Stinging Study MTG Card


Gain considerable card advantage by drawing cards equal to your commander’s mana value. Instant speed provides flexibility, casting the card at the most strategic moments. Though powerful, it requires discarding and specific mana, limiting its ease of use.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

You draw X cards and you lose X life, where X is the mana value of a commander you own on the battlefield or in the command zone.

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Cards like Stinging Study

The allure of Stinging Study in the MTG ecosystem lies in its unique ability to integrate life loss with card draw. Comparable to Sign in Blood, which also offers two cards for two life, Stinging Study ups the ante by potentially drawing more cards at the cost of five life and five mana. This is a much steeper expense in both resources, especially when juxtaposed with the two black mana cost of Sign in Blood, which notably doesn’t scale with a creature’s power.

Peer into the Abyss is another parallel; it too involves a massive exchange of life for cards. However, while Peer into the Abyss is a one-time game changer, sacrificing half of your life for half of your library, Stinging Study restricts the card advantage to the power of a commander, setting a limit but doing so at a comparatively lower mana and life cost.

When weighing the benefits against their cost, Stinging Study offers a card advantage that is both powerful and conditional, carving its niche among life-for-cards spells in MTG. Its appeal stretches to commander-centric decks where its full potential can be unleashed, solidifying its place as a high-risk, high-reward staple in the right deckbuilds.

Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Peer into the Abyss - MTG Card versions
Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Peer into the Abyss - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Stinging Study by color, type and mana cost

Broken Visage - MTG Card versions
Contagion - MTG Card versions
Necrologia - MTG Card versions
Hatred - MTG Card versions
Dark Triumph - MTG Card versions
Annihilate - MTG Card versions
Waste Away - MTG Card versions
Consume the Meek - MTG Card versions
Szat's Will - MTG Card versions
Cruel Revival - MTG Card versions
Call for Blood - MTG Card versions
Death of a Thousand Stings - MTG Card versions
Moonlight Bargain - MTG Card versions
Traitor's Clutch - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Urge - MTG Card versions
Ad Nauseam - MTG Card versions
Lash of the Whip - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Flesh to Dust - MTG Card versions
Unmake the Graves - MTG Card versions
Broken Visage - MTG Card versions
Contagion - MTG Card versions
Necrologia - MTG Card versions
Hatred - MTG Card versions
Dark Triumph - MTG Card versions
Annihilate - MTG Card versions
Waste Away - MTG Card versions
Consume the Meek - MTG Card versions
Szat's Will - MTG Card versions
Cruel Revival - MTG Card versions
Call for Blood - MTG Card versions
Death of a Thousand Stings - MTG Card versions
Moonlight Bargain - MTG Card versions
Traitor's Clutch - MTG Card versions
Treacherous Urge - MTG Card versions
Ad Nauseam - MTG Card versions
Lash of the Whip - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Flesh to Dust - MTG Card versions
Unmake the Graves - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stinging Study provides a significant edge by allowing the drawing of cards equal to the mana value of your commander. This can refuel your hand and keep you ahead in the card resource game.

Resource Acceleration: While Stinging Study itself does not directly produce additional mana or tokens, the influx of new cards can lead to other plays that accelerate your resources, such as landing additional land drops or casting spells that generate mana.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of Stinging Study makes it versatile, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment to cast it—perhaps in response to an opponent’s action or at their end step for maximum surprise and resource efficiency.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Stinging Study, the player must discard a card to activate its ability. This can be a strategic setback, particularly in tight situations where card advantage is crucial. Discarding a critical card could potentially put the player at a disadvantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Stinging Study’s mana cost is locked into black mana, which may not be easily accommodated in decks that don’t heavily feature this color. Players running multicolored decks or those with a limited black mana base might find it challenging to consistently cast Stinging Study on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, Stinging Study may come across as costly for the effect it provides. Players must weigh whether the potential card draw justifies the mana investment, especially when other options could be more mana-efficient. Alternatives might offer similar benefits without such a steep cost or additional requirements.


Reasons to Include Stinging Study in Your Collection

Versatility: Stinging Study can be particularly effective in decks that feature high-cost creatures, providing you with both an instant draw boost and leveraging the life spent on casting large creatures.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with strategies built around life gain or when combined with cards enabling you to cast creatures for alternate costs, thereby mitigating the life payment while reaping the benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where larger creatures make frequent appearances or where card advantage can turn the tides, Stinging Study can provide the edge needed to outmaneuver opponents.


How to beat Stinging Study

Stinging Study stands out in MTG as a means to convert life points into card advantage, a trade-off particularly worthwhile in decks with high converted mana cost (CMC) commanders. The ability to draw cards proportional to your commander’s CMC can turn the tide of a game by reloading your hand with options, tools, and resources essential for victory.

In combating Stinging Study, it’s crucial to disrupt this exchange. Strategies involve lowering the impact of card draw or attacking the life resource used to fuel it. Employing spells that restrict draw capabilities, such as Narset, Parter of Veils, can mitigate the benefit your opponent gains. Additionally, applying pressure through aggressive strategies can force a player dependent on Stinging Study to conserve life points, potentially deterring its usage. Alternatively, hand disruption techniques, exemplified by Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can proactively remove Stinging Study before it’s cast, diminishing its threat altogether.

Considering these aspects, it’s essential to prepare for such exchanges in MTG. Having the right counters in place against Stinging Study can ensure that your opponent’s bid to turn life into power becomes a costly endeavor that you are well-equipped to overcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

When considering the unique dynamics of Stinging Study, it’s clear this card can be a powerhouse in the right MTG setup. If your deck champions a high mana value commander, the card draw potential becomes a significant tactical advantage. The instant speed and surprise element of Stinging Study grant flexibility in many scenarios. If you’re intrigued by the intricacies of turning life into a strategic resource and looking to gain that upper hand in card advantage, deepening your understanding of this card can prove invaluable. Curious about expanding your strategy with Stinging Study? Dive into our insights to refine your deck and master the art of life-for-cards gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stinging Study MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Stinging Study and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stinging Study Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 900702015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 442015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3712015NormalBlackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stinging Study has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 If you own multiple commanders on the battlefield and/or in the command zone, you choose one of them as Stinging Study resolves to determine the value of X.
2021-04-16 If your commander is under the control of another player as Stinging Study resolves, it is still on the battlefield and will still be used to determine the value of X.