Spell Rupture MTG Card


Spell Rupture - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Number52
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. Spell Rupture offers card advantage by effectively countering and removing an opponent’s key spell.
  2. Its dependence on creature power can be a strategic asset or liability, impacting its utility.
  3. Instant speed flexibility allows for real-time counters, crucial for outmaneuvering opponents.

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller pays , where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.

"Like water, mana will drain from an inferior vessel." —Jalan Tosk, Simic forcemage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spell Rupture potentially turns one card into a significant swing in momentum. Successfully countering a key spell from an opponent not only thwarts their strategy but effectively removes that card from their arsenal, providing a subtle form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spell Rupture itself isn’t a direct source of mana, it’s a tool that can maintain your resource acceleration by protecting your board state and the investments you’ve made there. This allows you to progress your game plan without interruption.

Instant Speed: Spell Rupture is played at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats in real-time. This adaptability is crucial, allowing you to outmaneuver opponents by countering pivotal plays exactly when the stakes are highest.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spell Rupture demands a creature on the battlefield to function as its counter condition, which may not always be possible, especially if you’re playing against a deck that manages or removes creatures frequently.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires not just one, but two types of mana—blue and another—which can be a hurdle in multi-colored decks that may run into mana availability issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For two mana, the card’s efficacy is entirely contingent on the power of your creature. Without a formidable creature, the card’s potential falters, which can be a stumbling block in situations where you need a guaranteed disruption.


Reasons to Include Spell Rupture in Your Collection

Versatility: Spell Rupture provides a flexible counterplay option for any blue Magic deck. It’s useful for protecting key creatures on the board or stopping critical spells from your opponent, adapting its effectiveness to the strength of your game presence.

Combo Potential: With a creature-heavy strategy, Spell Rupture can scale to counter even the most potent of spells. Pair it with high-powered creatures to ensure your counterspell is always ready to disrupt your opponent’s plans.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based decks are prevalent, Spell Rupture becomes an essential tool. It gains leverage from the board state, allowing you to pose a formidable defense against other tempo or combo decks.


How to beat

Spell Rupture is a unique counter spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its power derives from the strength of your creatures, requiring an opponent to pay X mana where X is equal to the greatest power among creatures you control. This situational aspect makes it versatile in creature-heavy decks but can be a weakness in others. To overcome Spell Rupture, it’s essential to either limit the power of your opponent’s creatures or have ample mana available to pay the counter cost. Another effective strategy is playing spells on turns when the opponent is tapped out, or their battlefield lacks a strong creature presence. Additionally, spells that can’t be countered, offer a surefire way to bypass Spell Rupture’s effect altogether. Navigating around Spell Rupture requires a careful assessment of the opponent’s board and your own resources, making it a game of timing and cunning. By doing so, you can render this peculiar counter spell ineffective and maintain the flow of your own strategy.


Cards like Spell Rupture

Spell Rupture carves out its niche among counter spells in Magic: The Gathering with its unique mana cost and condition. In the same league as something like Mana Leak, which requires the opponent to pay additional mana, Spell Rupture demands a creature presence with power to determine its effectiveness. While Mana Leak is straightforward, Spell Rupture’s success hinges on the creature’s power you control, adding a strategic layer to gameplay.

Looking at other counters like Dissolve or Cancel, we see more stability since they don’t rely on board state, offering unconditional counters for a fixed Mana cost. However, they lack the potential low cost of Spell Rupture when you have a powerful creature in play. There’s also Essence Scatter that specifically targets creature spells at a lower cost but can’t counter noncreature spells, unlike the more flexible Spell Rupture.

Each of these spells provides players with options to fit various deck styles and game plans. Nonetheless, Spell Rupture stands out when played in decks designed around powerful creatures, potentially offering a significant advantage at a critical moment for players who build their strategy with this synergy in mind.

Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - Stronghold (STH)
Dissolve - Theros (THS)
Cancel - Time Spiral (TSP)
Essence Scatter - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Spell Rupture by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Updraft - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Aether Burst - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Flash Counter - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Commander Masters (CMM)
Hurkyl's Recall - Antiquities (ATQ)
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Lat-Nam's Legacy - Alliances (ALL)
Flash - Mirage (MIR)
Boomerang - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Updraft - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rebound - Stronghold (STH)
Memory Lapse - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Hoodwink - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Tidal Bore - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Accumulated Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Aether Burst - Odyssey (ODY)
Impulse - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Cyclonic Rift - Commander Masters (CMM)
Thassa's Intervention - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Metamorphose - Scourge (SCG)
Flash Counter - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Echoing Truth - Modern Masters (MMA)
Early Frost - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spell Rupture MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Spell Rupture and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spell Rupture has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-01-24 The value of X is the greatest power among creatures you control when Spell Rupture resolves. If you control no creatures at that time, X will be 0. The target spell’s controller can choose to pay (simply by indicating they wish to do so). That player can also choose to not pay and the spell will be countered.

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