Tainted Specter MTG Card

Tainted Specter can control the game by forcing opponents to discard, gaining you a strategic edge. Due to specific mana needs, it may not fit seamlessly into every deck’s color scheme. It thrives in decks built around discard strategies and resource denial.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Specter
Abilities	Flying
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	148
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chippy

Text of card

Flying o1o Bo B, oc T: Target player chooses a card from his or her hand and then chooses either to discard that card or put it on top of his or her library. If the card is discarded, Tainted Specter deals 1 damage to each creature and player. Play this ability as a sorcery.

Cards like Tainted Specter

The Tainted Specter card is a niche selection in the array of monoblack control options in Magic: The Gathering. Like the Tainted Specter, Hypnotic Specter provides a discard mechanism that disrupts the opponent’s hand. While Tainted Specter requires mana to activate its ability, Hypnotic Specter applies its effect automatically upon dealing combat damage, presenting a difference in how easily each card can put pressure on the opponent.

Blighting, another comparable card, also allows players to force a discard at the expense of a mana investment, though this comes with the added benefit of life loss. Tainted Specter grants a unique versatility by enabling its controller to potentially clear out multiple cards from an opponent’s hand in one fell swoop if sufficient mana is available. This aspect aligns it closer to the effect of Mind Rot, which at a fixed cost, causes an opponent to discard two cards.

Analyzing these similar cards, Tainted Specter can be favorable in a deck that values selective disruption and has the mana resources to repeatedly activate its ability. Although it may not be the most efficient card in terms of cost, its potential for repeated use offers strategic depth for MTG players who enjoy a war of attrition.

Cards similar to Tainted Specter by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tainted Specter can compromise your opponent’s hand by forcing them to discard cards, effectively garnering you card advantage as you deplete their options.

Resource Acceleration: Through its mechanic, it subtly hinders your opponent’s resource tempo, while you can strategically plan your own board development uninterrupted.

Instant Speed: With the ability to activate its effect at instant speed, Tainted Specter offers you flexibility, allowing you to respond dynamically to the state of the game and potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy at a critical moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Tainted Specter’s ability, a card must be discarded. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: Tainted Specter requires black mana for casting and ability activation. This could restrict its integration into multicolored decks or limit its synergy with other cards that might require different mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of three black mana to cast and an additional activation cost, Tainted Specter can be considered mana-intensive. There are other creatures and spells in the pool that could potentially offer more value or impact on the game at a similar or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tainted Specter offers adaptability in decks that capitalize on life total manipulation or benefiting from discard mechanics. The ability to cause gradual life loss while disrupting an opponent’s hand makes it a multifaceted choice.

Combo Potential: This card’s discard effect enables synergies with strategies that exploit the graveyard or thrive on an opponent’s lack of resources. Integrating Tainted Specter can tip the scales in a well-crafted combo deck.

Meta-Relevance: With a landscape that often includes decks reliant on a solid hand, Tainted Specter gains importance. Its capacity to erode an opponent’s options makes it a tactical addition amidst a variety of competitive decks.

How to beat

Tainted Specter brings a unique blend of disruption and pressure to the Magic: The Gathering battlefield. This resilient creature can be troublesome if not addressed quickly. Unlike other cards that impact the board immediately, Tainted Specter creates a threat that requires careful planning to mitigate effectively. The key here is to disable its ability to control a player’s hand, which is achieved through strategies such as targeted removal or utilizing cards that grant hexproof to your possessions.

It’s critical to manage your resources wisely against Tainted Specter, ensuring you always have an answer at the ready to avoid succumbing to its manipulative power. Artifact removal, spells negation, and proactive creature management are your go-to options. Craft your deck with the foresight of encountering such adversaries. Lining up your defenses with cards such as “Krosan Grip” or “Negate” can provide an edge. Additionally, be mindful to not overcommit to the board, prevent flooding your hand with disposable cards, and prioritize threats, recognizing that sometimes, allowing Tainted Specter to activate may be a calculated risk worth taking.

While Tainted Specter’s abilities are formidable, they are not insurmountable. With proper preparation and strategic play, this foe can be overcome, transforming a potential setback into a stepping stone towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tainted Specter MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Tainted Specter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tainted Specter 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 Tainted Specter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-02-01	Tainted Specter used to have errata causing the card to be put into the graveyard without being discarded. The current wording returns it to being a discard, so it will trigger abilities appropriately.