Remorseless Punishment MTG Card
2016-01-22 - Number 89
2016-01-22 - Number 89s
2020-09-26 - Number OGW-89
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Target opponent loses 5 life unless that player discards two cards or sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. Repeat this process once.
"I have suffered a thousand lifetimes of agony on this wretched world. I've far less time to share with you, but I assure you, no less pain." —Ob Nixilis
Cards like Remorseless Punishment
Remorseless Punishment stands out as an intriguing option among the punitive spells in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels certain attributes with other cards that force an opponent to choose between detrimental outcomes. Looking at Dash Hopes, we can observe a shared theme of choice-based consequences. Dash Hopes gives the opponent the dilemma of letting a spell be countered or paying life, whereas Remorseless Punishment ramps up the severity by offering two punishing choices, both of which deal with sacrificing resources, whether they be cards, creatures, or life points.
Torment of Hailfire resonates with Remorseless Punishment’s escalating threat by putting the opponent in a tight spot as they must choose between losing life, discarding cards, or sacrificing nonland permanents. However, Torment of Hailfire allows for repetitive choices based on the mana invested, leading to potentially game-ending scenarios. Conversely, Remorseless Punishment is a one-shot deal with a set outcome.
Through this lens, Remorseless Punishment carves a niche for itself among Magic: The Gathering cards that leverage the psychology of choice to unsettle opponents, adeptly combining potential card advantage with direct damage. Its distinct blend of options makes it a formidable presence in the right deck strategy.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Remorseless Punishment is an intriguing card when it comes to card advantage. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its potency lies in its potential to deplete an opponent’s resources significantly. The ability to force an opponent to lose two creatures or planeswalkers or sacrifice a chunk of their life points often results in a two-for-one or better scenario in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not being a traditional resource acceleration card, Remorseless Punishment can disrupt your opponent’s mana base by making them sacrifice creatures, which then can indirectly accelerate your position on the board. Every creature lost is a setback for your opponent, putting you steps ahead in the race for board dominance.
Instant Speed: Although Remorseless Punishment is a sorcery, its impact on the game is not to be underestimated. The immediate and potentially game-swinging effects can be considered akin to the advantages instant speed spells offer. By removing key pieces or draining life in one decisive move, you effectively shift the pace and momentum of the match in your direction, throwing off your opponent’s strategy even outside the flexibility of instant timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Remorseless Punishment, players are mentally preparing for the tough choice it offers. Yet, one downside immediately emerges—there is no actual discard required from the card itself. Instead, the opposing player chooses either to lose life or sacrifice creatures or planeswalkers, potentially minimizing the impact if they can afford the loss.
Specific Mana Cost: Decks attempting to cast Remorseless Punishment need to navigate its specified color arrangement of two black and three generic mana. This requirement could strain mana bases, especially in multicolored or color-intensive strategies, restricting its playability to certain archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost sitting at five mana, Remorseless Punishment demands a notable investment without guaranteeing a game-swinging effect. Considering other cards available at this mana range, players might find alternatives that offer more predictable and immediate results, potentially relegating this card to the sidelines.
Reasons to Include Remorseless Punishment in Your Collection
Versatility: Remorseless Punishment offers a unique approach to disrupting your opponent’s game plan. It can be integrated effectively into control decks that aim to dictate the pace or in black-focused builds that capitalize on sacrifice and life-total manipulation.
Combo Potential: This card has the ability to work well with strategies that benefit from opponents losing life or sacrificing creatures. It can complement decks that trigger upon these events and turn the tides in your favor quickly.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players rely heavily on key creatures or have extensive hands, Remorseless Punishment can serve as a critical play. It forces tough decisions and can remove critical pieces from your opponent’s side, making it a relevant inclusion for certain meta scenarios.
How to beat
Remorseless Punishment is a spell that embodies the harsh realities of the game, forcing a tough decision on the opponent. Unlike other cards that present the illusion of choice while still leading to one inevitable conclusion, Remorseless Punishment offers a genuine dilemma with the potential for significant impact regardless of the path chosen. The key to overcoming this card lies in maintaining control over your resources; keeping a diverse board state and hand can minimize the damage dealt by this forceful spell.
Successful strategies might include saving low-value creatures for sacrifice or holding additional cards in hand to discard, mitigating the loss when the punishment is dealt. It’s also advantageous to maintain a higher life total, as choosing to lose life might be the lesser evil in comparison to the other destructive options. Another technique is to have on-demand card draw or creature generation to quickly rebuild after taking a hit from Remorseless Punishment.
Ultimately, winning against this formidable card requires foresight and maintaining strategic diversity in your plays. By preparing for all possible demands Remorseless Punishment could impose, you’re able to turn the tide and keep yourself firmly in the game, despite the setback it aims to deliver.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Remorseless Punishment MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Oath of the Gatewatch 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 Remorseless Punishment and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Remorseless Punishment Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2016-01-22. Illustrated by Ryan Barger.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch | OGW | 89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger | |
| 2 | 2016-01-22 | Oath of the Gatewatch Promos | POGW | 89s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | OGW-89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Barger |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Remorseless Punishment 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 Remorseless Punishment card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-01-22 | Any abilities that trigger while Remorseless Punishment is resolving will be put on the stack after it has completely resolved. |
| 2016-01-22 | No player may take any actions between the two times the player goes through the process. |
| 2016-01-22 | The player can’t choose to discard two cards unless they have at least two cards in hand. Similarly, that player can’t choose to sacrifice a creature or planeswalker unless they control one. This means that if the target opponent doesn’t have two cards in hand and doesn’t control a creature or planeswalker, that player will lose 5 life and then lose 5 life again. |
| 2016-04-08 | The same player chooses both times. In a multiplayer game, you can’t choose a different opponent to repeat the process. |