Spite of Mogis MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Scry
Released	2014-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Journey into Nyx
Set code	JOU
Number	113
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Vincent Proce

Key Takeaways

Provides solid card advantage by removing creatures, growing stronger with graveyard spell density.
Instant speed casting offers tactical benefits, yet its reliance on red mana can be restrictive.
Scaling damage is a double-edged sword, with potential high impact in later stages of gameplay.

Text of card

Spite of Mogis deals damage to target creature equal to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spite of Mogis has the potential to be a significant source of card advantage in the right deck. By dealing damage equivalent to the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard, it can eradicate troublesome creatures while potentially pulling you ahead in the card economy. This makes it particularly potent in late-game scenarios where your graveyard is brimming with spells.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spite of Mogis itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, removing a key blocker or threat with a single mana can effectively save you resources. These saved resources can then be used to develop your board or cast other spells, indirectly speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Spite of Mogis’s ability to be cast at instant speed provides a tactical edge, allowing players to react promptly to threats or make precise plays during an opponent’s turn. This flexibility can be a significant advantage, offering the element of surprise and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing board state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The playability of Spite of Mogis can be hindered in scenarios where your graveyard lacks a sufficient number of instant or sorcery cards. This can make the damage output unpredictable and sometimes minimal, which is a considerable downside when planning your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Spite of Mogis necessitates red mana to cast, which could be a limitation for multi-colored decks that might not always have red mana readily available or prefer to reserve their red mana for more impactful spells in their arsenal.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The single red mana in its casting cost can be misleading; the card’s effectiveness is contingent on the density of instants and sorceries in your graveyard, meaning that it gains value only in the later stages of the game. Consequently, its initial mana investment may not yield immediate results, placing it at a disadvantage when compared to lower-cost burn spells or removal options that offer more consistent and immediate effects.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spite of Mogis excels in decks that are heavy on instants and sorceries, turning your graveyard into an additional source of damage output. Its ability to scale with the game makes it adaptable to various situations.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that load the graveyard, such as Thought Scour or Faithless Looting, Spite of Mogis can become a massive source of direct damage, aligning with spellslinger strategies and potentially removing key threats from the board.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where long games and big graveyards are common, such as Commander or Pioneer, the damage output of Spite of Mogis can become significant. It has the potential to tilt the scales in your favor, especially in metas where control decks are prevalent.

How to beat

Spite of Mogis is a red sorcery spell that brings a unique dynamic to the table. Its power lies in its ability to deal damage to a creature equal to the number of instant and sorcery cards in the controller’s graveyard. This card can be a heavy hitter in decks that are rich with instants and sorceries, especially as the game progresses.

To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to limit the number of instants and sorceries in your opponent’s graveyard through graveyard disruption strategies. Cards like Relic of Progenitus can clean out graveyards, drastically diminishing Spite of Mogis’s impact. Additionally, employing proactive creature protection like hexproof or indestructible granting effects can shield your pivotal creatures from being targeted. Running counterspells is also a reliable tactic to prevent Spite of Mogis from ever hitting the field.

Devising a strategy that keeps graveyard size in check or protects your creatures is key to outmaneuvering the potential threat posed by this card. Keeping the board state under your control and anticipating graveyard interactions are essential steps to nullifying Spite of Mogis’s potential and claiming victory in your matches.

Cards like Spite of Mogis

Spite of Mogis stands out in the world of red sorcery spells in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels with other spell cards such as Lightning Bolt, one of the most iconic spells due to its ability to deal three damage for just a single mana. Nonetheless, Spite of Mogis differentiates itself with its potential for massive damage output dependent on the number of instant and sorcery cards in the player’s graveyard. Lightning Bolt lacks this scaling damage capability.

When contemplating related cards, Jaya’s Greeting is a spell to consider. It also incurs two mana to cast and provides the benefit of scrying in addition to delivering damage. Though its damage is fixed and does not escalate with graveyard content. Another comparable card is Fiery Temper, which offers a direct three damage for three mana, but if madness is triggered, the mana cost is reduced. Though similar in cost when madness is active, it doesn’t provide the potentially extensive damage of Spite of Mogis based on the late-game graveyard situation.

Assessing the cost-effectiveness and damage potential of these cards, Spite of Mogis can be particularly potent in a spell-heavy deck, marking its place as a powerful consideration for red burn strategies in the game.

Cards similar to Spite of Mogis by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spite of Mogis MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Spite of Mogis and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spite of Mogis has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-04-26	Spite of Mogis isn't counted among the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. It isn't put there until after it deals damage and you scry 1.