Torment ability

The Torment ability is a slang term used by Magic R&D to describe the following effect: "Target player sacrifices a nonland permanent, pays 3 life, or discards a card." This effect is not named after the card Torment or the set Torment, but rather after the vertical cycle of Torments in Hour of Devastation.

Description

The effect is primary used in black. It gives the opponent some options of what to pay, making it similar to a punisher mechanic, but with a "default" option that stops opponents from choosing to pick a cost they can't pay (e.g. discard with an empty hand).

Cards with Torment

• Torment of Hailfire (Hour of Devastation)
• Torment of Scarabs (Hour of Devastation)
• Torment of Venom (Hour of Devastation)
• Nicol Bolas, the Deceiver (Hour of Devastation)
• Tergrid's Lantern (Kaldheim)
• Hag of Ceaseless Torment (Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate)

Similar cards

• Dusk Mangler (Streets of New Capenna) - each opponent sacrifices a creature, discards a card, and loses 4 life
• Forbidden Ritual (Visions) - sacrifice permanent instead of nonland permanent, two life rather than three
• Indulgent Tormentor (Magic 2015) - sacrifice creature instead of nonland permanent, controller draws rather than opponent discards
• Polygraph Orb - sacrifice creature instead of nonland permanent
• Professor Onyx (Strixhaven: School of Mages) - cannot sacrifice permanents
• Remorseless Punishment (Oath of the Gatewatch) - sacrifice creature or planeswalker instead of nonland permanent, five life rather than three, discard two rather than discard one
• Zoyowa Lava-Tongue - damage instead of life loss, sacrifice permanent instead of nonland permanent