Punishing Fire

Instant    (CMC:2)

Punishing Fire deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Whenever an opponent gains life, you may pay . If you do, return Punishing Fire from your graveyard to your hand.

131 CMD • ENChristopher Moeller

™ & © 1993—2011 Wizards of the Coast

Legal in: Zendikar Block,Legacy,Vintage,Freeform,Prismatic,Tribal Wars Legacy,Classic,Singleton 100,Commander

Oracle Text (click to copy):

Punishing Fire {1}{R} Instant Punishing Fire deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Whenever an opponent gains life, you may pay {R}. If you do, return Punishing Fire from your graveyard to your hand.

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View this MTG card on Gatherer

10/1/2009
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.
10/1/2009
You choose whether to pay  as the triggered ability resolves.
10/1/2009
If Punishing Fire has left your graveyard by the time its triggered ability resolves, you may still pay , 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.

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