One of the best colorless sources of damage that
can be directed at a player or creature. Pyrite
Spellbomb follows in the family tree of
Aeliopile, a two casting cost artifact that
sacrificed for one colorless to deal two damage
to a creature or player. Aeliopile was better
because it could be played without any colored
mana, but Pyrite Spellbomb remains a memorable
card. In Mirrodin block limited, PLENTY of decks
had red as either a primary, secondary or splash
color. Players in those limited formats played
lots of cheap artifacts like this one simply to
help their artifact affinity. In constructed,
Pyrite Spellbomb made the scene in some good
builds of Affinity decks here and there. Pyrite
Spellbomb also BRIEFLY appeared in Goblin decks,
a good fit but usually nudged out in favor of a
more efficient card.
I think this card had its moment in the sun when
Silver Knight was running around and causing
Goblin decks all sorts of trouble. The ability
to generate a colorless source of damage has
always been something valued; just look at
Cursed Scroll and the legacy it left behind.
However, Pyrite Spellbomb is a one-time use
card, and you are essentially spending two mana
to produce two damage or to draw a single card.
Since Silver Knight has left the spotlight,
Pyrite Spellbomb has slowly been overshadowed by
other, better burn spells. Much like yesterday,
I'm not going to rate this card extremely high,
but I won't give it a terrible rating, either.
In limited, I put this card under the "Any
Removal Is Good Removal" category. It usually
won't turn the tide of the game, but
occasionally it makes a huge difference.
A nice card, and one that I always welcomed
seeing in my sealed or draft decks. At worst, it
can cycle (draw) for you in a pinch. At best, it
can remove a creature or hit a player. If you
are going even the least bit of Red, it is an
absolute inclusion in any limited deck.
In casual, it can find a place in burn or Sligh
decks.
