Hired Torturer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Rogue |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 25 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Winona Nelson |
Key Takeaways
- Hired Torturer grants insight into the opponent’s hand, shifting the strategic balance in your favor.
- Activated at instant speed, the Torturer offers tactical flexibility throughout different phases of play.
- Despite its mana-specific cost and slower gameplay impact, the Torturer remains a strategic asset.
Text of card
Defender , : Target opponent loses 2 life, then reveals a card at random from his or her hand.
"Follow your passion, I always say. Might as well get paid to do what you love."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The ability of Hired Torturer to peek into your opponent’s hand can tip the scales in your favor by revealing critical information, which can be as pivotal as drawing an extra card. This insight can help you make more strategic decisions, set traps, or avoid walking into one.
Resource Acceleration: Though Hired Torturer itself does not create resources, understanding what resources your opponent holds can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By carefully dissecting your opponent’s possibilities, you can efficiently allocate your mana and resources on the plays that truly matter.
Instant Speed: Hired Torturer’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility in your plays. Whether during the upkeep phase to disrupt your opponent’s strategy or at the end of their turn to maximize efficiency, the timing of this ability’s use is a crucial tactical asset in any player’s repertoire.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Hired Torturer, the ability to force opponents to discard is not directly available. Instead, this card focuses more on revealing and dealing damage based on that revealed card, which may not always align with discard-based strategy decks.
Specific Mana Cost: Hired Torturer requires a specific mana combination to be played, specifically one black and two generic mana. This can sometimes be restrictive as it requires a commitment to black mana sources, which might not be ideal for all deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana for a 2/3 creature may be considered high compared to other options in the game. While its ability to deal damage can be useful, it can be a slower payoff in fast-paced games where board presence and lower-cost creatures could potentially offer more immediate impact.
Reasons to Include Hired Torturer in Your Collection
Versatility: Hired Torturer offers a flexible role in any collection. It’s not simply a creature; it represents a control element for slower-paced games. With the ability to chip away at an opponent’s life total, it can be a strategic asset on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card is a gem for combos in decks utilizing life loss as a win condition. Its ability to deal damage without attacking allows players to safely weaken their opponents or finish off a game by combining it with cards that reward life loss or card reveal mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where board presence and creature abilities are key, Hired Torturer can prove relevant. Its existence on the board poses a recurring threat, demanding an answer or slowly tipping the scales in your favor with its unique damage-dealing ability.
How to beat
Hired Torturer presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering gameplay with its ability to whittle down an opponent’s life through its activated ability. When facing this stealthy threat, it’s essential to neutralize it before it can become a recurring nuisance. One effective strategy is to remove it quickly from the battlefield. Spells that can destroy creatures at a low cost, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are particularly effective against Hired Torturer, considering its modest stats.
Alternatively, leveraging the card’s requirement for tapping can be a strategy. Countering Hired Torturer on its own turn before it taps, with instant-speed removal spells ensures it never gets a chance to utilize its damaging ability. Moreover, an underrated tactic is to limit the cards available in your hand since Hired Torturer’s ability depends on that for its damage output. Cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can help you control your hand size while simultaneously disrupting your opponent’s plan.
In essence, taking out Hired Torturer swiftly or manipulating your hand size to mitigate its effects are key to overcoming this devious card and maintaining your stronghold in the match. Being proactive and strategic with your removal options sets you up for success against such stealthy threats.
Unlocking the Potential of Hired Torturer in Your Deck
Hired Torturer stands out as a unique creature in the landscape of MTG due to its distinct ability to force opponents to reveal the top card of their library while inflicting pain in the form of life point loss. This three-mana cost creature provides both insight into your adversary’s arsenal and a steady source of damage, making it a sleeper hit in the right deck.
Cards like Hired Torturer
Hired Torturer from the Dragon’s Maze set brings a blend of control and damage to the table. Its functionality is akin to that of Undercity’s Informer. Both creatures provide intel on an opponent’s deck but the Informer takes it a step further by milling those cards directly into the graveyard. The Torturer, however, focuses more on whittling down life totals, albeit incrementally. Another comparable creature is the Thoughtpicker Witch, which not only lets you look at the top two cards of an opponent’s library but also disrupt their draws. While Hired Torturer might not offer the deck manipulation prowess of Thoughtpicker Witch, it does excel in the ability to consistently apply pressure on your opponent’s life total, a strategy that can thrive in the right control or attrition-based builds.
Hired Torturer’s strength lies in its unique balance of informational leverage and direct life point damage. It’s a card that, when used correctly, can subtly tilt the game in your favor over time while keeping you informed about future threats lurking in your opponent’s deck.
Cards similar to Hired Torturer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hired Torturer MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Hired Torturer and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hired Torturer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hired Torturer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Each card in the opponent’s hand has an equal chance of being revealed, even if it was previously revealed because of Hired Torturer’s ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | The card stops being revealed after Hired Torturer’s ability resolves. |
| 2013-04-15 | You can choose an opponent with no cards in hand as the target of Hired Torturer’s ability. If the target opponent has no cards in hand when the ability resolves, that player will just lose 2 life. |
