Text (MI+errata): Sacrifice ~this~, Discard your hand: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only any time you could cast an instant. [Oracle 2009/07/08]
The ability is a mana ability, so it is played and resolves as a mana ability, but it can only be played at times when you can play an instant. [bethmo 1999/11/17] Yes, this is a bit weird, but it does mean that this ability does not go on the stack and cannot be countered. [D'Angelo 2007/08/23]
You can discard a hand of zero cards to use this effect. [Duelist Magazine #16, Page 28]
Vintage tournaments (see Rule 911) have restricted this card since 2004/01/01.
Legacy tournaments (see Rule 912) banned this card from 2004/01/01 until 2004/09/20.
