Scalding Tongs MTG Card

Gains indirect card advantage by consistently damaging opponents and draining their resources over turns. Necessitates card discard for activation, potentially detrimental when low on crucial hand resources. Best included in decks aimed at attrition and direct damage for its persistent threat factor.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Number	307
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Randy Gallegos

Text of card

During your upkeep, if you have three or fewer cards in your hand, Scalding Tongs deals 1 damage to target opponent.

"This has nothing to do with what you know and everything to do with what I wish." —Volrath

Cards like Scalding Tongs

Scalding Tongs is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that stands out among cards designed to deal incremental damage. It is somewhat analogous to Furnace of Rath, which also amplifies damage but affects all damage sources, not just a targeted opponent. Whereas Scalding Tongs focuses on dealing damage during each of your upkeeps to a player with fewer than three cards in hand, Furnace of Rath has a broader effect by doubling all damage dealt.

Likewise, we see similarities with the card Ankh of Mishra, which punishes players for land plays. Ankh of Mishra deals damage whenever a land enters the battlefield under a player’s control, a more constant threat throughout the game than the conditional damage of Scalding Tongs. Then there’s Pyrostatic Pillar, which deals damage to a player casting spells with low mana costs. This reflects a different kind of strategy, focusing on disrupting early-game tempo rather than the hand-size-centric approach of Scalding Tongs.

In assessing these parallels, it’s evident that Scalding Tongs holds a niche position. The card commands a spot in MTG decks that aim to restrict opponents’ hand sizes, leveraging consistent damage pressure throughout the game.

Cards similar to Scalding Tongs by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scalding Tongs may not directly let you draw cards but its potential to deal damage each turn can slowly whittle down an opponent’s resources, providing a form of indirect card advantage as they lose creatures or life.

Resource Acceleration: While Scalding Tongs doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it can contribute to resource acceleration by applying consistent pressure without using additional cards from your hand, allowing you to allocate your mana elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Although Scalding Tongs is an artifact and not an instant, its ability can be activated during any player’s upkeep provided it has already been on the battlefield at the start of the turn. This timing mimics instant speed characteristics by offering surprise potential and strategic flexibility.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scalding Tongs demands you to discard a card to unleash its potential. This can backfire, especially when your hand is running on empty and every card is crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Being locked into a specific mana requirement can be a double-edged sword. Scalding Tongs asks for a precise mana setup, which can be a stumbling block if your deck isn’t fine-tuned to accommodate its red mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may be viewed as steep by some players, it’s worth weighing the efficiency of Scalding Tongs against other available options. In a game where tempo matters, there might be alternatives that give you a better bang for your buck without putting you behind in the race.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Scalding Tongs offers an ongoing effect to chip away at your opponent’s life total, proving to be a consistent threat in a variety of deck builds, particularly those capitalizing on direct damage.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with other cards that can untap artifacts, leveraging its ability to inflict damage multiple times in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to stretch into longer battles, Scalding Tongs can become a significant source of pressure, steadily depleting an opponent’s life and complementing strategies focused on attrition.

How to beat Scalding Tongs

Scalding Tongs poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its ability to deal damage during each of your upkeeps can be a thorn in your side over the course of a game. The key to overcoming Scalding Tongs is to prioritize card advantage and prevent the Tongs from becoming active. Managing your hand size above three cards is crucial to neutralize its effect and can be achieved through strategic planning and timely card draw.

Mitigate the damage of Scalding Tongs by employing tactics that allow you to replenish your hand quickly. Consider spells that draw multiple cards or have a repeatability effect like repeatable looters. Smart deck construction that includes a mix of card draw spells, engines, and creature abilities can also help maintain a healthy hand size, effectively rendering Scalding Tongs harmless.

In essence, while Scalding Tongs can be a persistent source of damage if unchecked, maintaining card advantage through efficient draw mechanics and hand management can firmly shut down its impact and keep your life total secure within MTG games.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scalding Tongs MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Scalding Tongs and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scalding Tongs has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	It checks the number of cards in your hand at the beginning of upkeep and does not trigger at all if you have more than three. It checks again on resolution and does not deal damage unless you still have 3 or fewer cards.
2004-10-04	You target one opposing player each time the ability triggers.