Pain Seer MTG Card
2014-02-01 - Number 80
2014-02-07 - Number 80
2002-06-24 - Number 51916
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Inspired |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Inspired — Whenever Pain Seer becomes untapped, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to that card's mana value.
Cards like Pain Seer
Pain Seer offers MTG players a distinctive approach to card advantage similar to the celebrated Dark Confidant. It allows you to draw additional cards at the potential cost of your own life points, embodying a high-risk, high-reward strategy. Where Pain Seer requires being untapped to activate its ability upon being inspired, Dark Confidant grants you a card each turn at the cost of life equal to the card’s mana value.
Another akin option is Underworld Connections. This card provides consistent card draw but demands a tap of not only itself but also the land it enchants, showing a slower yet stable alternative to Pain Seer. Both are useful, but the trade-off between immediate access to cards and preserving mana can sway a player’s choice between the two.
Comparatively, Pain Seer shines when synergized with ways to untap it multiple times, harnessing its ability beyond the upkeep phase. This aspect sets it apart from the more predictable Dark Confidant and the resource-demanding Underworld Connections. Therefore, in evaluating Pain Seer’s potential in MTG decks, its compatibility with untap mechanics is a pivotal factor to consider for leveraging its full card-drawing power.
Cards similar to Pain Seer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pain Seer offers a consistent method to draw extra cards, which is critical for keeping your hand filled with options. By using its inspired mechanic, every time it becomes untapped, you potentially receive a new card, giving you a leg up on the battlefield by expanding your available resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly producing mana or treasure, the extra cards drawn from Pain Seer could lead to more lands or spells that generate additional resources, indirectly speeding up your gameplay and enabling you to cast more spells sooner than your opponent.
Instant Speed: While Pain Seer itself isn’t an instant, the ability to gain card advantage can synergize with instant-speed spells. Since you’re likely to be attacking with Pain Seer, you can keep mana open during your opponent’s turn. Then, if Pain Seer untaps on your upkeep due to an effect at instant speed, you draw a card which could be an instant you can cast during your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and off balance.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Pain Seer’s ability might compel you to discard a card if not carefully managed. Since it requires careful timing and management of your library, it can become a liability rather than an advantage if you’re unable to control when it activates.
Specific Mana Cost: Pain Seer’s mana cost includes both generic and black mana, which means it is predominantly suited for black or black-inclusive decks. Moreover, the requirement for black mana can be restrictive, especially for multicolored decks where mana flexibility is essential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Pain Seer’s mana cost is not exorbitant, its initial investment of two mana might delay early game tempo. Other creatures or card draw engines may provide value more quickly or efficiently, which is a crucial consideration when optimizing your deck for peak performance.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Pain Seer is a flexible addition to any deck that thrives on card advantage and aggressive strategies. Its ability to reveal additional cards can be utilized in a variety of deckbuilds, making it a practical choice for players who value adaptability in gameplay.
Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with ways to untap creatures, allowing you to take advantage of its Inspired ability multiple times in a turn. This can lead to drawing numerous cards which can be the difference between victory and defeat, especially in tight games where card advantage is crucial.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where reliable card draw is key, Pain Seer offers consistent value. For a metagame filled with creature-based tactics, Pain Seer can serve as both a threat and a resource, keeping your hand full while you maintain pressure on your opponent.
How to Beat Pain Seer
Pain Seer presents an intriguing challenge in the world of MTG. With a nod to the infamous Dark Confidant, it provides its controller with card advantage through its inspired mechanic, revealing the top card of your library and granting you that card while losing life equal to its mana cost. However, this downside of life loss can be exploited when strategizing how to overcome a Pain Seer on the opposing side of the battlefield.
One effective tactic is applying removal spells at opportune moments, targeting Pain Seer before its inspired ability triggers, thus staving off your opponent’s potential card advantage. Counterspells serve as a preemptive measure, inhibiting the Seer from seeing play in the first place. Combat tricks also boast efficacy, as forcing unfavorable blocks or nudging through additional combat damage can swiftly convert Pain Seer from an asset to a liability for its controller.
In essence, to best a Pain Seer, one must disrupt the delicate equilibrium its controller relies upon. Removing it swiftly, countering it effectively, or pressuring life totals can turn the tide, transforming Pain Seer’s promise of reward into an impending threat to its user’s own life total and game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pain Seer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Born of the Gods Promos, 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 Seer 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
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Printings
The Pain Seer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-02-01 and 2014-02-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 51916 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters | ||
| 2 | 2014-02-01 | Born of the Gods Promos | PBNG | 80 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Winters | |
| 3 | 2014-02-07 | Born of the Gods | BNG | 80 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tyler Jacobson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pain Seer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pain Seer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | If an inspired ability triggers during your untap step, the ability will be put on the stack at the beginning of your upkeep. If the ability creates one or more token creatures, those creatures won’t be able to attack that turn (unless they gain haste). |
| 2014-02-01 | If the inspired ability includes an optional cost, you decide whether to pay that cost as the ability resolves. You can do this even if the creature leaves the battlefield in response to the ability. |
| 2014-02-01 | If the mana cost of the revealed card includes , X is considered to be 0. |
| 2014-02-01 | If the revealed card doesn’t have a mana cost (because it’s a land card, for example), its converted mana cost is 0. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities don’t trigger when the creature enters the battlefield. |
| 2014-02-01 | Inspired abilities trigger no matter how the creature becomes untapped: by the turn-based action at the beginning of the untap step or by a spell or ability. |