Consume Spirit MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 60
2005-07-29 - Number 119★
2005-07-29 - Number 119
2007-07-13 - Number 131
2009-04-10 - Number 56
2009-07-17 - Number 89
2009-09-04 - Number 21
2010-06-04 - Number 20
2011-07-15 - Number 88
2012-01-01 - Number 6
2014-12-05 - Number 56
2020-09-26 - Number DDC-56
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Spend only black mana on X. Consume Spirit deals X damage to target creature or player. You gain X life.
Mephidross changes all who dwell there, taking their lives and adding them to its own.
Cards like Consume Spirit
Consume Spirit stands as a unique entry in the field of life-draining spells in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares some common ground with cards like Corrupt, providing both damage to a target and life gain equal to the damage dealt. Yet, the flexibility of Consume Spirit due to its “X” casting cost allows players to pour any amount of mana into it, setting it apart from the fixed cost of Corrupt. This versatility can be pivotal in both the early and late game scenarios.
Another comparable spell is Drain Life, which also revolves around the X casting cost mechanic. Like Consume Spirit, Drain Life permits players to adjust the spell’s power according to available mana, offering a similar strategic advantage. However, Consume Spirit’s broader range of targets, including the ability to target creatures or players over Drain Life’s creature-only focus, provides an edge in variable game conditions.
In studying life-draining options within the game, Consume Spirit emerges as an adaptable tool. It accommodates the player’s mana capacity and tactical choices, making it an effective and flexible component in any MTG player’s arsenal, especially in decks that capitalize on maximizing the use of mana.
Cards similar to Consume Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Consume Spirit. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Black Coffers | Modern | Mono-Black Coffers | Modern League 2024-01-14 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Consume Spirit provides scalability that can lead to significant card quality advantage. Utilizing it effectively can eliminate a threat on the board while simultaneously extending your lifeline, thus pivoting the game increasingly in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Although Consume Spirit itself doesn’t generate additional mana, its flexible X cost allows it to fit into strategies focused on resource acceleration. In decks capable of generating vast amounts of mana, this card can become a game-ender by dealing a large amount of damage directly to your opponent or their creatures.
Instant Speed: While Consume Spirit is a sorcery, pairing it with cards that allow you to cast sorceries as though they had flash can give it pseudo instant-speed capability. This strategy lets you adapt to the state of the game more fluidly, keeping opponents guessing and on the defensive.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Consume Spirit doesn’t demand a literal discard, it requires a significant investment of both mana and cards in hand to be effective, which can leave your resources depleted if the spell doesn’t end the game or significantly alter the board in your favor.
Specific Mana Cost: Consume Spirit’s effectiveness is heavily tied to black mana. For those running multicolored decks, the need for numerous black mana can be restrictive, especially in a mana pool filled with various colors trying to fulfill different spell requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Consume Spirit’s X cost means you must pour a considerable amount of mana into it to reap substantial benefits. In many cases, players find that there are other spells that can offer either more direct damage or life gain for a lower, more fixed cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Consume Spirit offers a dual purpose, serving both as a direct damage spell and a life gain source. This flexibility allows it to be slotted into various black decks, from control to combo, enhancing their resilience and reach.
Combo Potential: The card scales with mana investment, making it potent in decks that can generate substantial amounts of mana or combine it with effects that double spell damage or life gain. It’s a key piece in decks that aim to drain opponents’ life while maintaining a high life total.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to go longer, Consume Spirit shines as a finisher or as critical lifeline stabilizing your health. It’s a solid response to creature-heavy boards while keeping you firmly in the race against decks that focus on incremental damage.
How to beat
Consume Spirit is a unique spell in the MTG universe, possessing the dual capacity to deal damage and heal you in one fell swoop, based on the amount of mana invested into it. However, navigating a game with this card in play can be less daunting if you understand its mechanics. Like any spell requiring X mana for its cost, the power of Consume Spirit is directly tied to the available mana pool. Limiting the opponent’s resources, therefore, becomes a primary strategy. Denying your adversary lands through counter spells or land destruction can impede their ability to utilize Consume Spirit effectively.
Additionally, protection from black or spells granting you or your creatures indestructibility for a turn can nullify the damage component of Consume Spirit. Considering the spell is black, leveraging the color-specific defenses within MTG, such as “protection from black” abilities, can thoroughly subvert its potential. It is also paramount to keep in mind that Consume Spirit targets only one creature or player. Disseminating threats across the board can dilute its impact, diminishing the value your opponent gets for their mana investment.
To outmaneuver Consume Spirit, consider the timing and the flexibility it offers your opponent. Prepare to employ disruption or defensive maneuvers when their mana pool is maximized for the turn, as this is likely when they’ll seek to cast it for maximum effect.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Consume Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Ninth Edition, 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 Consume 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 Consume Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 60 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson | |
| 2 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 119★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson | |
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 119 | 2003 | Normal | White | Matt Thompson | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 131 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson | |
| 5 | 2009-04-10 | Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic | DDC | 56 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson | |
| 6 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 89 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 7 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase | HOP | 21 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 8 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 20 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 9 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 88 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Justin Sweet | |
| 10 | 2012-01-01 | IDW Comics Inserts | PIDW | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 11 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic | DVD | 56 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | DDC-56 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Matt Thompson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Consume Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Consume Spirit card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | If the targeted permanent or player is an illegal target by the time Consume Spirit would resolve, the entire spell doesn’t resolve. You won’t gain any life. |
| 2009-10-01 | The amount of life you gain is equal to the number chosen for X, not the amount of damage Consume Spirit deals (in case some of it is prevented). |