Final Punishment MTG Card

Final Punishment offers instant speed versatility, crucial for strategic play during opponent turns. The card can enforce swift game closure by neutralizing life gain and setting life totals. Despite its power, it requires tactical hand and mana management due to inherent drawbacks.

Scourge (SCG)
2003-05-26 - Number 67

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 131

Ninth Edition (9ED)
2005-07-29 - Number 131★

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Target player loses life equal to the damage already dealt to him or her this turn.

The pain of a lifetime—every scrape, illness, and bruise—condensed into a single moment.

Cards like Final Punishment

Final Punishment is a unique spell in Magic: The Gathering, offering a potent finisher in games where life totals can be used strategically. When examined alongside similar cards, it draws comparisons to Exsanguinate. Both cards provide a means to drain life from opponents, however, Final Punishment differs as it sets an opponents life total to a specific number, often low, regardless of their current life. This makes it less flexible than Exsanguinate, which can be scaled with the amount of mana invested into it.

Another comparable card is Sorin’s Vengeance, which also directs damage while giving the caster a life boost, but Final Punishment does not have the life gain aspect. Unlike Sorin’s Vengeance, it provides a more definitive approach to dealing with high life totals. Lastly, there is Toxic Deluge, which can clear the board for a life cost, contrasting with Final Punishment which targets life totals directly.

Final Punishment stands out for its ability to bypass traditional damage mitigation, by setting an opponent’s life, demonstrating its unique role in controlling game outcomes.

Cards similar to Final Punishment by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Final Punishment can significantly alter the board state by dealing damage to creatures or players, which can lead to a collective card advantage when opponents lose multiple cards to a single spell.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly influencing mana, its cast can be a decisive play, leading to accelerated game closure by bypassing life-gain effects and defenses.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Final Punishment at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing players to make strategic decisions during the opponent’s turn and respond to threats immediately.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Incorporating Final Punishment into your deck comes with a notable drawback as it demands the player to discard a card, diminishing hand advantage which is particularly detrimental during the late game or in situations where card availability is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating a strict combination of black and generic mana to cast, this card can impose restrictions on deck diversity, potentially thwarting synergy in multicolored decks less focused on black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value leaning towards the higher end of the spectrum, the card may be outclassed by alternatives that achieve similar or better outcomes at a lower mana investment, challenging its utility in fast-paced or mana-efficient strategies.

Reasons to Include Final Punishment in Your Collection

Versatility: Final Punishment can serve as a crucial piece in control decks or any strategy looking to regulate life totals. Its ability to set an opponent’s life to a specific value regardless of their previous total makes it a versatile finisher.

Combo Potential: Pairing this card with effects that allow you to deal damage or manipulate life totals earlier in the turn can create game-ending combinations. Implementing it in decks that soften up the opposition allows for a swift conclusion.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where gaining massive life is common, Final Punishment shines by negating such strategies and providing a level playing field. Its relevance grows as it counters decks focused on life gain and sustained play.

How to beat Final Punishment

Final Punishment stands out as a unique force in core MTG gameplay, setting itself apart with an ability that can turn the tides of a match. This card epitomizes the concept of high-risk, high-reward as it can drastically reduce an opponent’s life total based on the amount of damage received during the turn. Unlike other cards that provide life gain or prevent damage, Final Punishment ensures that the damage sticks—a significant difference.

To counteract Final Punishment, players need to adopt a strategy focused on damage mitigation and preventative measures throughout the game. Key tactics include the utilization of damage prevention spells, life gain mechanics, and maintaining a stable board presence to deflect potential harm. Consider cards like Healing Salve or Intervention Pact, which can thwart the looming threat of accumulated damage, thereby blunting the impact of Final Punishment. Additionally, controlling the pace of the game and refraining from overextending on the battlefield can diminish the power of Final Punishment by reducing the potential damage it can leverage.

When examining its strategic position within MTG, it’s clear why a thoughtful and preemptive game plan is essential for players facing the potential wrath of Final Punishment. Fortunately, with smart play and well-timed responses, this powerful card’s effect can be effectively neutralized.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Final Punishment MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Ninth Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Final Punishment and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Final Punishment Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Matt Thompson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2003-05-26	Scourge	SCG	67	1997	Normal	Black	Matt Thompson
2	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	131	2003	Normal	White	Matt Thompson
3	2005-07-29	Ninth Edition	9ED	131★	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Thompson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Final Punishment has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Final Punishment card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Damage that is prevented does not count toward the total.