Barbed Spike MTG Card

Gains +1/+0 and a flying Thopter token, offering value and board presence with each play. Supports artifact-based strategies by increasing available resources and enabling synergistic plays. Instant-speed equipment offers effective responsive play, keeping opponents on their toes.

Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
2021-06-18 - Number 5

Barbed Spike - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)

Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
2021-08-26 - Number 50

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Text of card

When Barbed Spike enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying, then attach Barbed Spike to it. Equipped creature gets +1/+0. Equip

Cards like Barbed Spike

Barbed Spike is an intriguing equipment card that finds its niche within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Not unlike the trusty Bonesplitter, Barbed Spike equips to creatures for a mere single mana and grants them a power boost. While Bonesplitter solely increases power, Barbed Spike takes it up a notch by offering both power and an additional Thopter creature token upon entry, bestowing a slight edge in versatility.

Moonsilver Spear presents a comparison with its ability to generate a creature token. However, Moonsilver Spear’s token is significantly more potent, and it costs more to equip. But what sets Barbed Spike apart is the lower cost of equipment and the instant bonus of the Thopter token. On the other hand, Grafted Wargear offers a substantial power bonus at no equip cost, yet it comes with a steep price – the sacrifice of the equipped creature when the item becomes unattached.

Assessing the balance between cost, bonuses, and equipment attributes, Barbed Spike maintains a commendable position among similar MTG cards. Its economical equip cost paired with the perk of creating a creature token slots it into a unique role on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Barbed Spike by color, type and mana cost

Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms - MTG Card versions

Cogworker's Puzzleknot - MTG Card versions

Knight of the Kitchen Sink - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Barbed Spike. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

Name	Format	Archetype	Event
Azorius Midrange	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024
Boros Aggro	Gladiator		Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 15 2024
Boros Foundry		Other	Timeless Creator Clash #001
Azorius Aggro	Gladiator		Gladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Equipped creatures get a noticeable boost by gaining a +1/+0 enhancement, which not only strengthens your side on the battlefield, but it can also tip the scales during combat—especially in aggressive decks. Additionally, when Barbed Spike enters the battlefield, you create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying, effectively giving you two assets for the price of one and increasing your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: The Thopter token produced can be pivotal for strategies that require artifacts to trigger abilities or enhance the board state. With each cast of Barbed Spike, you’re accelerating your resource pool, which can be leveraged for various synergistic plays, allowing you to outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Barbed Spike itself is not an instant, the equipment it produces offers flexibility. You can respond to your opponent’s actions by equipping it during their end step, keeping mana available for instant-speed interactions on their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barbed Spike may ask players to pitch another card from their hand which could be detrimental during moments where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Being colorless, Barbed Spike fits in any MTG deck, but requires two mana, including one Phyrexian mana, which could be costly in terms of life points or specific mana availability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that provides a single Equipment artifact with limited impact, the mana investment might be steep as there are more impactful cards available at a similar or lower cost bracket.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbed Spike is flexible enough to slot into various deck types. It excels in aggro configurations where bouncing it for repeated use can exploit its enter-the-battlefield effect.

Combo Potential: This card interacts well with mechanics that capitalize on artifact synergies and enter-the-battlefield triggers. Its capacity to equip creatures at instant speed allows for surprise shifts in combat dynamics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with an abundance of creature-based strategies, Barbed Spike’s passive power boost and flying capability can turn the tides by offering both offensive pressure and defensive utility.

How to beat

The Barbed Spike card presents unique challenges on the battlefield with its ability to empower creatures and potentially create a 1/1 Thopter flying token when it equips. Understanding the key traits of equipment cards in Magic: The Gathering is crucial to overcoming the strategic advantage Barbed Spike can offer an opponent’s lineup.

Overcoming Barbed Spike involves a few strategies. Removal spells capable of targeting artifacts directly, such as Abrade or Shatter, can eliminate the equipment before it becomes a threat. Keeping instant-speed removal in hand for when the opponent tries to equip can disrupt their play and maintain board control. Creature removal spells also work well in response to the equip ability activation, ensuring the investment in mana for the equip cost is wasted.

Additionally, countering strategies with enchantments like Stony Silence can prevent players from using any equip abilities, rendering Barbed Spike and similar cards powerless. It’s important to plan ahead and equip your deck with answers to face such threats seamlessly. Understanding when and how to interact with equipment cards is an essential skill, and mastering these tactics can significantly improve performance against decks utilizing tools like Barbed Spike.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbed Spike MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Barbed Spike and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Barbed Spike Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by James Paick.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2021-06-18	Modern Horizons 2	MH2		5	2015	Normal	Black	James Paick
2	2021-08-26	Jumpstart: Historic Horizons	J21		50	2015	Normal	Black	James Paick

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barbed Spike has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Barbed Spike card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2021-06-18	Creating the Thopter token and attaching Barbed Spike to it happen as part of the resolution of the same ability. There is no time for an opponent to react after the token is created but before the Equipment is attached.
2021-06-18	The token will still be created even if Barbed Spike is not able to be attached to it (perhaps because it was destroyed in response to the ability).