for someone looking to build around it.

The 4c Fish deck is being updated, that was a typo.

I did notice another editing issue as well.  There is a repetitive out of place paragraph about delver and young pyromancer being good together right before 4c fish list and then another one right after the delver list.

[forests failed you]

I don't really think Dryad is a good comparison for Pyromancer.  They are similar to the clock they produce 1 spell = 1 damage per turn.  The problem is that a 1/1 is so much better than a +1/+1 counter.  There is so much more we can do with an extra permanent than with a counter boosting power and toughness.  I can't imagine that Quiron Dryad will ever be played in Vintage again as a result of this new card.

Oh I agree.  I was just thinking about the framework for discussion and how clearly this underscores that horizontal is preferable to vertical.

I mean, with Golgari Charm and Lightning Bolt it's possible that a single larger threat would be more durable, and you may desire a 9/9 Dryad to go over the top of Griselbrand to force no/bad blocks where a swarm doesn't present a problem etc., but the value of horizontal growth vastly outweighs these corner cases.

That is a fair point and Dryad would have been a fine point for comparison.  It didn't really cross my mind because I guess I haven't considered Dryad to be a Vintage playable Magic card for years now.

My editor sent me an email saying the deck lists are updated now. 

[Bakalias]

The article was a really nice one, quite refreshing with different way to see this really nice new card, so thx.

I'll give him a try this sunday, and hopefully will be successfull.

If I may, however, there's still a problem on at least one of your decklists.
The U/R Delver list has got 19 SB cards, which is powerful but a bit much I would say. Could you please tell me what would be the 4 to cut?

Anyway, thx for the good work and please, please, keep going.

[forests failed you]

-2 Surgical Extraction
-2 Flusterstorm

[CHA1N5]

Good stuff. Love the variety of strategies you included.