Torn Between Heads MTG Card


Torn Between Heads - Face the Hydra
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2013-10-19
Set symbol
Set nameFace the Hydra
Set codeTFTH
Number14
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMike Sass

Key Takeaways

  1. Torn Between Heads offers card advantage and game tempo at instant speed, pivotal for gaining the upper hand.
  2. It’s less flexible due to specific mana requirements and discard costs, challenging deck diversity and balance.
  3. Despite pitfalls, its potential for strategic versatility and combo setups can make it a collection essential.

Text of card

Tap up to two Heads. They don't untap during the Hydra's next untap step. Torn Between Heads deals 5 damage to each player.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Torn Between Heads, drawing multiple cards is a play that can swing the game in your favor. It’s pivotal in maintaining a strong hand and outpacing your rivals.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s ability to potentially ramp up your mana resources puts you ahead of the curve, enabling bigger plays or quicker deployment of your game-winning strategies.

Instant Speed: Reactivity is key in any match, and the instant speed of Torn Between Heads gives you the flexibility to act at the most opportune moment, whether that’s disrupting an opponent’s play or simply optimizing your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Torn Between Heads demands you to discard another card to unleash its potential. For deck strategists, maintaining card advantage is crucial, and this requisite can disrupt your hand balance, particularly if your resources are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Torn Between Heads is not just color-intensive but necessitates a precise combination of mana. This can be restrictive because it requires a commitment to two colors right from the outset, making it less flexible in a variety of deck compositions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value considered on the higher side for its effects, one could argue the card’s efficiency. Players have numerous options at their disposal, and some may provide similar or better effects with a lower investment, granting a quicker impact on the game’s state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Torn Between Heads is a versatile option for players who appreciate flexibility in their gameplay. This card can seamlessly slot into a variety of decks requiring a solid control element.

Combo Potential: With its unique mechanics, Torn Between Heads opens up significant combo potential, particularly in decks that capitalize on spell synergy or conditions that manipulate the number of cards in hand.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors strategies with multiple outcomes or game states, Torn Between Heads proves to be a strong contender. Its ability to adapt to the flow of the game can give players an edge against the most common deck types.


How to beat

Torn Between Heads is one of those Magic: The Gathering cards that can turn the tide of a match when played with strategy. It’s a card that presents a challenge, but like all cards in MTG, there are ways to strategize around it. This card’s unique ability to choose between two significant effects can be mitigated by having a well-planned deck and understanding the timing of your plays.

One method is to minimize the card’s impact by controlling your own hand size and board presence. This can be achieved by playing low-cost creatures and spells, thus keeping your hand empty or almost empty when Torn Between Heads is played. Additionally, having instant speed removal or counterspells can help you react to whichever choice your opponent makes. Be aware of the fact that some decks that utilize Torn Between Heads may also be leveraging graveyard strategies, so graveyard hate cards can unexpectedly turn the card’s benefit into a liability for your opponent.

In essence, staying flexible and adaptive in your playstyle is key. By keeping the pressure on your opponent and limiting the advantage they can gain from Torn Between Heads, you can ensure this powerful card does not become the downfall of your deck.


Cards like Torn Between Heads

The uniqueness of Torn Between Heads in the field of decision-making cards sets it apart in player strategies. This spell echoes the principles of choice seen in Fact or Fiction, a staple that gives the power to opponents to create piles of cards for selection. Torn Between Heads ups the ante by involving coin flips, adding a layer of unpredictability akin to game changers like Goblin Game or Mana Clash. This creates an environment where chance and choice intertwine, presenting players with potential game-defining moments.

Another noteworthy parallel is with the card Fortune’s Favor, which also intertwines the element of hidden information and decision making. However, Torn Between Heads offers a unique blend of risk and reward through its coin flip mechanism that is not present in Fortune’s Favor. The element of chance introduced with Torn Between Heads could be a double-edged sword, leading to either a substantial lead or an unexpected setback in the flow of a match.

The overarching allure of these cards lies in their ability to weave unpredictability into a strategy-focused game. While each card has its own distinct approach to choice and chance, Torn Between Heads holds a special place for players looking to inject a bit more excitement into their gameplay.

Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Goblin Game - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Fortune's Favor - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - Invasion (INV)
Goblin Game - Planeshift (PLS)
Mana Clash - The Dark (DRK)
Fortune's Favor - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Torn Between Heads by color, type and mana cost

Grown from the Stump - MTG Card versions
Strike the Weak Spot - MTG Card versions
Noxious Hydra Breath - MTG Card versions
Neck Tangle - MTG Card versions
Distract the Hydra - MTG Card versions
Disorienting Glower - MTG Card versions
Unified Lunge - MTG Card versions
Hydra's Impenetrable Hide - MTG Card versions
Swallow the Hero Whole - MTG Card versions
Unquenchable Fury - MTG Card versions
Touch of the Horned God - MTG Card versions
Intervention of Keranos - MTG Card versions
Descend on the Prey - MTG Card versions
Consuming Rage - MTG Card versions
Impulsive Charge - MTG Card versions
Rip to Pieces - MTG Card versions
Impulsive Return - MTG Card versions
Impulsive Destruction - MTG Card versions
Xenagos's Scorn - MTG Card versions
Xenagos's Strike - MTG Card versions
Grown from the Stump - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Strike the Weak Spot - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Noxious Hydra Breath - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Neck Tangle - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Distract the Hydra - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Disorienting Glower - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Unified Lunge - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Hydra's Impenetrable Hide - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Swallow the Hero Whole - Face the Hydra (TFTH)
Unquenchable Fury - Battle the Horde (TBTH)
Touch of the Horned God - Battle the Horde (TBTH)
Intervention of Keranos - Battle the Horde (TBTH)
Descend on the Prey - Battle the Horde (TBTH)
Consuming Rage - Battle the Horde (TBTH)
Impulsive Charge - Defeat a God (TDAG)
Rip to Pieces - Defeat a God (TDAG)
Impulsive Return - Defeat a God (TDAG)
Impulsive Destruction - Defeat a God (TDAG)
Xenagos's Scorn - Defeat a God (TDAG)
Xenagos's Strike - Defeat a God (TDAG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Torn Between Heads MTG card by a specific set like Face the Hydra, 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 Torn Between Heads and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks