Glass Asp MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Snake |
| Released | 2006-10-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Time Spiral |
| Set code | TSP |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 197 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Richard Kane Ferguson |
Text of card
Whenever Glass Asp deals combat damage to a player, that player loses 2 life at the beginning of his or her next draw step unless he or she pays before that step.
Its venom induces a fever that causes its victims to relive the attack in recurring, haunting visions.
Understanding the Stealth of Glass Asp
Glass Asp slithers into the scene of utility creatures within Magic: The Gathering with a deceptively simple ability that can catch an opponent off-guard. As a creature card, it offers a touch of venom with each hit, gradually whittling down an adversary’s life total without the need for direct damage spells.
Cards like Glass Asp
Glass Asp shares its battlefield role with other sneaky creatures like Sabertooth Cobra. Both have abilities that trigger upon dealing combat damage to a player, with Glass Asp inflicting a “poisonous” effect, causing the opponent to lose life during their next upkeep. Sabertooth Cobra brings a different type of pain, giving the inflicted player a dose of poison counters which progressively inch them closer to defeat. Although Glass Asp doesn’t deal with poison counters directly, its consistent life loss can be equally threatening over time.
When considering impact and cost-effectiveness, Pit Viper stands as another comparable card. It might not have the same persistent life-drain effect, but it does possess the ever-threatening deathtouch, ensuring that any creature it blocks or becomes blocked by is likely to perish. This makes Pit Viper a strong defensive choice, while Glass Asp excels in steadily applying offensive pressure.
In essence, Glass Asp finds its place amongst creatures that specialize in passive but repetitive damage, and when used cunningly, it can become a thorn in your opponent’s side, demanding an answer lest they slowly succumb to its venomous bite.
Cards similar to Glass Asp by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Glass Asp offers a tactical edge by dealing damage and potentially allowing you to peek at an opponent’s hand, a subtle form of card advantage that can inform your future plays.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerator, Glass Asp can indirectly contribute to mana efficiency by deterring blockers with its deathtouch ability, ensuring your other creatures can safely attack and help you leverage board presence.
Instant Speed: Although Glass Asp itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with instant speed spells and abilities that can clear the way for its deathtouch damage or can be used defensively to protect Glass Asp from threats, maximizing its potential impact on the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Glass Asp asks players to discard a card for its cycling ability. While cycling can provide deck versatility, having to let go of potentially useful cards in hand can be counterproductive, especially in a game where each card in hand could be pivotal to a player’s strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green and generic mana to cast, Glass Asp can be restrictive in decks not heavily invested in green mana resources. This limitation might deter players from incorporating it into decks that cannot reliably produce the mana necessary to play it on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a cost that is on the higher side for its stats and abilities, Glass Asp may not be as mana-efficient compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Players might be inclined to seek out creatures with a greater impact or utility relative to their mana investment.
Reasons to Include Glass Asp in Your Collection
Versatility: Glass Asp can be an intriguing addition to any collection, given its ability to fit into numerous deck archetypes. In particular, its nature as a creature with an interesting triggered ability makes it a useful card in decks that aim to control or manipulate the battlefield.
Combo Potential: With Glass Asp’s potential to deplete an opponent’s life total, it has synergy with strategies focusing on damage over time. Pairing it with cards that encourage or benefit from repeated creature attacks can lead to powerful combinations on the board.
Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in current competitive formats, Glass Asp could serve as a tech choice in casual or specific metagames. It interacts with life total directly, which might be relevant depending on the prevalence of non-interactive decks within your play group or local game store’s meta.
How to beat
Overcoming the challenge of Glass Asp in your MTG matches calls for a strategic approach. This creature card, known for its ability to inject a bite of poison counters into your opponent’s strategy, can be deceptive in its impact. However, there are various methods to neutralize its poisonous potential. A simple yet effective way is by using cards that prevent or remove counters, thus nullifying the threat of accumulating lethal poison markers.
Another tactic is utilizing instant-speed removal spells which can dispatch Glass Asp before it has a chance to attack and deal combat damage. Cards with ‘flash’ allow you to wait until your opponent commits to an attack before playing them, potentially wasting their turn. Board wipes are also valuable against creatures like Glass Asp, which may hide behind other threats. A well-timed sweeper can reset the field, giving you the upper hand.
Remember that while Glass Asp may appear inconspicuous, it’s important not to underestimate the gradual peril it represents. Adequate preparation and timely responses are essential in ensuring the venomous Glass Asp doesn’t lead your game to an untimely end.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Glass Asp MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Glass Asp and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Glass Asp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Glass Asp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-09-25 | After Glass Asp’s triggered ability resolves, the affected player has the ability to perform a special action of paying . This action may be performed any time the player has priority, and it doesn’t use the stack. It may be performed only once. Once that player’s next draw step begins, the player no longer has the ability to perform this action. If the player performed the action, the delayed “lose 2 life” triggered ability won’t trigger. Otherwise, it will. |