I finally got my hands on the loyal to none firework last July, and honestly, it lived up to every bit of the hype I'd been hearing on the forums. If you've spent any time looking at 500-gram cakes, you know the name. It's one of those legendary pieces that people hunt for when the tents start popping up in late June. It isn't just another box of sparks; it has a reputation for being one of the most aggressive, high-performance consumer fireworks you can legally buy without a professional license.
What I love about this particular cake is the attitude. The name itself—Loyal to None—pretty much tells you everything you need to know about its performance. It's chaotic, loud, and doesn't stick to just one style. It's a 33-shot heavy hitter that fills the sky in a way that makes your neighbors wonder if you actually have a permit for this stuff. If you're looking to add some serious "oomph" to your backyard show, this is usually the go-to recommendation.
Why this cake stands out from the crowd
There are thousands of cakes on the market, but the loyal to none firework has stayed a fan favorite for years for a few specific reasons. First off, it's a Brothers Pyrotechnics classic. If you know anything about the industry, you know Brothers usually sets the bar for 500g cakes. They don't just pack them with filler; they maximize the powder weight to ensure the breaks are huge.
The firing pattern is what really gets people. It isn't just a vertical "thump-thump-thump" kind of show. It uses a fan-shaped firing sequence, which means it shoots off at angles to cover a wider portion of the horizon. This is a big deal if you're trying to create a "professional" look. Instead of a single point of light in the sky, you get this massive wall of color that stretches across your field of vision. It's the difference between watching a movie on an old tube TV and seeing it in IMAX.
The visual experience
When you light the fuse, you get a few seconds of anticipation before it starts its rhythm. It starts with these beautiful, thick gold brocade crowns. If you aren't familiar with the term, think of those long-lasting, shimmering gold trails that look like they're dripping from the sky. It's a very elegant effect, but don't let that fool you—it gets loud fast.
The loyal to none firework loves to mix in these vivid blue stars and silver glitter. The contrast between the deep gold and the bright blue is one of the best color combinations in pyrotechnics. But the real crowd-pleaser is the crackle. It's got this "dragon egg" effect where the sky just fills up with thousands of tiny, popping white sparks. By the time it hits the finale, it's firing multiple shots at once in a frantic, wide-angle burst that usually results in a lot of "woah" from whoever is watching.
How to fit it into your display
One mistake a lot of people make is just lighting off their best stuff at the very beginning or the very end without any thought to the pacing. Because the loyal to none firework is so wide and intense, I usually suggest placing it toward the end of your "main body" or right before your actual finale.
If you use it too early, everything else you light afterward might feel a bit small and underwhelming. It's a tough act to follow. I like to pair it with some smaller 200g cakes that have similar colors—maybe some gold and blue fountains or shells—to build the tension. Then, when the crowd thinks they've seen the peak, you drop the Loyal to None.
Since it's a fan cake, you also have to think about your "stage." You need more horizontal room than you do with a standard vertical cake. If you're in a tight spot with trees on either side, those angled shots might end up hitting a branch, which is a quick way to ruin the night (and potentially start a fire). Give this bad boy plenty of clearance. I'd say at least 150 to 200 feet of open width if you want to see the full spread safely.
Safety and setup tips
Let's talk about the practical side of things. The loyal to none firework is a 500-gram cake, which is the maximum amount of pyrotechnic composition allowed for consumer-grade fireworks in the United States. That means it's heavy. When you take it out of the box, you'll notice it has some decent weight to it, which is good for stability, but you still shouldn't just plop it on the grass and hope for the best.
Always secure your cakes. I can't stress this enough. These things have a lot of "recoil" when they fire. If the ground is uneven or the grass is thick, the vibrations can cause the cake to tip over after the first few shots. If a fan cake like this tips over while it's still firing, it's now a horizontal cannon firing shots at your audience or your house.
- Use bricks: Place a heavy brick on either side of the cake to keep it upright.
- Plywood base: If you're firing on grass, put down a sheet of plywood first. It gives the cake a flat, solid surface.
- Duct tape: If you have multiple cakes, you can tape them together or tape them to a board.
Also, keep a close eye on the fuse. Sometimes these larger cakes have a "reserve" fuse on the back. Do not light both at once unless you want the show to be over in ten seconds (and potentially overload the internal structure). Stick to the main fuse, give it a light, and get back at least 50-75 feet.
Is it worth the price?
Firework prices have been a bit of a roller coaster lately, and a premium 500g cake isn't exactly cheap. You're likely looking at anywhere from $40 to $80 depending on where you live and when you're buying. So, is the loyal to none firework actually worth that investment?
In my opinion, yes. If you're the kind of person who would rather have three high-quality, impressive pieces than twenty tiny, boring ones, this is your cake. It provides a level of "wow factor" that you just don't get from the cheaper assortments. It feels substantial. The booms are deeper, the colors are purer, and the timing is tighter.
I've seen plenty of "no-name" cakes that claim to be 500 grams but perform like 200-gram ones. With this one, you're getting what you paid for. It's a reliable performer. You aren't going to get a "dud" very often with Brothers stuff. They've been around forever for a reason.
Final thoughts on the experience
Every time I light one of these, I'm reminded why I love this hobby. There's something about that specific smell of sulfur and the way the ground vibrates during a heavy finale that just feels like summer. The loyal to none firework captures that feeling perfectly. It's chaotic, it's beautiful, and it's a little bit intimidating.
If you're planning your next show, do yourself a favor and see if your local shop has one in stock. It's the kind of firework that people remember. Long after the smoke has cleared and you're cleaning up the cardboard tubes the next morning, you'll still be thinking about those gold brocades and that final, deafening crackle. Just remember to stay safe, keep your distance, and maybe warn the neighbors before you unleash this thing. They'll definitely hear it coming.