Blinking Spirit MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 8
1996-05-02 - Number et8
1996-05-02 - Number ml8
1997-03-24 - Number 12
1999-11-12 - Number 9
2005-07-29 - Number 8
2005-07-29 - Number 8★
2005-08-22 - Number C49
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
: Return Blinking Spirit to owner's hand.
"Don't look at it! Maybe it'll go away!" —Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
Cards like Blinking Spirit
The Blinking Spirit card holds a unique position among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Similar to Mistmeadow Witch, which also manipulates the field by exiling creatures until end of turn, Blinking Spirit has the inherent ability to return to its owner’s hand at will. Unlike the Witch, it doesn’t require any mana investment to activate this capacity, ensuring flexibility in usage during gameplay.
Another card that shares the theme of elusiveness with Blinking Spirit is the Whitemane Lion. Although it requires a casting cost with each activation, the Lion’s ability to rescue another creature upon entering the battlefield gives players a tactical advantage, similar to the Spirit’s self-preserving feature. However, Blinking Spirit stands out for its repetitive and mana-free activation.
Moreover, comparing Blinking Spirit to Aetherling reveals more versatility within the realm of evasion; Aetherling, possessing multiple abilities, can become unblockable and also dodge removals. However, it demands a notable mana investment to exploit these benefits. Therefore, Blinking Spirit maintains a niche as an evasive and resilient creature, able to elude removal without the mana drain, showcasing a different strategic edge in Magic: The Gathering match-ups.
Cards similar to Blinking Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Blinking Spirit’s unique ability to return to its owner’s hand offers a way to protect valuable creatures from removal or clear the board effects, helping players maintain card advantage during the match.
Resource Acceleration: Through its repeated use, this spirit indirectly contributes to resource acceleration. By enabling reuse of enter-the-battlefield effects of other creatures, it can ramp up the advantages gained during your turns.
Instant Speed: The capability to blink Blinking Spirit at instant speed gives players the flexibility to adapt to threats or opportunities as they arise, effectively using their mana while keeping their opponents guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Blinking Spirit, you need to be aware that returning it to your hand will cost you a turn’s play. This requirement can be particularly cumbersome if you’re aiming to maintain board presence and tempo.
Specific Mana Cost: Blinking Spirit demands a specific mana combination, requiring one white and three other mana to cast. This restricts its integration to decks that can reliably produce white mana and might not fit seamlessly into multicolored deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the ability to dodge removal and other spells is valuable, the four mana cost of Blinking Spirit is significant. There are cards with lower mana costs that can have a more immediate impact on the game, making Blinking Spirit a less efficient choice in some scenarios.
Reasons to Include Blinking Spirit in Your Collection
Versatility: Blinking Spirit can adjust to various defensive and offensive strategies. Its ability to return to the owner’s hand provides an excellent way to avoid removal and keep a creature on the board.
Combo Potential: This spirit interacts well with cards that generate value when a creature enters the battlefield or leaves it. It opens up opportunities for powerful play sequences with the right synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Given its evasive nature, Blinking Spirit works well in a meta with heavy spot removal. It can persist through board wipes and targeted destruction, making it a resilient threat or a consistent blocker.
How to beat
The challenge when facing Blinking Spirit in a Magic: The Gathering match is effectively mitigating its elusive nature. This creature card is particularly tricky due to its ability to return to its owner’s hand at any time for a mere mana cost. This not only prevents the spirit from falling victim to a plethora of removal spells but also allows your opponent to dodge unfavorable blocks or combat tricks.
To successfully conquer the Blinking Spirit, applying continuous pressure with untargeted removal like board wipes or forcing your opponent to act, such as with sacrifice effects, can be key. Cards with the “edict” effect, which compel a player to sacrifice a creature, sidestep the need to target and can navigate around the spirit’s defensive blink. Moreover, utilizing spells or abilities that restrict your opponent’s mana can also hamstring their capacity to react with the spirit’s ability, potentially trapping the spirit on the battlefield long enough to be dealt with on your terms.
Ultimately, overcoming a Blinking Spirit comes down to outmaneuvering your opponent and making strategic plays that exploit the periods when the spirit is vulnerable or the opponent’s resources are stretched too thin.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Blinking Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Blinking Spirit and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Blinking Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Allen Williams.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 8 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Allen Williams | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | et8 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Allen Williams | |
| 3 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ml8 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Allen Williams | |
| 4 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 12 | 1997 | Normal | White | Allen Williams | |
| 5 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 9 | 1997 | Normal | White | Allen Williams | |
| 6 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 8 | 2003 | Normal | White | Allen Williams | |
| 7 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 8★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Allen Williams | |
| 8 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | C49 | 2003 | Normal | White | Allen Williams |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Blinking Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |