Cryptic Spires MTG Card
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
| Released | 2022-07-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Double Masters 2022 |
| Set code | 2X2 |
| Number | 332 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sam Burley |
Text of card
As you create your deck, circle two of the colors below. Cryptic Spires enters the battlefield tapped. : Add one mana of either of the circled colors.
Cards like Cryptic Spires
Cryptic Spires finds its niche in the world of land cards within Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to utility lands such as Command Tower, which taps for any color of mana in a player’s commander’s color identity. However, Cryptic Spires requires a different form of activation, needing the player to reveal a creature card from their hand to tap for any color of mana that creature card contains, adding a strategic reveal element to the gameplay.
Moving to a more nuanced comparison, Exotic Orchard also provides mana flexibility by tapping for any color of mana that a land an opponent controls could produce. Unlike Cryptic Spires, it requires no reveal, making it a fluid and responsive play to an opponent’s land base. Then there’s Reflecting Pool, another comparable card, which mirrors Exotic Orchard’s adaptability but taps for any color of mana already available from your other lands.
In essence, Cryptic Spires plants itself firmly in the realm of MTG as a specialized land card. Its unique reveal mechanism caters to strategic deck builders and enables a splash of color diversity, essential for multicolored creature decks.
Cards similar to Cryptic Spires by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cryptic Spires offers a unique approach to card advantage. By manipulating the top card of your library, it assures you’re drawing into the action you need while also potentially setting up powerful plays for the turns ahead.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in resource acceleration, it gives you access to an additional land drop, ensuring that you can cast more spells or stronger spells sooner than usual. This can be particularly powerful in formats where tempo plays a crucial role.
Instant Speed: The ability to play lands at instant speed can be a game-changer, providing unprecedented flexibility. You can respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn or end step, keeping mana open for other critical plays or bluffs, which can give you a significant strategic edge.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cryptic Spires demands you to discard another land card, not only depleting your hand but also potentially disrupting your mana curve and land drops in future turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Its activation requires a specific combination of mana, making it less accessible in multicolor decks that may struggle with mana fixing or might not always have the necessary colors available at the right time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When compared with other land cards that offer similar utility, Cryptic Spires may be seen as less efficient, given that it enters the battlefield tapped and its activation cost can set you back in other developments on your turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cryptic Spires can be a valuable addition to various deck types, primarily because of its ability to tailor mana to what you need. It’s not land-tied, allowing players the flexibility to respond to the board without committing to one color.
Combo Potential: In decks that exploit land type counts or benefit from multi-colored lands, Cryptic Spires can act as a crucial enabler. Whether you’re powering out domain spells or boosting a landfall trigger, the card slots in seamlessly.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, land flexibility becomes increasingly crucial. Cryptic Spires holds its ground in this shifting landscape, providing a stable mana base in colors that your deck might otherwise be lacking, and enabling strategies that require diverse color commitments.
How to beat Cryptic Spires
Cryptic Spires can be a versatile land card in Magic: The Gathering, providing players with a source of any color mana – but only if you control a creature with that color. Without such creatures, Cryptic Spires remains a land with limitations. To effectively counter this card, strategic removal of multicolored creatures is key. Spells that destroy or exile creatures prevent your opponent from accessing the full spectrum of mana they may be relying on.
Board wipes are particularly effective as they remove all creatures, not just the multicolored ones, and reduce the utility of Cryptic Spires to its bare minimum. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can be game changers. Additionally, using land destruction cards such as Field of Ruin can directly target and remove Cryptic Spires, cutting off an essential mana source. Counterplay tactics such as these are key when facing an opponent using this adaptable land card.
The lesson here is to disrupt the synergies that make Cryptic Spires powerful. By doing so, players can stifle their opponent’s mana flexibility and maintain an edge in the match. Therefore, while Cryptic Spires does offer a rainbow of possibilities, assertive play styles and targeted disruption can keep this card’s potential in check.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cryptic Spires MTG card by a specific set like Double Masters 2022, 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 Cryptic Spires 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cryptic Spires has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |