Spire Tracer MTG Card


Spire Tracer - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Scout
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number135
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byChristopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

  1. Facilitates card advantage when paired with enchantments or equipment that trigger upon dealing combat damage.
  2. Low mana cost makes Spire Tracer an efficient option for early-game board presence and resource saving.
  3. Can quickly become a threat in decks optimized for its evasion, despite its apparent fragility and niche role.

Text of card

Spire Tracer can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.

Cartographers on Ravnica chart not just the horizontal, but also the vertical.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Spire Tracer itself doesn’t directly allow for card draw, it synergizes well with cards that draw when you deal combat damage to a player. This elf rogue’s ability to become unblockable when equipped or enchanted aids in ensuring those effects trigger, thus presenting potential card advantage opportunities.

Resource Acceleration: Spire Tracer is a low-cost creature, requiring only a single green mana to play. This makes it a superb option for early game board presence, allowing you to save resources for more significant spells in later turns. Additionally, its compatibility with enchantments can lead to mana ramping when combined with auras that aid in resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Although Spire Tracer itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it benefits from instant-speed spells that can be cast to buff it during combat. These interactions can surprise an opponent, often leading to advantageous trades or additional combat damage. The flexibility offered by instant-speed interactions complements Spire Tracer’s evasive nature.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spire Tracer may not directly demand a discard, but its low impact on the board can lead to unfavorable trades, effectively causing you to lose cards indirectly.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring green mana, Spire Tracer fits primarily into green-based decks, potentially limiting its versatility across varied deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only a single green mana might seem economical, the card’s abilities and stats don’t always justify a slot in a deck where every card choice is critical.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spire Tracer is a flexible choice, suitable for any deck that thrives on evasive creatures. Its ability to become unblockable when paired with other creatures means it can fit into aggressive strategies that aim to whittle down an opponent’s life total efficiently.

Combo Potential: With Spire Tracer’s capacity to avoid being blocked quite easily, it becomes an excellent partner for cards that capitalize on dealing combat damage to a player. Consider pairing it with enchantments or equipment that benefit from hitting the opponent directly.

Meta-Relevance: Because creature-heavy decks are always circulating in various formats, Spire Tracer’s inclusion can be particularly beneficial. It shines in environments where the board is crowded, allowing it to interact with a multitude of decks effectively.


How to beat

Spire Tracer may seem like a minor threat in the realm of MTG, but in the right deck, it can quickly become a nuisance. As a 1/1 creature that can only be blocked by creatures with flying or reach, Spire Tracer excels in evasion. However, its fragile nature is its downfall. Dealing with Spire Tracer is about timing and the right removal tactics. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push are efficient ways to remove it before your opponent can capitalize on its abilities.

Board control is essential when facing cards like Spire Tracer. A well-timed sweeper, such as Pyroclasm or Supreme Verdict, can clear the board of these agile creatures without the need for specific targeting. It’s also worth noting that since Spire Tracer thrives in an aura-focused deck, enchantment removal spells can indirectly weaken or eliminate the threat by removing the buffs it gains from enchantments. In summary, maintaining board control with removal spells and keeping a sharp eye on enchantments can ensure that Spire Tracer doesn’t spiral out of control.


Cards like Spire Tracer

Spire Tracer is a unique creature within the Magic: The Gathering realm, evoking comparisons with other evasive one-drops. When looking at cards like Scryb Sprites and Jukai Messenger, you can spot some similarities with our leafy friend. All three creatures hold the potential to slip past defenses owing to their abilities to bypass creatures with their evasive characteristics. Spire Tracer differentiates itself by being a stellar option in decks that can consistently put auras or equipment onto the battlefield, as it gains the ability to evade blockers only when it’s accompanied.

Elvish Mystic is another card that usually finds its home in the same decks as Spire Tracer, though for its mana acceleration rather than evasion. While not similar in function, it’s a testament to the versatility that one-drops like Spire Tracer can bring to the game. Lastly, when unearthing other comparable cards, Llanowar Elves stands out for its ramp capability, highlighting a different strategic direction within the creature-heavy decks that might include Spire Tracer.

Effective in the right build, Spire Tracer offers a specific set of skills that, when leveraged, can outmaneuver opponents’ defenses, revealing its worth among one-drops in MTG.

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Jukai Messenger - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Jukai Messenger - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spire Tracer by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
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Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Rime Dryad - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Willow Dryad - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spire Tracer 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 Spire Tracer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spire Tracer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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