Swirling Spriggan MTG Card


Swirling Spriggan - Eventide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Shaman
Released2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set nameEventide
Set codeEVE
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number76
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

  1. Swirling Spriggan offers card advantage by outnumbering opponents with its transformative ability.
  2. Its instant speed alteration of permanents provides a strategic edge in MTG gameplay.
  3. Despite its strengths, the Spriggan’s specific mana and discard requirements limit its use.

Text of card

{GW}{GW}: Target creature you control becomes the color or colors of your choice until end of turn.

After its encounter with the spriggan, the patrol was red with anger, green with envy, white with fear, and painfully black and blue.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Swirling Spriggan’s ability to transform other permanents you control into green creatures can outnumber and overwhelm opponents, giving you a tactical edge on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: As a versatile card, Swirling Spriggan can help accelerate your board presence by changing the landscape of the game, enabling synergies with other green creatures or effects that benefit from creature types or color.

Instant Speed: The power to alter key characteristics of your permanents at instant speed with Swirling Spriggan means you can adapt to threats or opportunities swiftly and unexpectedly, catching opponents off guard during combat or in response to their actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players looking to cast Swirling Spriggan, one of the nuances to be mindful of is the discard requirement. Dropping another card from your hand can sometimes be a steep cost, especially in situations where card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Swirling Spriggan comes with a color-specific mana demand. Requiring both green and red mana makes it a little less flexible and often restricts it to a deck specifically built around these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the mana economy, Swirling Spriggan’s cost may seem a bit high for what it brings to the battlefield. Deck builders might find that other creatures or spells could provide a greater impact or more utility for the same, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Swirling Spriggan is a gem for collectors and players who appreciate adaptable cards. With its ability to change colors, it can seamlessly integrate into multicolor decks or those that manipulate colors for various effects and interactions.

Combo Potential: This unique creature offers a plethora of combo opportunities. The color-shifting ability not only facilitates protection from color-specific removal but can also align with color-dependent triggers and buffs within your deck’s strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In a constantly shifting meta, adaptability is key. Swirling Spriggan’s ability to circumvent color-based defenses can tip the scales in matches where color plays a pivotal role, making it a strategic addition to any collection facing diverse opponents.


How to beat

Swirling Spriggan is a flexible creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its color-changing ability that can be quite deceptive in battle. When facing Swirling Spriggan, it’s important to anticipate this shapeshifting trick. Cards with protection from a specific color can be rendered ineffective as the Spriggan adapts on the fly. To outmaneuver this, consider using removal spells that don’t specify a color, like Murder or Doom Blade for black or Path to Exile for white, which can eliminate the Spriggan regardless of its current color.

Additionally, cards that restrict abilities can lock down Swirling Spriggan’s shifting nature—think of Imposing Sovereign or Linvala, Keeper of Silence which prevent creatures from using their activated abilities. Don’t let this creature’s versatility catch you off guard; by employing non-color specific strategies and ability-restricting cards, you can effectively clear this spry Spriggan from the board and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Swirling Spriggan

Swirling Spriggan holds its own in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile creature, reminiscent of cards like Rubblebelt Raiders. Both creatures have the ability to grow stronger during combat, but whereas Rubblebelt Raiders gains counters from each creature you attack with, Swirling Spriggan can modify color characteristics, potentially offering unexpected advantages in mid-combat tricks. What’s interesting is Swirling Spriggan’s versatility, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments that could swing the game in your favor.

Another card worth considering in relation to Swirling Spriggan is Aquastrand Spider. While fundamentally different, as Aquastrand is an inclusion in decks focusing on graft and counter manipulation, it showcases another approach to utilizing creature abilities dynamically throughout the game. Swirling Spriggan may not have counter synergy, but its color alteration ability can be crucial for overcoming specific threats on the battlefield.

Delving into these comparisons shows the tactical adaptability that Swirling Spriggan offers to players. Though it may not always be the centerpiece of a strategy, its unique ability to manipulate color identities on the go can create pivotal moments in a match, making it a card that punches above its weight class in the right decks.

Rubblebelt Raiders - MTG Card versions
Aquastrand Spider - MTG Card versions
Rubblebelt Raiders - MTG Card versions
Aquastrand Spider - MTG Card versions

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Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix - MTG Card versions
Grazing Kelpie - MTG Card versions
Jungle Barrier - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Horizon Chimera - MTG Card versions
Patagia Viper - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Claw of Progress - MTG Card versions
Altered Ego - MTG Card versions
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter - MTG Card versions
Master Biomancer - MTG Card versions
Frilled Mystic - MTG Card versions
Zegana, Utopian Speaker - MTG Card versions
Sharktocrab - MTG Card versions
Louvaq, the Aberrant - MTG Card versions
Dormant Sliver - MTG Card versions
Manifestation Sage - MTG Card versions
Kianne, Dean of Substance // Imbraham, Dean of Theory - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swirling Spriggan MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Swirling Spriggan and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swirling Spriggan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-08-01 You can choose any color or combination of colors. You can’t choose colorless.

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