Thumbscrews
Tempest 312 • rare
- Set
- Tempest
- Collector number
- 312
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- 2 generic mana
- Type
- Artifact
- Colors
- Colorless
- Artist
- Charles Gillespie
- Market price
- $0.31
What it does
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have five or more cards in hand, this artifact deals 1 damage to target opponent or planeswalker.
"We will start small, I think."— Volrath
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Thumbscrews was released in 1997 as part of the Tempest expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Designed by Richard Garfield, the set introduced mechanics like buyback and shadow, aiming to create a more tactical and intricate gameplay environment compared to previous releases. The card itself functions as an artifact that forces players to make a choice between taking damage or discarding cards, reflecting the set's broader themes of risk and resource management.
The card’s illustration was provided by artist Dan Frazier, a veteran contributor to the game’s early aesthetic. Frazier’s work on Thumbscrews leans into the dark, utilitarian fantasy style characteristic of the era, focusing on the literal implementation of the titular torture device. While the card is often cited by players for its punishing mechanical design, it remains a recognized piece of the game's mid-nineties visual identity, documenting a time when card mechanics were frequently tied to more visceral, gritty imagery.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Thumbscrews
Thumbscrews is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Tempest 312 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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