Painsmith MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Artificer
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Painsmith enriches your game, turning artifacts into sources of creature enhancement.
  2. Instant speed activations offer strategic advantages in surprise combat scenarios.
  3. Despite its potential, Painsmith’s discard requirement and mana specifics may limit its use.

Text of card

Whenever you cast an artifact spell, you may have target creature get +2/+0 and gain deathtouch until end of turn.

The Moriok see the artificer as a taskmaster, forcing lazy metal into more potent shapes.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Painsmith offers a unique advantage in that it can repeatedly boost the power of your creatures, effectively turning every artifact you play into potential immediate damage. This consistent value generation can outpace your opponent’s answers, lending you the upper hand in card efficiency.

Resource Acceleration: While Painsmith itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its synergy with cheap artifacts can lead to explosive turns where you potentially cast multiple spells in succession. Pairing Painsmith with low-cost or free artifacts can amplify your board presence rapidly, giving you a significant acceleration in both resources and threats.

Instant Speed: The ability of Painsmith triggers at instant speed, which means that artifact plays during your opponent’s turn suddenly become surprise buffs to your creatures. This can disrupt your opponent’s calculations in combat, and they may miscalculate their blocks or attacks, leaving you with a substantial strategic edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Painsmith necessitates discarding a card as part of its activation, potentially depleting your hand at crucial moments during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Painsmith requires a precise combination of black mana, restricting its integration exclusively to decks that can accommodate this color scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher side for its abilities, Painsmith may not be as cost-effective when compared to other cards offering similar or greater benefits for less mana investment.


Reasons to Include Painsmith in Your Collection

Versatility: Painsmith seamlessly integrates into artifact-focused decks. Its ability to grant creatures additional strength aligns well with decks aiming to quickly increase board presence.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergistic interactions, especially with artifact-heavy strategies. Its ability to give a creature deathtouch and lifelink until end of turn can be chained with multiple artifact plays, turning even the smallest creatures into formidable threats.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and synergistic value, Painsmith holds its ground in metas with a preference for speed and efficiency. Its potential to tip combat in your favor makes it a card worth considering for decks looking to exploit the artifact archetype.


How to beat

Painsmith presents a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. As a creature card that gets stronger with every artifact you play, it can quickly become a formidable opponent. To outmaneuver this card, focus on neutralizing artifacts, your key to diminishing Painsmith’s power. Consider using artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Abrade, which eliminate the tools that give Painsmith its edge. Additionally, spot removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can effectively clear the Painsmith from the field before it accumulates too much strength.

It’s also wise to control the flow of the game, restricting the number of artifacts your opponent can deploy. Tools like artifact counterspells, Thoughtseize to disrupt your opponent’s hand, or even Stony Silence that prevents artifact abilities from activating can prove invaluable in your strategy. Limiting the Painsmith’s potential will cause your opponent to lose momentum, giving you the upper hand in the match. By making smart removal choices and controlling the pace, you can ensure that Painsmith doesn’t turn the tides against you.


Cards like Painsmith

Painsmith stands as an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing functionality with other cards bolstering artifact strategies. Cards such as Disciple of the Vault offer a direct comparison, with both emphasizing the synergy with artifact play. Whereas Painsmith rewards you by granting a boost to a creature for playing an artifact, Disciple of the Vault lets you taste victory by draining an opponent’s life whenever an artifact hits the graveyard.

Metalcraft enthusiasts may also draw parallels with cards like Auriok Sunchaser, which thrives in an artifact-rich environment, excelling by growing in power and toughness. Painsmith also flourishes amidst artifacts, though it adopts a more versatile role by empowering any creature of your choice. Comparatively, Painsmith requires a straightforward trigger of playing an artifact, rather than the mere presence of them to activate as with Auriok Sunchaser.

Considering the skilled refinement in each artifact interaction, Painsmith is a worthy card for those looking to exploit their artifact plays to fortify their offensive line. It aligns well within the array of cards that interact and amplify artifact strategies, offering a tactical advantage in the nuanced dance of the MTG battlefield.

Disciple of the Vault - MTG Card versions
Auriok Sunchaser - MTG Card versions
Disciple of the Vault - Mirrodin (MRD)
Auriok Sunchaser - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Painsmith by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Painsmith MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Double Masters, 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 Painsmith and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Painsmith Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 742003normalblackEric Deschamps
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1022015normalblackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Painsmith has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

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