Pulling Teeth MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Clash |
| Released | 2008-02-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Morningtide |
| Set code | MOR |
| Number | 75 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jim Pavelec |
Text of card
Clash with an opponent. If you win, target player discards two cards. Otherwise, that player discards a card. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)
Cards like Pulling Teeth
The card Pulling Teeth offers an intriguing play strategy, not unlike other disruption spells in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. It invites parallels to cards such as Duress, which also targets an opponent’s hand. What sets Pulling Teeth apart is its Clash mechanic, allowing players a chance to repeat the effect with a bit of luck, while Duress offers a straightforward, singular glimpse into the opponent’s hand without the potential for a repeat performance.
Another close relative in this family of hand disruption is Thoughtseize, which allows you to pluck any nonland card at the expense of 2 life. Pulling Teeth lacks this power but also avoids the life penalty. Then there’s Inquisition of Kozilek, with restrictions to cards of certain mana costs but no additional cost to user’s life or a reliance on fortune’s favor. Pulling Teeth’s potential for repeated use under the right conditions can tip the balance during a game, although it lacks the immediacy and unwavering control offered by such alternatives.
While these cards each have a niche within the framework of disruption in Magic: The Gathering, Pulling Teeth finds its uniqueness in its blend of strategy, luck, and potential for recursive disruption, making it a spell worth considering for those looking to undermine the opponent’s plans over several turns.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pulling Teeth excels in disrupting your opponent’s hand while simultaneously refilling your own. This swing in card balance can tip the scales in your favor as you limit their options and enhance your own strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While Pulling Teeth itself may not directly offer resource acceleration, its ability to weaken an opponent’s hand can indirectly speed up your game plan. By forcing discards, you create a smoother path for your own threats and plays.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of reacting at instant speed cannot be overstated. With Pulling Teeth, you have the power to wait until the most opportune moment to disrupt your opponent, be it during their draw phase, after they’ve drawn their card, or in response to a move they didn’t expect you to counter.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Pulling Teeth MTG card mandates that a player discards a card, which poses a strategic risk if your hand is dwindling or the discarded card is critical for future plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Pulling Teeth requires both black mana and generic mana for casting, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that can consistently produce the necessary black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may be considered steep for the effect it provides, Pulling Teeth could be less efficient compared to other disruptive cards in the same mana range.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Pulling Teeth offers a disruptive edge in various deck builds, quite valuable in formats where hand disruption plays a key role in dismantling your opponent’s strategy early on.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with graveyard-based strategies or those that capitalize on the number of cards in an opponent’s hand. It can play a part in enabling powerful plays or disrupting key pieces of an opponent’s combo.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s dominated by combo or control decks, the ability to pick apart your opponent’s hand can shift the tide in your favor. Pulling Teeth aligns well with this aspect, providing strategic advantage where timing and information are critical.
How to beat
Pulling Teeth is an intriguing card that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy in Magic: The Gathering by forcing them to discard cards. To effectively counter this card, consider using cards that benefit from discarding or graveyard interaction. Cards like Bone Miser or Waste Not can turn a discard into a strategic advantage. Additionally, including cards that can shuffle the graveyard back into the library, such as Elixir of Immortality, denies the lasting impact of discard spells.
Running counterspells is another strategy. Versatile counters like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent Pulling Teeth from resolving in the first place. For a more proactive approach, hand replenishing cards like Echo of Eons or Wheel of Fortune can rapidly refill your hand, ensuring you maintain card advantage even after a discard event.
Understanding the tempo of the game also helps. Apply pressure early on to force the opponent in a defensive position where they cannot afford to spend mana on a card like Pulling Teeth. You can keep your hand lean and on the field through creature-based pressure, reducing the effectiveness of their discard tactics while you maintain board presence.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pulling Teeth MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Pulling Teeth 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pulling Teeth has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pulling Teeth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | The opponent you clash with doesn’t have to be the player targeted by Pulling Teeth. |