Thundering Spineback MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Dinosaur
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts dinosaurs, thus making each draw more impactful with increased creature strength.
  2. Generates 4/4 dinosaur tokens, quickly escalating board presence and victory potential.
  3. Your instant-speed plays are more threatening with Thundering Spineback in play.

Text of card

Other Dinosaurs you control get +1/+1. : Create a 3/3 green Dinosaur creature token with trample.

"It appears that nature has risen against us." —Captain Brinely Rage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thundering Spineback not only presents a formidable creature on the board but also plays a pivotal role in generating card advantage. This is because it boosts your other Dinosaurs, making each creature draw even more impactful as they enter play stronger than before.

Resource Acceleration: By offering the ability to create 4/4 green Dinosaur creature tokens, Thundering Spineback acts as a resource acceleration tool. With enough mana, you can rapidly populate the board with these tokens, effectively accelerating your board presence and potential for victory.

Instant Speed: While Thundering Spineback itself may not operate at instant speed, it elevates the relevance of your instant-speed plays. Opponents must consider the threat of instant-speed buffs to your Dinosaurs with Spineback on the field, which can lead to significant combat trick advantages.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Thundering Spineback demands a significant investment in board state, which can put players at a disadvantage when facing removal-heavy decks. A single wipe can nullify the progress made, leading to a loss of cards already on the field without reaping the benefits of a developed dinosaur army.

Specific Mana Cost: This towering dinosaur requires a mix of colorless mana and a heavier reliance on green. For decks that are not specifically tailored to generate a consistent amount of green mana, this can severely restrict its playability and impact on the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, the Thundering Spineback sits at a higher spectrum in terms of mana investment. Even though it boosts your dinosaur creatures and can steadily populate the board, there are cards at a lower mana value that can have an immediate impact without such a steep cost.


Reasons to Include Thundering Spineback in Your Collection

Versatility: Thundering Spineback proves to be a dynamic asset in any dinosaur-themed deck as well as commander formats that appreciate a good tribal synergy. Its ability to enhance your other creatures simply by being on the battlefield adds value to each turn.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with mechanics that proliferate counters, and when paired with ways to multiply tokens, can lead to a formidable army of dinosaurs. It serves not only as a boon for creatures currently on the field but can be a game-changer for every dinosaur summoned thereafter.

Meta-Relevance: With its solid presence in matches that stretch into the late game, Thundering Spineback can become the backbone of your deck’s strategy against control decks, giving you an ever-increasing threat level that demands an answer from opponents.


How to Beat Thundering Spineback

Thundering Spineback stands out as a formidable dinosaur within the MTG universe. Its presence not only amplifies the power of your opponent’s other dinosaurs, but it also serves as a factory for creating more dino tokens. To counter it effectively, players will need to consider strategies that derail its inherent advantages. Removal spells are your friend here; ideally, you’d want to employ instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile before your adversary gets a chance to generate a massive dino army.

Board wipes are also an invaluable tool in clearing out the tokens while dealing with Thundering Spineback itself. Wrath of God or Damnation can help reset the playing field. Keeping counter spells handy for when your opponent tries to summon Spineback can also stop the threat in its tracks. And don’t overlook the importance of carrying a few exile effects – with cards like Swords to Plowshares, you’re able to bypass Thundering Spineback’s potential for graveyard recursion, ensuring it’s gone for good.

Success in MTG often lies in preemptive action and efficient threat management. By staying one step ahead and keeping these strategies in mind, Thundering Spineback’s roar can be reduced to a whimper, enabling you to maintain control over the game’s pace and ultimately secure victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As MTG players progress in developing their decks, the inclusion of cards like Thundering Spineback can be a gamechanger, especially in dinosaur-themed builds. Its ability to foster card advantage and orchestrate resource acceleration make it a considerable force. However, the dance between its pros and cons highlights the importance of strategic play and deck composition. Whether you’re looking to bolster your collection with Thundering Spineback’s tribal synergy or seeking to enhance late-game tactics, our guide delves deep into mastering the nuances of this dynamic MTG card. Explore our insights, sharpen your strategies, and embrace the thrill of the challenge.


Cards like Thundering Spineback

Thundering Spineback enters the rich tapestry of creature-enchanting cards in Magic: The Gathering, serving as both a potent enhancer for your other creatures and a formidable presence itself. Strikingly, like the much-admired Crested Herdcaller, which offers immediate board presence by creating a token copy when it hits the battlefield. Though Thundering Spineback doesn’t provide this swift tactical advantage, its ongoing dinosaur buff and token-generation ability add sustained value for late-game domination.

Then there’s the comparison with Verdurous Gearhulk, another creature card that flexes its muscles by distributing +1/+1 counters upon entry. While the Gearhulk shines with an instantaneous impact, Thundering Spineback stands out with its potential for incremental growth, enhancing your entire dinosaur contingent turn after turn. Additionally, the aura of Overwhelming Stampede, which gives creatures you control a power and toughness increase based on your creature with the greatest power, pairs dynamically with Spineback, amplifying its use as a game-ending move to trample over opponents.

Ultimately, Thundering Spineback carves its unique niche within MTG by being a continuous source of power and a maker of mighty dinosaurs, ensuring its position as a pivotal component in any deck focused on tribal synergies and overwhelming force.

Crested Herdcaller - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Verdurous Gearhulk - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Overwhelming Stampede - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thundering Spineback MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Game Night 2019, 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 Thundering Spineback and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thundering Spineback Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-09-29IxalanXLN 2102015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
22019-11-15Game Night 2019GN2 532015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4372015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
42023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2602015normalblackBrian Valeza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thundering Spineback has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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