Plague Spores MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Number	260
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Randy Gallegos

Key Takeaways

Provides dual-threat removal by targeting a creature and land, setting back opponents strategically.
Demanding specific mana types and a discard limits flexibility and utility in diverse decks.
Remains valuable for control strategies, especially when tailoring to counter specific meta environments.

Text of card

Destroy target nonblack creature and target land. They can't be regenerated.

"Breathe deep, Dominaria. Breathe deep and die." —Tsabo Tavoc, Phyrexian general

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to maintaining control and tipping the balance in your favor, Plague Spores offers a dual benefit. Not only does it clear opponents’ threats by destroying a creature and land, but it also sets you a step ahead by whittling down your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not providing direct mana acceleration, Plague Spores contributes to resource acceleration indirectly. By removing an opponent’s land, it effectively reduces their ability to utilize costly spells, thereby accelerating your relative resource advantage.

Instant Speed: Plague Spores operates at sorcery speed, which, while not as flexible as instant speed, allows for strategic plays during your turn. It ensures that your resources are focused and impactful, contributing to a well-timed disruption of your opponent’s development.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Plague Spores demands players to discard a card, a caveat that potentially diminishes hand advantage especially when options are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: It requires both red and black mana for casting. This restricts flexibility, as decks without these colors will be unable to incorporate Plague Spores without a heavy reliance on mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana including two red and a black, this card comes with a hefty price, particularly when considering alternative removal or direct damage spells resulting in more immediate or cost-effective board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plague Spores has the unique ability to disrupt your opponent by destroying both a land and a creature in a single cast. Its utility in games is vast, as it can slow down your opponent’s momentum while also dealing with threats on the board.

Combo Potential: As a card that affects multiple targets, Plague Spores works well in strategies aiming to exploit land destruction or capitalize on creature demise. It can set off synergies with cards that benefit from opponents’ losses or your own graveyard interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where mana acceleration and creature-based strategies are prevalent, Plague Spores can serve as a valuable countermeasure. It strategically aligns with meta shifts, providing a way to destabilize opponents who rely heavily on certain lands or creatures.

How to beat

Confronting Plague Spores on the battlefield can be a significant challenge for players of Magic: The Gathering. The multifaceted card not only destroys a creature but also a land, disrupting your opponent’s plans and resources. When playing against this tricky card, it’s essential to have a strategy in place. One approach is maintaining a variety of lands on the field to minimize the impact on your mana base. Furthermore, instant-speed removal or counterspells can effectively neutralize Plague Spores before it wreaks havoc.

Another effective tactic is employing cards with hexproof or indestructible qualities to shield your important creatures from being targeted. Additionally, some players turn to graveyard recovery cards, allowing them to bring back any lost assets swiftly. Also, incorporating land regeneration or similar maneuvers helps maintain a sturdy mana foundation despite any attempts to unsettle it.

Ultimately, beating Plague Spores requires preparedness and adaptability. A player who can anticipate and counteract the potential disruption stands a much better chance of maintaining control and claiming victory despite the adversary’s attempts to spread chaos across the field.

Cards like Plague Spores

Plague Spores carves a niche for itself in the realm of removal and land disruption in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterparts include Hull Breach and Decimate, both well-known for their ability to target multiple categories of permanents. What sets Plague Spores apart is its ability to unbalance the opponent by destroying a land alongside any creature. Hull Breach offers the option to destroy an artifact or enchantment, or both for the same cost, but it lacks the land destruction aspect.

Another card that curates a similar experience is Fissure. Like Plague Spores, Fissure can remove a creature from the game but at a higher mana cost while still destroying any land without targeting restrictions. However, Plague Spores’ uniqueness is in its direct ability to impact two different permanent types with one spell—creature and land—therefore potentially devastating your opponent’s board presence in a single cast.

Considering the strategic advantage of disrupting both creature and land resources, Plague Spores stands out in decks that aim to control the pace and resource availability of the game, embodying a specific tactical role within the suite of red and black spells in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Plague Spores by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plague Spores MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Plague Spores and other MTG cards: