Peppersmoke MTG Card

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 134

Modern Masters (MMA)
2013-06-07 - Number 92

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Tribal Instant — Faerie

Key Takeaways

Peppersmoke provides card draw and removal for one black mana, a boon for resource efficiency.
It can be less flexible in multicolor decks due to its specific mana requirement.
Despite its limited impact, Peppersmoke’s combo potential and meta-relevance are notable.

Text of card

Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. If you control a Faerie, draw a card.

Like being trapped in a perpetual sneeze, faerie-dust poisoning is both exhilarating and agonizing.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Peppersmoke is not just a tool to deal with small threats; it also offers potential card draw. This can occur when targeting a creature of an opponent who participates in the clash mechanic. Winning the clash grants you the bonus of drawing a card, thus replenishing your hand and maintaining pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, the low mana cost of Peppersmoke does provide a form of resource efficiency. By only requiring one black mana, it allows players to effectively manage their mana and retain enough resources to deploy other strategies or respond to opponents’ moves in the same turn.

Instant Speed: The ability of Peppersmoke to be played at instant speed adds a layer of versatility and surprise, enabling players to react immediately to threats or use it strategically during an opponent’s turn. This flexibility ensures you can always optimize your plays and keep opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Peppersmoke necessitates a card discard from the opponent, but only if you control a creature with power 4 or more. This conditional discard can be inconsistent as meeting the power requirement depends heavily on the board state, which may not always be advantageous.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring black mana can be a restriction, making Peppersmoke less flexible for inclusion in multicolored decks, especially those that cannot reliably produce black mana or prefer not to use mana fixing resources for a single-target, low-impact spell.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its overall impact, the mana cost of Peppersmoke may seem steep. For one black mana, its primary ability to give a creature -1/-1 until end of turn is modest, and when compared to other removal or disruption options available within the same cost range, Peppersmoke might not be the most mana-efficient choice.

Reasons to Include Peppersmoke in Your Collection

Versatility: Peppersmoke offers dual utility as both a removal spell for problematic small creatures and a card-drawing mechanism when a player controls a black permanent. This allows it to slot into various decks, including control and faerie tribal builds.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from targeting or death triggers, Peppersmoke becomes more than just a simple removal. It facilitates intricate plays and synergies, particularly in decks that exploit the death of creatures, like those involving “Morbid” or “Prowess” mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where aggressive, low-cost creatures can dominate the early turns, having a one-mana instant that can disrupt these strategies while maintaining card equilibrium can be crucial. Peppersmoke is especially relevant in metagames infested with x/1 creatures, thereby giving its controller a subtle yet impactful edge.

How to beat

Peppersmoke serves as a niche card in the Magic: The Gathering roster, particularly in formats where small creatures are prevalent. As a removal spell, it targets those tiny threats while potentially offering card draw if you control a black permanent. Comparatively, this can be likened to Dead Weight, an enchantment that also serves to neutralize smaller creatures but lacks the card draw feature.

In managing Peppersmoke, one strategic approach is to utilize creatures that exceed the damage threshold of one, thus rendering Peppersmoke ineffective as a removal tool. Similarly, spells that grant your creatures indestructibility for a turn can be a saving grace against such targeted removal. It’s about foresight and preserving your assets against this faerie’s mischief.

Moreover, including hexproof or shroud abilities within your deck can safeguard your creatures from becoming victims of Peppersmoke’s reach. By employing these measures, you can mitigate the effect of Peppersmoke and keep your creatures safe and ready for battle, outmaneuvering your opponent’s attempts to gain an upper hand with this subtle yet potent spell.

Cards like Peppersmoke

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Peppersmoke stands out due to its unique combination of abilities. It’s akin to other cards like Disfigure, which also serves the purpose of weakening creatures. Peppersmoke, however, goes a step further by offering card draw if you control a black creature, making it more than just a removal spell. Disfigure lacks this additional benefit, focusing solely on the -2/-2 effect.

Another comparable card is Disperse in Blue, which doesn’t destroy the creature but returns it to the owner’s hand, potentially opening up strategic plays. However, it still doesn’t provide the card advantage that Peppersmoke does. Lastly, let’s consider Dead Weight, a black enchantment that permanently gives a creature -2/-2. While Dead Weight can be a lingering threat, it doesn’t have the immediacy or the possible card draw that Peppersmoke provides to the player.

To sum up, Peppersmoke may not be the strongest removal in Magic: The Gathering, yet its ability to potentially draw a card makes it an option worth considering for players leveraging a deck that thrives on both creature control and maintaining hand advantage.

Cards similar to Peppersmoke by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Peppersmoke MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Modern 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 Peppersmoke and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Peppersmoke Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2013-06-07. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-10-12	Lorwyn	LRW		134	2003	Normal	Black	Rebecca Guay
2	2013-06-07	Modern Masters	MMA		92	2003	Normal	Black	Rebecca Guay

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Peppersmoke has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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