Pain Magnification MTG Card


Convert damage into card advantage, disrupting opponents’ strategic options and resources. Indirectly influences game pace by imposing discard conditions at instant speed. The casting cost and conditional trigger may limit versatility in some decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Whenever an opponent is dealt 3 or more damage by a single source, that player discards a card.

The Rakdos make sure their victims remember their pain—or at least give up a little bit of their sanity in order to forget.


Cards like Pain Magnification

Pain Magnification stands out as a unique enchantment in MTG with its ability to dish out damage and disruption. Similar to Underworld Dreams, which punishes players each time they draw a card, Pain Magnification targets opponents who are dealt damage, forcing them to discard cards if the damage is 3 or more. The difference between them lies in their triggers, where Underworld Dreams is relentless with its effect, while Pain Magnification requires a specific condition to be met.

The comparison continues with Liliana’s Caress, which also hurts opponents when they discard cards, but unlike Pain Magnification, it doesn’t require the damage condition to trigger. This makes Pain Magnification more synergistic in decks focused on dealing non-combat damage but can equally unleash devastating effects coupled with spells that chip away at an opponent’s life total.

In the landscape of MTG cards that weaponize opponents’ pain, Pain Magnification offers a strategic advantage in decks that consistently deal damage. It may not be as direct as Megrim, which deals 2 damage with each discard, but the additional layer of disrupting an opponent’s hand can be crucial. It is a formidable choice for players who enjoy watching their opponents squirm as they try to balance their life totals and card resources.

Underworld Dreams - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Caress - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Underworld Dreams - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Caress - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pain Magnification by color, type and mana cost

Corrosion - MTG Card versions
Keldon Twilight - MTG Card versions
Dralnu's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Hidetsugu Consumes All // Vessel of the All-Consuming - MTG Card versions
Nettling Curse - MTG Card versions
Everlasting Torment - MTG Card versions
Theater of Horrors - MTG Card versions
The Bloodsky Massacre - MTG Card versions
Bank Job - MTG Card versions
Incriminating Impetus - MTG Card versions
Corrosion - MTG Card versions
Keldon Twilight - MTG Card versions
Dralnu's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Hidetsugu Consumes All // Vessel of the All-Consuming - MTG Card versions
Nettling Curse - MTG Card versions
Everlasting Torment - MTG Card versions
Theater of Horrors - MTG Card versions
The Bloodsky Massacre - MTG Card versions
Bank Job - MTG Card versions
Incriminating Impetus - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pain Magnification offers a potent form of card advantage, as it constantly threatens to deplete the resources of an opponent who takes 3 or more damage in a single turn. By potentially causing them to discard cards, it tilts the balance of card ownership in your favor over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Pain Magnification can indirectly accelerate your resource advantage by disrupting your opponent’s hand, allowing you to leverage your plays without the worry of potential responses or threats.

Instant Speed: The ability to impose a discard at instant speed whenever an opponent is dealt 3 or more damage during a single turn creates a level of control and unpredictability. It can affect the way an opponent plays their cards, potentially deterring them from preserving a full hand and thereby enabling you to dictate the pace of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pain Magnification necessitates an opponent discarding cards, but this only happens when a player has been dealt 3 or more damage from a single source. This condition can be challenging to meet consistently, especially against decks that prioritize damage mitigation.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a precise mana cost that includes both black and red mana, Pain Magnification may not fit seamlessly into a multicolor deck’s mana base, potentially causing a hiccup in a player’s game plan due to color fixing issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two specific colors, there’s a noticeable investment to get Pain Magnification on the field. While the card’s effect is undeniably useful, its cost-effectiveness is questionable when compared to other enchantments or disruptive options available in the game.


Reasons to Include Pain Magnification in Your Collection

Versatility: Pain Magnification can seamlessly integrate into decks focusing on damage-dealing strategies. Its ability to turn any source of 3 or more damage into an additional card disadvantage for your opponents makes it useful in a variety of situations.

Combo Potential: When combined with cards that consistently deal damage, Pain Magnification can be a key piece in punishing strategies, forcing opponents to discard cards often and maintaining control over the game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players are often at high life totals, Pain Magnification can change the landscape by adding an extra layer of disruption. Especially effective in formats where damage can stack up quickly, this card ensures your hits are more impactful beyond just life point totals.


How to beat

Confronting a Pain Magnification card in a game of Magic: The Gathering requires a multitiered approach. This enchantment punishes opponents whenever they’re dealt 3 or more damage, forcing a discard with each occurrence. To stave off the incremental card disadvantage, focus on minimizing damage. Deploying a sturdy defense with high-toughness creatures can deter the necessary damage thresholds. Moreover, life gain strategies disrupt Pain Magnification’s conditional trigger by cushioning your life total.

Mitigating the forced discard is also crucial. Cards like Echo of Eons or Commit // Memory can replenish your hand, diminishing the impact of the discard. Instantaneous card draw keeps your hand filled, reducing the burden of discarding. Alternatively, strategies that benefit from or are indifferent to discarded cards – such as reanimation tactics or graveyard synergies – can leverage Pain Magnification’s effect to your advantage.

It’s essential to understand that while Pain Magnification can tilt the scales in your opponent’s favor, a well-rounded strategy, balancing defense, and recovery can neutralize its influence on the game’s outcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG gameplay extends beyond understanding individual cards like Pain Magnification. Encountering this card in play signals a deeper exploration of strategies that complement its disruptive power. As you build a deck around Pain Magnification or seek ways to counteract its effect, there’s an entire spectrum of gameplay to consider—leveraging damage-dealing cards, enhancing your defensive lineup, or integrating graveyard utilization. Our focus is to guide you through these nuances, elevating your game to new heights. Whether you’re refining your collection or strategizing for the next duel, we’re here to help. Dive deeper into MTG’s strategic depth with us and gain the upper hand in your matches.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pain Magnification MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and The List, 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 Magnification and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pain Magnification Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2006-05-05. Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-05-05DissensionDIS 1212003NormalBlackAleksi Briclot
22020-09-26The ListPLST DIS-1212003NormalBlackAleksi Briclot

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pain Magnification has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2006-05-01 If a source deals 3 or more damage to multiple opponents at the same time, this ability will trigger once for each of those opponents. They will each have to discard a card.
2006-05-01 This triggers only if all 3 or more damage is dealt at the same time. It doesn’t trigger if damage that adds up to 3 or more is dealt at different times by the same source.