Three Tragedies MTG Card


Offers instant-speed interaction, enabling strategic responses during an opponent’s turn for maximum impact. Demands careful hand management due to the discard requirement, adding a layer of strategic complexity. Can be key in meta shifts, offering versatile responses to various strategies and maintaining hand advantage.
Three Tragedies - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery — Arcane
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Number87
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDarrell Riche

Text of card

Target player discards three cards.

"As the kami passed over the village of Mita, the inhabitants relived their three most grievous tragedies. Some cried. Some raged. Some were driven to madness. But the next morning, none possessed the will to fight." —*Observations of the Kami War*


Cards like Three Tragedies

Three Tragedies brings a unique twist to the black card removal lineup within MTG. As it permits the targeting of three different cards in an opponent’s hand, it echoes attributes of notorious discard spells like Mind Rot. Mind Rot also forces the opponent to discard multiple cards, providing a clear resemblance. However, Three Tragedies requires the caster to delve into their graveyard, offering a way to play it for a potentially lower cost, diverging from the fixed mana cost of Mind Rot.

Furthermore, Delirium Skeins emerges as another parallel, making each player discard three cards, indiscriminately affecting both participants. While this has a broader impact compared to the selectiveness of Three Tragedies, it can lead to disadvantaging the caster as well. The precision that Three Tragedies offers, allowing players to choose what their opponent discards, sets it apart and gives it a strategic edge in targeted hand disruption.

Assessing the niche that Three Tragedies carves out in the scope of discard spells in MTG, its mix of direct impact and mana flexibility through the graveyard synergy represents a compelling option for players aiming to dismantle their opponent’s strategy effectively.

Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Delirium Skeins - MTG Card versions
Mind Rot - MTG Card versions
Delirium Skeins - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Three Tragedies by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Incremental Blight - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Plague - MTG Card versions
Spread the Sickness - MTG Card versions
Monomania - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Revelation - MTG Card versions
Crux of Fate - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Three Tragedies offers a precise way to sculpt your hand by allowing you to target three cards in a graveyard and return them to their owner’s hand. This can be a massive boon when you’re strategizing for card options that will strengthen your position on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly affecting mana, retrieving key cards with Three Tragedies can indirectly accelerate your resources. By bringing back combo pieces or essential spells, you’re essentially gaining access to more actionable resources at a crucial moment in the game.

Instant Speed: The fact that Three Tragedies functions at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn. You can wait to see how your opponent plays out their strategy before deciding the best way to utilize this powerful retrieval effect.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To leverage Three Tragedies card effectively, players must sacrifice another card from their hand. This can be particularly straining when your hand is already scant, potentially forcing you to give up essential resources or strategically valuable cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise blend of mana colors to cast. Not only does Three Tragedies demand black mana, but it also necessitates two additional mana of any color. This specificity can constrain deck-building options, especially for those who prefer a more flexible mana base or play multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost being higher than some alternative spells, some players might find it less appealing. In the diverse world of MTG cards, there are others that offer similar effects without the hefty mana investment, making Three Tragedies potentially less efficient in a tight game scenario.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Three Tragedies offers the flexibility to disrupt a wide array of decks, making it a choice addition for players aiming to undermine their opponent’s hand regardless of the strategy they employ.

Combo Potential: This card shines in scenarios where you can capitalize on both the discard effect and graveyard plays, enabling complex interactions with cards that benefit from opponents having fewer options or from cards being in graveyards.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, a card like Three Tragedies holds its value by allowing players to respond proactively to opponent’s strategies, maintaining hand advantage which is often critical in various meta configurations.


How to beat

Three Tragedies is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering that encourages strategic discarding from your opponent’s hand. Understanding the underpinnings of this card is essential for devising a counter strategy. Unlike many other hand disruption cards, Three Tragedies forces an opponent to choose and discard three cards, posing a real challenge to overcome.

To effectively beat this card, one must play around its mechanic by maintaining card advantage. Options include utilizing instant-speed drawing spells to refill your hand post discard or leveraging cards with graveyard retrieval abilities to recover key components lost through Three Tragedies. Additionally, holding onto lands or less critical cards when anticipating this play can mitigate the impact, preserving crucial spells for your game plan.

Implementing cards that draw upon discard or benefit from being in the graveyard can also turn the tables on Three Tragedies. It can be advantageous to let go of cards that activate or enhance their powers once discarded, thus flipping a potential setback into an unforeseen advantage against your opponent in Magic: The Gathering.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Three Tragedies MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Three Tragedies and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Three Tragedies has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal