Gaze of Pain MTG Card


Provides board control and potential card draw leading to a significant advantage over opponents. Demands card discard and specific mana, adding complexity to its strategic deployment. High combo potential and meta relevance make it a versatile choice for MTG decks.
Gaze of Pain - Ice Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameIce Age
Set codeICE
Number128
Frame1993
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAnson Maddocks

Text of card

For each creature you control that attacks and is not blocked, you may choose to have it deal no damage to defending player this turn. If you do so, it instead deals damage equal to its power to any target creature.

Remove the guardians to ensure your victory.


Cards like Gaze of Pain

Gaze of Pain is a unique piece in the puzzle of card advantage mechanics in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a slight resemblance to other cards that manipulate damage to draw cards. Akin to Gaze of Pain, the spell Needle Drop requires a creature to be dealt damage before its effect—drawing a card—can be realized. However, Needle Drop needs the player to have dealt damage to an opponent, whereas Gaze of Pain simply requires damage of any kind to a creature.

Furthermore, we can compare it to Flame Jab, which offers recurring damage based on the Retrace ability, permitting players to continually deal damage by discarding lands, though without the card draw element. A step closer to Gaze of Pain, in terms of combining damage with card replacement, would be Sudden Impact, which deals damage to an opponent equal to the number of cards in their hand and allows for an immediate card draw.

Analysing the core aspects and possible applications, Gaze of Pain holds a distinctive position in the range of MTG cards that offer direct damage intertwined with card advantage, lending a strategic edge in certain deck builds.

Needle Drop - MTG Card versions
Flame Jab - MTG Card versions
Sudden Impact - MTG Card versions
Needle Drop - MTG Card versions
Flame Jab - MTG Card versions
Sudden Impact - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Gaze of Pain by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
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Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Stitch Together - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Stitch Together - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gaze of Pain enables you to potentially remove several creatures from the board, which can swing the board state in your favor while also potentially drawing you cards should those creatures die. This effect gives you an edge in maintaining superior card equity against opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Clearing out multiple blockers or attackers can give you an indirect form of resource acceleration by preserving your life total or making way for your creatures to deal damage. Although not a direct form of mana acceleration, the impact on the game’s tempo can be significant.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed allows for surprise interactions on the battlefield. You have the flexibility to wait and see what your opponent does, and respond accordingly at the end of their turn, or during crucial combat phases. This can lead to highly advantageous plays that disrupt your opponent’s strategy at key moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gaze of Pain demands discarding a card as part of its casting process. This can severely impact your hand, especially when your options are already dwindling or when holding onto key pieces in your strategy is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a requirement for black mana, which could potentially restrict its inclusion in decks that don’t support or focus on black mana sources. Players with multicolor decks might find it challenging to meet the mana requirement when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at two mana, one of which is specifically black, players may find the card somewhat costly, particularly when considering other cards in the same mana range that could offer more immediate or impactful effects on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gaze of Pain shines in multiple settings, effortlessly sliding into black-based decks that capitalize on pain strategies. Its ability to damage and potentially draw cards makes it a shrewd addition to your arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card’s capacity for interaction is high, synergizing well with effects that benefit from creatures being dealt damage or with setups that want to hit multiple targets simultaneously.

Meta-Relevance: Given a meta frequented by swarms of small creatures or token strategies, Gaze of Pain can serve as a powerful deterrent, clearing the way for your own tactics to take center stage.


How to beat Gaze of Pain

Gaze of Pain is a unique card that can seem daunting to counter in a game of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal with multiple creatures in a single stroke while potentially drawing cards for your opponent makes it both a removal and an advantage card. Yet, every card has its weaknesses, and Gaze of Pain is no exception.

To mitigate the impact of Gaze of Pain, focus on deck construction strategies that either limit the number of creatures you play with or ensure your creatures’ toughness will withstand Gaze of Pain’s effect. Additionally, include spells that can counter or redirect damage. This disrupts your opponent’s attempt to gain control of the board and maintain card advantage. Cards such as Shunt can effectively redirect the damage Gaze of Pain aims to inflict, turning a potential deficit into an opportunity.

Another method is employing instant-speed removal or protection spells when Gaze of Pain is cast. This flexibility allows you to save key creatures or preemptively thin out your own board to reduce the card draw benefit for your opponent. The presence of counter spells also serves as a strong deterrent, making Gaze of Pain a risky play for your opponent.

In essence, knowing the strengths and limitations of Gaze of Pain allows for strategic play that mitigates its impact on the game. Careful deck building and timely reactions during gameplay are keys to mastering how to beat this intriguing card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gaze of Pain MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Gaze of Pain and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gaze of Pain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gaze of Pain 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 An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.