Painful Truths

Sorcery

Converge — You draw X cards and you lose X life, where X is the number of colours of mana spent to cast Painful Truths.

Discussion (51)

enpc on Phyrexian Arena

1 month ago

I didn't realise that Phyrexian Arena got enough hype for it to be over-hyped. Though your comment would indicate that you're moving from a pretty casual form of EDH (where Arena does work becuase games are soe drawn out) into a more competitive more tuned version of EDH.

As others have mentioned, when you get into this space then you're correct that the card does less work, due to either more removal or shorter games. As you start looking for more draw efficiency then you're either looking into cards which are super cheap ( Mystic Remora , Esper Sentinel , Dark Confidant , Sylvan Library , etc) or cards that will get you multiple draws per turn (some of hte aforementioned cards, Runic Armasaur , etc.). The other thing is that due to its double black, it makes the card a lot more clunky to cast in early games, when typically most decks are going for double blue or double green (because let's face it, these two colours dominate the competitive meta).

You also have your cantrips (as other comments have mentioned) - Sign in Blood is decent but Night's Whisper is generally preferred as the casting cost is easier. There's also Painful Truths which needs a 3+ colour deck to work but costs the same amount of mana as Arena with the upside of getting the three cards immediately.

Generally though, the more competitive decks use black primarily for its tutor ability rather than its draw ability (with the obvious exception of Necropotence ).

TheShadowNite on king-saproling

2 months ago

Hmm, this is strange. As far as I can tell, the endpanel and endaccordion lines are in the code, but it's not showing up in the description. I put the code for the description in a code box if you want to glance over it. Thanks for your help dude!

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===accordion
===panel: Background
I started playing Magic the Gathering back when Guilds of Ravnica was released. I bought 2 fat packs, and promptly built a Dimir surveil "standard" deck that was a steaming pile of hot poo. I then tried to "fix" it by adding in green, making it a sultai deck. This did nothing. However, ever since then, graveyard decks as well as the colors Black/Green/X have always had a special place in my heart. While I was assessing my commander decks, I realized I had never built a deck revolving around the graveyard, and I knew what I had to do. 
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===panel: Building the Deck
To the Interwebs! I rushed to the computer to look on EDHRec to see what graveyard commanders there were. I already had a decent idea of what I was searching for. I had heard of [[Muldrotha, the Gravetide]], [[Meren of Clan Nel Toth]], as well as [[card:Karador, Ghost Chieftain]], but none of these seemed to speak to me. Going strictly Golgari seemed limiting, as there were many cards I wanted to play in blue. However, when I add blue to my decks, I always somehow turn it into a control deck, and I wanted this to be fun for the whole table. So, that idea sadly had to be thrown in the trash. I looked back over my options, and realized that I liked the idea of [[card:Karador, Ghost Chieftain]], I just didn't like how it limited you to one card per turn from the graveyard. So, I looked more into the Abzan colors, and found [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]]. It was exactly what I was looking for.
===endpanel
===panel: Gameplan
With [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]], I would be able to fill my graveyard to my hearts content, then at the opportune moment cast my commander, reanimating most of my graveyard and turning the tide of the game. Ideally, I would win on the spot once I cast my commander, but since that is not always guaranteed, I added in some "stax" (not sure if that is the right word). Essentially just cards that would slow down my opponents until I can fill up my graveyard with the combo, then reanimate it again with Nethroi. 
===endpanel
===panel: Winning the Game
The main way this deck wins is through a combo involving [[Reveillark]], [[Karmic Guide]], a sac outlet such as [[Viscera Seer]], and a pinger, such as [[Blood Artist]]. Assuming all the pieces are on the battlefield, you can sacrifice the Karmic Guide to the sac outlet. Now, there is a [[Reveillark]], [[Viscera Seer]], and a [[Blood Artist]] on the battlefield, with a [[Karmic Guide]] in the graveyard. Then, you can sacrifice the [[Reveillark]] to the [[Viscera Seer]] to bring back the [[Karmic Guide]]. When the Karmic Guide enters the battlefield, it's ability will trigger, allowing you to bring back the [[Reveillark]], so you can repeat the process as many times as you need, until every opponent dies from [[Blood Artist]] triggers. 
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While this deck may win through a combo, I don't want it to be as competitive as possible, as most of my playgroup is limited to a tight budget (College will do that to ya).  
===endpanel
===panel: Budget
In regards to budget, I'm trying to only buy <$100 worth of cards. I already own most of the cards in the deck, but any I don't I'll put in the acquire section.
===endpanel
===panel: Things I've Noticed/Help Needed
A few things I've noticed when I goldfished a couple hands with this deck is that it's very mana hungry, and its early game presence is quite lackluster. I tried cutting cards to add in more ramp, but it's to the point where I love every card in the deck, and I can't bring myself to cut more (it was originally a quite hefty 148 card deck when I first drew up a rough draft). What do you think I could cut/replace to keep the core idea of the deck, while getting it down to 100 cards? It seems to be a little all over the place, and I keep noticing I don't have the right cards I need in my hand at the right time. Since this is my first Commander/EDH graveyard focused deck, what are your thoughts? What are things I can improve (besides the atrocious mana curve)?
===endpanel
===panel: Upgrades/Cards I'm Considering
This is a list of potential upgrades for down the road, as they're too expensive for the deck at the moment:<br>
[[Hermit Druid]]<br>
[[Birds of Paradise]]<br>
[[Protean Hulk]]<br>
[[Fauna Shaman]]<br><br>
This is the list of cards I'm considering putting in the deck: <br> [[Ancient Craving]] <br> [[Dakmor Salvage]] <br> [[Drownyard Temple]] <br> [[Night's Whisper]] <br> [[Painful Truths]] <br> [[Plumb the Forbidden]] <br> [[Sign in Blood]] <br> [[Village Rites]] <br> [[Brainspoil]] (can grab [[Karmic Guide]] or [[Reveillark]]) <br> [[Skullwinder]] <br> 
===endpanel
===panel: Changelog
This is just a spot for me to know what I took out for what, in the case that some cards I add underperform, or some are overperformers :)<br><br> 05/07/21 <br> -[[Fiend Hunter]] OUT for [[Leonin Relic-Warder]]. While Relic-Warder does not target creatures, it combos with [[Animate Dead]] and a [[Blood Artist]] effect.<br> -[[Morality Shift]] OUT for [[Skullclamp]]. Mortality Shift's 7 cmc is pretty high, and by the time I can cast it there are probably better things to do. Skullclamp allows me to draw cards, one thing that this deck is lacking, for a very low cost. <br> -[[Drannith Magistrate]] and [[Sun Titan]] are OUT. Magistrate was only in as a friend has several scary [[Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]] decks, and it shuts him down until he removes it. I'm still on the fence about Sun Titan. It IS a nice effect, but I'm struggling to justify the mana cost, and if I decide to reanimate it, there are generally better targets to reanimate. <be> -[[Fertilid]] OUT for [[Cultivate]]. While Fertilid is a pretty fun target for Nethroi's reanimate ability, I've found I'm struggling to cast Nethroi in the first place. 
===endpanel
===endaccordion

BrassLord on Dead Men Tell (some) Tales

2 months ago

Nethroi is a good boi! Just some minor suggestions. Avacyn's Pilgrim out for Birds of Paradise . 0 attack means free body later on, can produce all colors of mana and flying makes it a great target for mutate!

It really depends on the direction you'd like to go. A lot of Nethroi decks go all in on the self milling 0 cost creatures, which is effective but kinda plays the same way every game. This shell looks like you have a lot of different options and recursion redundancies at the cost of some of the turbo self mill cards. something like Hermit Druid outside of a combo could get in a lot of work if you slim down the mana base.

An observation, the deck itself seems like you have a solid basis, but I think it's a little lacking in card draw. Something like Skullclamp with all your mana dorks, The Great Henge , Painful Truths Deathreap Ritual could help keep the gas going, especially in the early game.

Just some ideas, hope it helps!

discipleofgary73 on Release of Lore

2 months ago

abby315 Thank you!!! Tormod was not my first instinct, but I am so glad that I landed there eventually. Painful Truths is definitely getting swapped in! I think Faithless Looting is one of the last cuts I made. I've had it become a dead card in hand, but I think I'll add it back if I also fit it Crucible of Worlds just to have better discard options. Throes of Chaos is great and plays so nicely with Laelia! Mizzix's Mastery was hit or miss depending on if I got to the scrollwielder and other ncs recursion effects first. But, I was always only considering it for the overload, and even without that, it can help with storming off nicely. And Mentor of the Meek is perfect! Especially with Tormod and the Sedgemoor Witch. Thanks for stopping by!

abby315 on Release of Lore

2 months ago

What a fun idea for a deck! I love creative uses for Tormod.

Painful Truths is often going to be a better Ancient Craving in your 3c deck. Night's Whisper is also a good option. I would also really think you'd want Faithless Looting both for the discard and the flashback, and Valakut Awakening  ^Flip is a nice self-wheel plus a land-drop if you need it.

There's also Throes of Chaos , which is a fun little Cascade engine that makes sure you don't have dead draws late in the game.

If you find you want to turbo your GY a little more, consider dredgers like Stinkweed Imp paired with self-mill, the best of which is probably Altar of Dementia and Mesmeric Orb .

Mizzix's Mastery also seems like a good "win the game" option for you!

Mentor of the Meek is a nice card-draw engine with Tormod.

Azeworai on Alesha, Who Smiles at Death Commander

3 months ago

Ah, I had long-tinkered with an Alesha list for quite the meiny of months, whereupon I have a fair number of suggestions for consideration in your ranks.

Meseems Callous Bloodmage is one of the best cards in the new set for inclusion, as it does three relevant things for any given circumstance. Choose wisely.

Any aristocrats list is incomplete when bereft of Skullclamp . Overplayed? Overrated? Too powerful? Is it too efficient? Perhaps you are tired of acknowledging its existence? Is this jest overlong all for the sake of an ensuing sentence? No, no, yes, maybe, and yes. (Just play it.)

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician is a particular powerhouse. He does everything. Maugre the cost of one life, he enables a draw engine and sacrifice outlet. So much for so little.

False Prophet is a most splendid wrath, for, ere his calamitous demise trigger, you may sacrifice your board and ravage all others.

Feldon of the Third Path , however sorrowful his tale, is quite the potent artificer. Bringing back many and wreaking havoc upon all is a brutal combination that can act as a backup version of the commander.

Rummaging effects are perhaps something of which I am too fond, yet here we are. Rummaging Goblin , Anje Falkenrath , Plargg, Dean of Chaos  ^Flip, Deal Broker , Smuggler's Copter , and Mad Prophet are all ones I would seek to add.

I much enjoy Painful Truths in any multi-coloured Black deck. Sign in Blood and Night's Whisper are equally enjoyable.

Retribution of the Meek is a splendid wrath, typically decimating the opponents' populous.

There are also the intrinsic staples that I may as well proffer by name: Blood Artist , Swords to Plowshares , Despark , Anguished Unmaking , Vindicate , Path to Exile , and Fellwar Stone .

Thus is all, dear folk. But, might all of your foes be met with a despairing shriek as Karmic Guide has her fun casting demise.

Lastly, the deck name could use a little work. Yes, it may be forthright, but, opt for something with flare. Let it be histrionic! Brutal! WONDERFUL!

Thence I leave.

Here is my own list, if you deign to care: Quondam Foes

matt247 on Morophon, the Boundless

4 months ago

Cut: - Warped Landscape - Forsake the Worldly - Wilt - Rain of Revelation - Akroma's Vengeance - Cleansing Nova - Vastwood Surge - River's Rebuke - Font of Fertility - Hideous Visage - Garruk's Uprising

Add: - Wasteland Strangler - World Breaker - All Is Dust - Blisterpod - Decimator of the Provinces - Distended Mindbender - Elder Deep-Fiend - Eldrazi Displacer - Eldrazi Mimic - Eldrazi Obligator - Fathom Feeder - Oblivion Sower - Rapacious One - Thought Harvester - Sire of Stagnation - Tide Drifter - Vanquisher's Banner - Mystic Reflection - Pact of the Serpent - Blight Herder - Arcane Signet - Sol Ring - Thran Dynamo - Chromatic Lantern - Commander's Sphere - Fellwar Stone - Worn Powerstone - Coalition Relic - Hedron Archive - Path to Exile - Swords to Plowshares - Swan Song - Skyshroud Claim - Elemental Bond - Unified Will - Reflections of Littjara - Ugin, the Ineffable - Forsaken Monument - Pathrazer of Ulamog - Jodah, Archmage Eternal - Kozilek's Return - Crop Rotation - Chaos Warp - Painful Truths - Tempt with Discovery - Lightning Greaves - Court of Bounty - Cascading Cataracts

Hardhitta7 on Edgar Markov, Counters and Life-gain

4 months ago

Looks good! I looked over the deck list several times and couldn’t find many suggestions, you got all the good ones.

Maybe Stensia Masquerade ? And maybe Painful Truths if you want more draw, or Phyrexian Arena .