Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 14
2016-11-16 - Number 65813
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Advisor |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers card advantage and resource acceleration, key factors for gaining an upper hand in the game.
- Instant speed actions with Pang Tong enhance flexibility and disrupt opponent strategies effectively.
- Demands specific mana and carries a higher casting cost, which may limit deck integration.
Text of card
On your turn, before you attack, you may tap Pang Tong to give any one creature +0/+2 until the end of the turn.
". . . It was Pang Tong's boat-connecting scheme That let Zhou Yu accomplish his great deed."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Delving into the strengths of Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix,” the card shines in offering strategic card advantage. With its activated abilities or spells, it allows players to harness the potential to draw additional cards, creating opportunities to outmaneuver opponents by having more options at hand.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in resource acceleration, granting players the ability to generate resources swiftly. Through its capabilities, one can ramp up their mana pool efficiently, setting the stage for unleashing powerful spells and creatures sooner than the opponent might anticipate.
Instant Speed: One of the key aspects of Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” is its instant speed functionality. This characteristic is crucial as it provides the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions during their turn, to disrupt their strategy, or to simply advance one’s board state when the timing is most opportune.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the aspects that can make Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” a less appealing choice is the inherent discard cost. To harness the card’s potential, you’re obliged to discard another card, which could be problematic when your hand is already running low on options. This can hamper your game if you’re not able to maintain a healthy card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Pang Tong can pose limitations as well. This card requires a precise combination of white and blue mana, making it predominantly suitable for decks that can consistently generate these colors. Players running multicolor decks that don’t focus on white and blue might find it challenging to include Pang Tong effectively in their strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the benefits against the mana investment, Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” comes up with a relatively high casting cost. Given that it requires three individual mana plus one of any color, it might not be the most mana-efficient option in your deck. Other cards with similar or lower mana costs could potentially offer more immediate impact or longer-term value on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” in Your Collection
Versatility: Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” offers flexibility in deck building, as its ability to redirect damage can serve multiple purposes, from protecting key creatures to enabling synergistic interactions. It’s a great inclusion in decks that focus on creature survivability and strategy outmaneuvering.
Combo Potential: The redirect ability of Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” can be a cornerstone in combos that revolve around damaging effects. It is invaluable for strategies that look to turn common damage spells into targeted removal or even into a way to activate your own beneficial triggers.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting meta, a card like Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix”, which can adapt to various situations, maintains its relevance. It can shine in metas where direct damage is prevalent, allowing for strategic plays that can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
How to beat
Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” emerges as a versatile commander in the realm of MTG’s strategic gameplay. Recognized for its ability to avoid direct damage and empower creatures, Pang Tong poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. Overcoming this legendary creature demands a precise strategy.
Effective measures include the use of targeted removal spells that bypass Pang Tong’s damage prevention. Spells that force a player to sacrifice a creature can be particularly potent, as they circumvent Pang Tong’s protective ability. Additionally, taking advantage of board wipes that don’t deal damage, like “Terminus” or “Supreme Verdict,” can clear the field without triggering Pang Tong’s ability.
Moreover, manipulating combat through effects that alter the power and toughness of creatures, or by employing creatures with deathtouch, can outmaneuver Pang Tong’s boost to its allies. Ultimately, tailoring a deck to include these considerations can provide an upper hand against Pang Tong, ensuring readiness for when this “Young Phoenix” attempts to rise.
Cards like Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix"
Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix” adds a unique twist to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, particularly in the realm of utility and versatility. When delving into cards with comparable functionalities, Oath of Lieges comes to mind. This enchantment allows players to search for land cards, much like the ability of Pang Tong, yet without the convenience of being embodied in a creature. This notable difference means that while Oath of Lieges is less vulnerable to creature removal, it doesn’t offer the tactical advantage of a creature that can attack or block.
Another intriguing comparison is with the card Knight of the White Orchid which, similar to Pang Tong, provides land acceleration. However, it’s confined to the condition of having fewer lands than an opponent, a limitation that Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix,” graciously circumvents. Moreover, Pang Tong also presents the potential to fuel strategies around tokens through its secondary ability, a dimension that Knight of the White Orchid lacks.
From the lens of players seeking strategic card choice, Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix,” has its merits within the ecosystem of cards offering land acceleration and board presence, providing a dual advantage that is hard to match in the continuously evolving game of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Treasure Chest, 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 Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Li Tie.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 14 | 1997 | Normal | White | Li Tie | |
| 2 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65813 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Li Tie |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Predh | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-20 | If a turn has multiple combat phases, the ability can only be activated before the beginning of the declare attackers step of the first combat phase in that turn. |
