Printings
Punishing Fire
Card Information
Type: Instant
Mana Cost: 1
CMC: 2
Part of the Reserved List: No
Color Identity:
Set: Zendikar (ZEN)
Rarity: Uncommon
Collector Number: 142
Oracle Text
Punishing Fire deals 2 damage to any target. Whenever an opponent gains life, you may pay {R}. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.
Format Legalities
Card Rulings
- October 1, 2009
You choose whether to pay {R} as the triggered ability resolves.
Source: wotc - October 1, 2009
If Punishing Fire has left your graveyard by the time its triggered ability resolves, you may still pay {R}, but you won't return it to your hand. This is true even if Punishing Fire has left your graveyard and returned to it by the time its triggered ability resolves.
Source: wotc - October 1, 2009
Punishing Fire's triggered ability triggers only if it's already in your graveyard at the time an opponent gains life. For example, you can cast it in response to a spell or ability that will cause an opponent to gain life. In that case, Punishing Fire will resolve first, so it will be in the graveyard by the time the opponent gains life. However, if you wait until an opponent actually gains life and then cast Punishing Fire, you won't be able to return it to your hand at that time.
Source: wotc
Price History
To study a single card is to glimpse the heart of a spell - a frozen moment of ambition, artistry, and arcane intent. Within each glyph lies a spark: a story untold, a duel turned, a destiny altered. Treat it not as mere parchment, dear seeker, but as a shard of the Multiverse itself.