Magic: The Gathering Card Review: Torture Aura

Overview and Strategic Uses

Torture is an enchantment aura that provides a unique combination of removal and board presence. It puts -1/-1 counters on enchanted creatures, making them more vulnerable to removal and less effective in combat. This makes it an attractive card for controlling large groups of creatures or creating a board presence while also applying pressure through its ability.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Torture's ability is triggered when the aura is cast, allowing players to put -1/-1 counters on their own enchanted creatures. The {1}{B} mana cost of this ability allows players to maintain control over the creature while also applying pressure through the -1/-1 counter.

A crucial interaction to note is that Torture's ability only applies to enchanted creatures. If a creature is not enchanted by Torture, it will not be affected by the -1/-1 counters. Additionally, if a creature has multiple enchantments on it and Torture is cast, its ability will only apply to one of those enchantments.

Combos and Synergies

Torture can be used in various strategic contexts, depending on the player's deck and playstyle:

• Controlling large groups of creatures: Torture can be used to control an entire board of large creatures, making it difficult for opponents to deal with them.
• Creating a board presence: By enchanting multiple creatures, players can create a strong board presence while also applying pressure through the -1/-1 counters.
• Removing opponents' creatures: Since Torture makes enchanted creatures more vulnerable to removal, players can use their own creatures to remove opponents' creatures from the board.

Example combos include:

• Enchanting multiple large creatures with Torture and using them to attack an opponent's life total.
• Using Torture on a creature that has the ability to trigger when it dies, such as Grave Titan, to create a "death spiral" of removal.
• Combining Torture with a creature that has flying or trample, making it difficult for opponents to deal with.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Torture can be included in various deck archetypes:

• Control decks: Players who focus on controlling the board and removing opponents' creatures will love Torture. It allows them to remove large groups of creatures and apply pressure through its ability.
• Token decks: Token generators can be enchanted with Torture to create a strong board presence while also making it difficult for opponents to deal with their tokens.
• Midrange decks: Players who focus on midgame strategies will love Torture. It allows them to control the board and apply pressure through its ability.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Torture is moderately viable in most formats, but can struggle in certain contexts:

• Modern: Torture can be included in modern decks that focus on controlling the board and removing opponents' creatures.
• Standard: In standard decks, Torture may struggle to find a home due to the abundance of other removal spells.
• Commander: In commander formats, Torture can be used as a tool for controlling boards and applying pressure through its ability.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Here are some important rules interactions to note:

• Enchantment upkeep: When a player casts Torture, they must pay the {1}{B} cost to put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creatures. This means that players can only enchant creatures with Torture if they have access to {B}.
• Aura interaction: Since Torture is an aura, it will not prevent other enchantments from being applied to the same creature.
• Counter removal: When a player casts a spell that removes counters on a creature, such as Swords to Plowshares, it will only affect creatures with -1/-1 counters, including those enchanted with Torture.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Torture's art depicts a gruesome and unsettling scene, with a figure being subjected to an unknown form of torture. The flavor text reads "Your soul is mine." This suggests that the card's ability is not just about removing creatures from the board, but also about exerting control over one's opponents.

Historically, Torture was first released in 1996 as part of the Mercadian Masques set. It has since become a staple of many formats and a fan favorite among players.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Torture is a powerful card that offers a unique combination of removal and board presence. Its ability to put -1/-1 counters on enchanted creatures makes it difficult for opponents to deal with their creatures, while its low mana cost allows players to maintain control over the creature. While it may struggle in certain formats or contexts, Torture remains a staple of many deck archetypes and is sure to continue to be a popular choice among players.

Deckbuilding Considerations

When building a deck around Torture, consider the following:

• Creatures with high power and toughness will benefit from being enchanted with Torture.
• Tokens generated by token generators can be enchanted with Torture to create a strong board presence.
• Creatures with flying or trample can be enchanted with Torture to make them difficult for opponents to deal with.

Tips for Playing with Torture

When playing with Torture, keep the following in mind:

• Use Torture to control large groups of creatures and apply pressure through its ability.
• Enchant creatures with high power and toughness to maximize their effectiveness.
• Use token generators to create a strong board presence while also making it difficult for opponents to deal with.

Conclusion Summary

Torture is an enchantment aura that provides a unique combination of removal and board presence. Its ability to put -1/-1 counters on enchanted creatures makes it difficult for opponents to deal with their creatures, while its low mana cost allows players to maintain control over the creature.