Punishing Fire
ZENZendikar/#142/2009Uncommon
Colour IDMV 2
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$0.35
Cardmarket€0.41
ManaPool$0.15
TCGplayer$0.33
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$0.02
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.03 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $0.35High $0.35Low $0.35▲ 0.0%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$0.33TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▲ 0.0%30d▼ 2.9%90d▲ 6.5%
90d high
$0.35
90d low
$0.31
Paper printings priced
4
Currently 2nd
Cheapest paper printing
$0.23
The List
- Down 2.9% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 6% below its 90 day high of $0.35.
- This printing is the 2nd cheapest paper printing currently priced (4 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 5345% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
Collect
Play
Compare printings (4 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Instant
Punishing Fire deals 2 damage to any target.
Whenever an opponent gains life, you may pay . If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.
Card capabilities
Graveyard interactionInstant
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Digital formats
Rulings (3)
wotc1 Oct 2009
You choose whether to pay {R} as the triggered ability resolves.
wotc1 Oct 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.
wotc1 Oct 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.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantSame colour identity
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantSame colour identity
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantSame colour identity
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantOverlapping colour identity
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantMV 1 vs 2
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantMV 3 vs 2
Shares Graveyard interaction, InstantMV 2 vs 2
About this card
Punishing Fire
Punishing Fire is an Instant, with mana cost {1}{R} (mana value 2). Printed 4 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: banned, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: not_legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $0.33 (down 2.9% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Punishing Fire FAQ
How much is Punishing Fire worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Punishing Fire is $0.33. It is down 2.9% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $0.31 to $0.35.
What is the cheapest printing of Punishing Fire?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from The List at $0.23 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Punishing Fire?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons at $0.42 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Punishing Fire are there?
Punishing Fire has been printed 4 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Punishing Fire first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from ZEN #142, released 2009-10-02.
What is the newest printing of Punishing Fire?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from PLST #DDG-66, released 2024-08-02.
Is there a foil version of Punishing Fire?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $17.97 versus $0.33 for nonfoil, which is 5345% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Punishing Fire legal in Commander?
Yes, Punishing Fire is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.