Organ Grinder MTG Card


Graveyard utilization turns lost creatures into direct damage, enhancing your strategic depth and resource usage. Instant speed activation of Organ Grinder increases flexibility and tactical surprise during gameplay. Requires black mana and ample creatures in the graveyard, limiting its use to specific deck types.
Organ Grinder - Torment
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Released2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameTorment
Set codeTOR
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number75
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAdam Rex

Text of card

oc T, Remove three cards in your graveyard from the game: Target player loses 3 life.

It knows what makes you tick. It knows how to make the ticking stop.


Cards like Organ Grinder

Organ Grinder enters the realm of black mana creatures with an intriguing ability to extract value from the graveyard. It shares this characteristic with the well-known Nantuko Shade, which can also benefit from cards in the graveyard by pumping its power. Unlike Nantuko Shade, Organ Grinder doesn’t bolster its own stats but instead directs its advantage outward, dealing damage to opponents or creatures.

Another cousin in this thematic group is Balthor the Defiled, who also manipulates the graveyard but with a different approach. Balthor allows for mass reanimation of black and red creatures, giving the player a potential army in exchange for a substantial mana investment. Organ Grinder, in contrast, requires no such sweeping setup, opting for a more incremental, targeted approach to graveyard utility.

Taking into account the various tactical approaches each of these cards presents, Organ Grinder finds its own niche. It satisfies users who seek to capitalize on graveyard interplay while offering steady damage output, making it a uniquely versatile asset in Magic: The Gathering’s array of black mana creatures.

Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Balthor the Defiled - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Balthor the Defiled - MTG Card versions

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Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Organ Grinder itself does not directly enable you to draw additional cards, it offers strategic depth by turning graveyard resources into direct damage, effectively making each creature card in your graveyard an extension of your hand’s potential.

Resource Acceleration: Organ Grinder helps you leverage graveyard resources without expending additional mana. By converting creatures in the graveyard to incremental damage, the card accelerates your resource utilization, and indirectly, your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Organ Grinder’s activated ability at instant speed provides flexibility. React during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their end step to optimize your strategy and maintain the element of surprise, making it harder for opponents to anticipate and preempt your plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Organ Grinder compels players to discard creatures from their graveyard to activate its ability. This prerequisite can be cumbersome if your graveyard lacks sufficient creature cards, effectively neutering the card’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Organ Grinder, one needs black mana, which confines its integration mostly to mono-black or multicolor decks that include black. Decks without black mana sources will find this card incompatible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two black, Organ Grinder may be seen as a considerable investment for its damage-dealing effect. Other cards at the same mana level might provide more immediate or versatile effects, making Organ Grinder a less optimal choice in some strategic scenarios.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Organ Grinder presents a unique layer of adaptability to any deck that hinges on graveyard mechanics. As a source of direct damage, it seamlessly integrates into black’s arsenal, commonly paired with discard or sacrifice strategies.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in conjunction with cards that fill the graveyard, amplifying its potential for targeted removal or finishing an opponent. With the right setup, it becomes not just a creature, but a game-ending asset.

Meta-Relevance: In a game-state where reanimation or graveyard synergy is prevalent, Organ Grinder gains value. Its ability to disrupt graveyard-based strategies while posing a threat can give you a crucial edge in matches.


How to beat

Organ Grinder presents a unique challenge when facing it across the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that can directly target a player’s life total, nullifying its threat becomes essential. Understanding how to dismantle Organ Grinder’s effectiveness lies in recognizing its dependency on graveyard resources. Without a sufficient number of creatures in the graveyard, its power is notably diminished. Strategic graveyard management, such as exiling creatures or employing graveyard hate cards, renders Organ Grinder’s ability inconsequential.

It’s crucial to deploy removal spells swiftly before your opponent can capitalize on Organ Grinder’s potential. Another tack is to include creatures that benefit from hitting the graveyard, turning a potential disadvantage into a boon for your strategy. Moreover, countering Organ Grinder when it first hits the stack ensures that the lingering threat it poses is completely avoided. The card’s impact is intricately tied to the state of the graveyard. Hence, controlling the game’s flow and the contents of both players’ graveyards is key in outmaneuvering Organ Grinder’s grim mechanics. With the right approach, you can minimize its influence and maintain dominance in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Organ Grinder MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Organ Grinder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Organ Grinder has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal