Spore Crawler MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 222
2022-01-28 - Number 489
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Fungus |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Spore Crawler offers card replacement upon death, potentially drawing into key resources or spells.
- It’s versatile, making it valuable in decks that thrive on creatures dying and graveyard synergy.
- Despite restrictions like specific mana needs, its strategic advantages in gameplay are considerable.
Text of card
When Spore Crawler dies, draw a card.
"Remember to come back in a few years when that fungus has died off. Then we'll see what's in the chest." —Old Rutstein
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spore Crawler possesses the ability to replenish your hand by drawing you a card when it dies, offering a strategic benefit as you’re able to replace it in your hand, potentially with a new solution or threat.
Resource Acceleration: Although Spore Crawler does not directly produce mana or tokens, it can contribute to resource acceleration by cycling itself upon death, allowing you to maintain momentum and possibly draw into your ramp spells or other resources faster.
Instant Speed: While Spore Crawler itself isn’t an instant, its death-triggered card draw effect can provide an unexpected benefit during your opponent’s turn if it’s removed. This can give you additional options for your next turn, making it a versatile choice against removal-heavy decks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the downsides to casting Spore Crawler is the need to meet a discard requirement. This could put you at a disadvantage when your hand is already running low on cards, forcing you to make some tough decisions about what to keep and what to toss.
Specific Mana Cost: Spore Crawler’s casting cost demands a specific blend of mana types. This can potentially restrict its inclusion in certain deck types, especially those that might not support the necessary color combination or where having the exact mana readily available can sometimes be challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to the mana economy, Spore Crawler might not provide the best bang for your buck. There are other creatures or spells available in the MTG universe that could bring a similar or greater impact to the game for the same, or even a lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spore Crawler offers utility across various deck archetypes, serving well in both aggressive strategies needing draw or as part of the backbone in a more synergistic fungi build.
Combo Potential: As a creature that lets you draw a card when it dies, this card fits seamlessly into engine and sacrifice-based decks, supporting loops that capitalize on creature death for benefit.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where small creatures often trade in combat or removal is plentiful, Spore Crawler ensures you maintain card parity, making it a prudent choice for keeping up in fast-paced environments.
How to beat
Spore Crawler may seem understated, but it’s a creature card that performs dual roles in a Magic: The Gathering match by offering both a solid body on the battlefield and card advantage upon death. This combination of utility makes Spore Crawler a frequent pick in many green decks within the MTG environment, particularly those reliant on creature-based strategies or graveyard interactions.
To defeat Spore Crawler effectively, players should consider removal options that exile it, preventing the card draw effect from triggering. Instant speed spells like Path to Exile or Scavenging Ooze’s activated ability can efficiently handle Spore Crawler without granting your opponent the benefit of drawing a card. Timing is crucial; remove it before the owner can take advantage of death-triggered abilities or in response to an opponent’s attempt to utilize the Crawler for effects, like sacrifice or combat tricks. Additionally, countering it upon casting can sidestep its effects altogether, making cards like Mana Leak or Dovin’s Veto valuable tools against it.
Ultimately, while Spore Crawler provides value, understanding its mechanics and having a strategy to mitigate its advantages can lead to your success in outmaneuvering opponents who use this MTG card in their green creature-based decks.
Cards like Spore Crawler
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Spore Crawler offers unique value within the suite of green creature cards. When you draw parallels between Spore Crawler and other creatures like Elvish Visionary, the differences and similarities become more pronounced. Elvish Visionary draws you a card upon its entry to the battlefield for an equal mana investment. However, where Spore Crawler shines is in its potential to be a source of card advantage even after it leaves play, thanks to its death-triggered ability.
Another card to throw into the mix is Wall of Blossoms. Serving a similar function with its card draw ability upon entering the battlefield, this wall provides a defensive edge with a higher toughness. Spore Crawler, though, remains more flexible, fitting into strategies that benefit from creatures dying. Lastly, we can’t overlook the comparison with creatures like Coiling Oracle, which can sometimes draw a card or bring a land into play. Spore Crawler is more predictable in its card draw function and can be more useful in decks that favor creatures hitting the graveyard.
Ultimately, while there are many creatures in MTG that allow for card draw, Spore Crawler positions itself uniquely among its peers with its significant postmortem advantage, enhancing various gameplay strategies and archetypes.
Cards similar to Spore Crawler by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spore Crawler MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Spore Crawler and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Spore Crawler Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 222 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 489 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spore Crawler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
