Temper MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set name	Stronghold
Set code	STH
Number	20
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Key Takeaways

Temper can significantly shift game dynamics by offering both disruption and card advantage to the player.
Its instant speed allows for reactionary plays, adding depth and control to a player’s strategy.
While potent, Temper requires careful deck construction and resource management to be effective.

Text of card

Prevent up to X damage to target creature. For each 1 damage prevented in this way, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

"I don't need a plan, just a goal. The rest will follow on its own." —Gerrard

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Temper card has the potential to offer significant card advantage. When used appropriately, it can disrupt an opponent’s strategy while also providing a card for your hand, leading you towards a better strategic position.

Resource Acceleration: By interacting favorably with mechanics that reward you for casting spells or triggering draw effects, Temper can contribute to resource acceleration. This ensures that you keep pace with or exceed your opponent’s development on the board.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Temper provides the flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game. You can keep your options open and react during your opponent’s turn, which can be essential for maintaining control and tempo.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Temper card necessitates discarding another card, which could be a significant setback when your hand is already depleted of options. This additional cost can hinder your strategy, especially if you’re playing a tight game where every card in hand counts towards your victory.

Specific Mana Cost: Temper’s casting cost demands a particular combination of mana colors, which might not align with multicolored or flexible mana base decks. If your deck doesn’t consistently produce the required mana, Temper could remain a dead card in your hand, unable to impact the game when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card offers a certain degree of control over the game, its mana cost can be considered high relative to the abilities it provides. In the competitive landscape of MTG, players may opt for alternatives that offer similar effects at a lower cost point, enabling faster and more efficient gameplay.

Reasons to Include Temper in Your Collection

Versatility: Temper is a card that finds a home in a variety of deck archetypes. Its capacity to serve as both a defensive and offensive tool makes it a valuable addition to several strategies. Whether it’s thwarting an assault or providing a crucial damage boost, Temper offers flexibility to your gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card’s potential in combination with others that synergize with damage dealing or spell casting can open up explosive play opportunities. It fits right into builds that are focused on triggering abilities whenever you deal damage or cast spells, further extending its utility.

Meta-Relevance: Temper’s viability can be tied closely to the prevailing competitive environment. When the meta shifts towards creature-heavy decks or ones that capitalize on instant and sorcery spells, having Temper in your collection means you’re ready to adjust and maintain a competitive edge.

How to beat

Temper is an intriguing card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to meddle with the tempo of a game. When tackling this card, it’s essential to understand its mechanics which revolve around delaying your opponent’s spells. This is where strategy crucially comes into play.

One effective method to overcome the challenge posed by Temper is to bait out its usage. You can do this by presenting less critical spells that may lull your opponent into a false sense of security. Another approach is to stockpile spells and cast them when you have sufficient lands, thus reducing the effect of Temper’s delaying tactic. Additionally, playing instant-speed spells at the end of your opponent’s turn can mitigate the impact of Temper, ensuring that your own turn remains unaffected.

Ultimately, the key to beating Temper lies in foreseeing your opponent’s moves and carefully planning your turns. By hanging on to critical spells until the right moment and maintaining a steady pace of play, Temper’s disruptive potential can be successfully navigated.

Cards like Temper

The Temper card is an intriguing presence in the ever-evolving arsenal of damage-dealing spells in Magic: The Gathering. When considering its peers, Shock is one of the first that comes to mind, delivering a swift 2 damage to any target for a single red mana. Although Shock lacks the versatility of Temper, which can deal damage to either a creature or a player and has the bonus effect of exiling the targeted creature if it were to die that turn, offering a strategic edge in control matchups.

Magma Jet is another spell worth mentioning alongside Temper. It also deals 2 damage, but with the added benefit of scrying 2, allowing a player to filter their upcoming draws. While it costs one additional mana compared with Temper, the utility of shaping your next moves can be invaluable. Similarly, Incinerate delivers 3 damage and prevents regeneration, making it a stronger removal tool at the same cost as Temper. Nonetheless, it doesn’t provide the exile benefit, which can be crucial against graveyard-based strategies.

Assessing these cards side by side, Temper holds a prominent position within the pantheon of red removal spells in MTG, balancing direct damage with the potential to hinder recursive threats – a potent combination in today’s game environments.

Cards similar to Temper by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temper MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Temper and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Temper has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Temper 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	The +1/+1 counters do show up at the same time as any unprevented damage, which means they are there before you check for lethal damage.
2004-10-04	You can make X be larger than the amount of damage, but you only get one counter for each actual point of damage prevented.