Pain Kami MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 183
2005-08-22 - Number C28
2005-08-22 - Number C29
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice Pain Kami: Pain Kami deals X damage to target creature.
"All kami are our enemies now, A very tough lesson to learn. But it's one that's taken quickly, When you feel what it's like to burn!" —Ku-Ku, akki poet
Cards like Pain Kami
Pain Kami offers a unique skill set to the pantheon of spirit creatures within the realm of MTG. Its closest relatives in the gameplay include Kami of the Waning Moon and Ashen-Skin Zubera. Each card provides a special contribution to spirit tribal decks, but Pain Kami distinguishes itself with the ability to inflict direct damage to a player or creature, akin to Shock. In contrast, Kami of the Waning Moon empowers other spirits by providing them with fear, allowing them to become unblockable by colorless and non-black creatures. Ashen-Skin Zubera, when put into the graveyard from play, forces each opponent to discard a card.
Then there’s the infamous Frostwielder, sharing the same ability to directly pick off creatures or chip away at an opponent’s life total. However, Pain Kami requires a sacrifice for its power, bringing another layer of strategy in resource management. Frostwielder presents a slightly more sustainable removal feature with its tap ability, absent of the sacrifice requirement. This key distinction can influence the decision between using a self-sacrificing strategy or opting for repeatable control during gameplay.
When comparing impact and card synergy in MTG, Pain Kami holds a formidable position, especially in decks built around sacrifice and direct damage mechanics. Its potential to disrupt opponent strategies with precision damage sets it apart from similar spirit creatures.
Cards similar to Pain Kami by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pain Kami offers the ability to consistently affect the board state by forcing each player to discard a card. This effect can tilt the scales in your favor by reducing your opponents’ hand size while you may benefit from cards in your own graveyard.
Resource Acceleration: This spirit can also serve as a resource accelerator in decks designed to capitalize on graveyard mechanics. By filling your own graveyard, it effectively opens the door to reanimate strategies, or synergizes with cards that gain strength from a filled graveyard situation.
Instant Speed: The sacrifice ability of Pain Kami is usable at instant speed, making it highly versatile during gameplay. It allows you to react to your opponent’s moves, particularly in disrupting their strategy by forcing a discard at a critical moment, or utilizing death-triggered abilities on your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of the card is that it necessitates discarding another card from your hand to activate its ability. This can pose a setback, especially in situations where your hand size is dwindling and every card counts. It forces players to make potentially difficult decisions about resource management, possibly weakening their position if not properly timed.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost attached to this card includes a particular combination of mana colors which could potentially restrict its integration into multi-colored decks. Decks that don’t support the required mana types might find it challenging to tap into the full potential of this card, reducing its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the card’s capability may be intriguing, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other options available in the game. This can result in it being a less favorable choice in the early to mid-game when efficiency in mana expenditure is critical. Higher mana costs can hamper your ability to maintain tempo and respond to threats on the battlefield promptly.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Pain Kami is a flexible card that can be an asset in various deck archetypes, especially those that rely on sacrificing creatures to trigger beneficial effects or need a reliable way to deal with opponents’ creatures.
Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations, working well with mechanics like morbid or other effects that activate when a creature dies, pushing the potential of your synergies further.
Meta-Relevance: In a gaming environment filled with creature-centric decks, Pain Kami offers a repeatable source of creature control, maintaining relevance in a dynamic competitive scene.
How to beat
Pain Kami is a unique creature card capable of inflicting repeated damage to opponents in MTG. It’s notorious for its ability to chip away at an opponent’s life total, making it a persistent threat on the battlefield. Key to overcoming this challenge is to disrupt its presence effectively. Utilizing removal spells that can target creatures swiftly, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, allows you to deal with the kami before it can become too much of a nuisance. Moreover, enchantments like Pacifism can neutralize it without triggering its potential death-triggered abilities.
Another effective strategy involves countering the triggers and abilities that Pain Kami relies on. By including cards like Solemnity to prevent counters from being placed or utilizing instant-speed spells to negate activations, players can effectively silence its painful calls. It’s also beneficial to manage the game’s pace against a Pain Kami deck – ensuring that the board stays clear of other creature threats can mitigate the impact of its potential synergies and combos.
Finally, playing around Pain Kami’s strengths and adapting your deck to incorporate consistent removal or control elements is crucial. With the right approach, you can transform what might be a painful obstacle into just another manageable aspect of your strategy towards victory in MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pain Kami MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Pain Kami and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Pain Kami Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Tomas Giorello.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 183 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tomas Giorello | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | C28 | 2003 | Normal | White | Tomas Giorello | |
| 3 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | C29 | 2003 | Normal | White | Tomas Giorello |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pain Kami has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |