Spark Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Haste,Trample
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Indirect card advantage can be gained by luring opponents to use more valuable cards early on.
  2. Its ‘haste’ trait enables immediate board impact and potential surprise advantage during play.
  3. Despite swift damage potential, Spark Elemental’s one-turn limitation demands cunning timing and play.

Text of card

Trample, haste At end of turn, sacrifice Spark Elemental.

Vulshok shamans summon spark elementals to burn paths through thick underbrush—or through goblin salvage squads.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Spark Elemental doesn’t provide direct card draw, it offers a one-turn clock to pressure your opponent, potentially forcing them to use a card in answer much earlier than they’d like. This can lead to indirect card advantage as they may have to deal with it using more valuable cards from their hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Spark Elemental itself doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense of adding mana, its low cost can contribute to a strategy that puts threats on the board quickly. It’s an efficient use of mana and fits snugly into fast-paced, aggressive decks aiming to outpace the opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: Spark Elemental is cast at sorcery speed, but due to its ‘haste’ ability, it can immediately impact the board as soon as it is played. This allows you to apply pressure at a critical moment, potentially taking the opponent by surprise and influencing their play decisions like an instant might, as they must immediately deal with the threat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spark Elemental’s fleeting presence on the battlefield necessitates precise timing when playing it, restricting its potential if you’re unable to maximize its one-turn impact.

Specific Mana Cost: This fiery creature requires a red mana commitment, making it a tricky fit in multicolored decks that might be strained for the right mana source at a crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Looking at its power and the fact that it vanishes at the end of the turn, the cost of a single red mana could be seen as steep, especially when you consider other creatures in the same mana range that offer longer-term benefits or immediate effects without self-sacrifice.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spark Elemental brings a burst of damage to any red aggro or burn deck, making it a flexible choice for players wanting to deal quick, efficient hits. Its one-turn life span aligns with numerous strategies that benefit from high-impact, low-cost creatures.

Combo Potential: When paired with sacrifice outlets or cards that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, this fiery Elemental can be part of explosive combos, turning its fleeting presence on the board into a strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where speed can trump sustainability, Spark Elemental shines in the current meta by applying early pressure and forcing opponents to react immediately, thereby shaping the pace and outcome of matches.


How to Beat

Spark Elemental is a unique creature from the Magic: The Gathering universe. Known for its single-turn, high-impact playstyle, this card epitomizes the fiery aggression of red decks. To effectively counter Spark Elemental, it’s crucial to understand its strengths. The card’s primary advantages are its haste, allowing it to attack immediately, and trample, ensuring that not all of its damage can be blocked.

Effective strategies involve removing it before the combat phase or blocking with a creature that can survive the strike. Cards with flash can offer a surprise block or removal in response to its attack. Instant spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push are also excellent counters as they efficiently remove the Spark Elemental before it dishes out significant damage. Lastly, consider cards with lifelink to offset the life lost, maintaining a stable life total after the Spark Elemental’s assault. Adopting these approaches will help you mitigate the impact of Spark Elemental’s brief but explosive presence on the battlefield.

Overall, respect the power of Spark Elemental but don’t fear it. With the right cards and timing, turning the tide against this burst of elemental fury is more than within your grasp as a tactically minded Magic: The Gathering player.


Cards like Spark Elemental

Within the fast-paced world of Magic: The Gathering, Spark Elemental stands out as a powerful option for those who favor a quick, aggressive playstyle. Comparable to the likes of Ball Lightning, both creatures boast a formidable power for their cost and share the trait of trample, allowing extraneous damage to spill over to the opponent. However, Spark Elemental has one key difference – it’s even more ephemeral, vanishing at the end of the turn due to its “sacrifice” clause.

Exploring alternative choices, we find Monastery Swiftspear, another one-drop representative from the red deck’s roster. Although it has lower initial power, its prowess ability promises potential for growth with every noncreature spell cast, making it a long-term threat. Conversely, Spark Elemental’s fleeting existence is a blitz of raw power akin to a flash in the pan – immediate and impactful. Lastly, Hellspark Elemental offers a middle ground, with its ‘unearth’ capability providing an encore appearance from the graveyard for another chance at damage.

In essence, Spark Elemental showcases its niche within Magic: The Gathering, with a burst of damage that can apply early-game pressure or finish off an opponent, though its transient nature demands strategic play for optimum impact.

Ball Lightning - MTG Card versions
Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Ball Lightning - The Dark (DRK)
Monastery Swiftspear - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Hellspark Elemental - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)

Cards similar to Spark Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Gorilla Shaman - Alliances (ALL)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Orcish Conscripts - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Crazed Goblin - Darksteel (DST)
Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mons's Goblin Waiters - Unhinged (UNH)
Mogg Sentry - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spark Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Tenth 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 Spark Elemental and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Spark Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by John Avon.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-06-04Fifth Dawn5DN 792003normalblackJohn Avon
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 237★2003normalblackJohn Avon
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2372003normalblackJohn Avon
42018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 122015tokenblackJohn Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spark Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks