Kaervek's Spite MTG Card

Instant speed allows strategic flexibility and surprise plays, enhancing the appeal of Kaervek’s Spite. Demands careful deck building, best suited for black-themed or combo-oriented decks with sufficient setup. Can serve as a linchpin card for ending games, rewarding bold strategies and creative deck construction.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1997-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Visions
Set code	VIS
Number	63
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bryan Talbot

Text of card

Sacrifice all permanents, Discard your hand: Target player loses 5 life.

"The end justifies the means. What do I care if I rule over the dead rather than over the living? The dead ask fewer questions." —Kaervek

Cards like Kaervek's Spite

Kaervek’s Spite stands out in the legacy of MTG for its dramatic impact on the game state. In line with other formidable spells, it recalls the intensity of Final Fortune, which offers an extra turn at a significant risk. Yet, unlike Final Fortune, Kaervek’s Spite demands the ultimate sacrifice, making it a distinct choice for players seeking a game-ending gambit.

While considering cards with a heavy forfeit component, one might think of Barren Glory, a win-con card that also requires a barren battlefield and an empty hand. However, Kaervek’s Spite contrasts sharply with its immediate effect and the precondition of sacrificing your entire on-hand arsenal. Further contrast can be seen in cards like One with Nothing, which empties the hand with haste, but doesn’t have the same potential to disrupt opponents or set up an instant win scenario.

When evaluating the sheer surprise factor and ability to upset the game’s balance, Kaervek’s Spite presents a high-risk, high-reward strategy that eclipses similar cards. For enthusiasts of MTG who relish audacious plays, this card remains an enduring testament to the game’s strategic depths and the daring it summons from its players.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kaervek’s Spite requires discarding your hand and sacrificing all your permanents but often, it sets you to make a devastating play that can win the game outright. This may also deprive your opponent of resources, thereby shifting the balance of card advantage in your favor. It’s a powerful finisher in decks designed around its effect.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, Kaervek’s Spite can be a part of a strategic combo that enables explosive plays, clearing the path for a swift victory. It pairs well with effects or abilities that trigger upon sacrificing permanents or discarding cards, potentially unlocking new resources rapidly.

Instant Speed: This is one of the defining features of Kaervek’s Spite, as being able to cast it at instant speed gives you the flexibility to wait for the most opportune moment. You can disrupt your opponent’s strategy right before their win conditions materialize or at the end of their turn to go for a surprise win during your next round.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kaervek’s Spite demands that you sacrifice your entire hand alongside any permanents you control, which can be a crippling cost, stripping you of all other resources and future play options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires three black mana to cast, which can be demanding for multicolored decks and restrict its playability to predominantly black or mono-black decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total converted mana cost of six, including three black mana, Kaervek’s Spite can be quite costly compared to other spells with potentially less devastating downsides, hindering its inclusion in a tightly curated deck.

Reasons to Include Kaervek’s Spite in Your Collection

Versatility: Kaervek’s Spite can be a game-changer in decks designed around sacrificing your own resources for a significant payoff. It can disrupt opponents’ plans or set up your own win conditions in one swift move.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that reward you for sacrificing permanent cards or when combined with effects like “Barren Glory” for a surprising win. It’s a niche card with a home in creative and unexpected combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where players are setting up for the long haul, Kaervek’s Spite offers a way to circumvent stalemates and pull off a win when the board is locked down. It’s a strategic trump card for players who like to keep their adversaries guessing and favors a bold playstyle.

How to beat

Kaervek’s Spite is a potent spell known for its costly sacrifice when played in Magic: The Gathering. This card can deal quite a blow when executed correctly. However, overcoming its devastating effect involves strategic planning and timeliness. One of the key methods to counter this card is through the use of graveyard retrieval spells that can recover your sacrificed cards. Additionally, having instant speed removal or counterspells can disrupt your opponent’s combo, rendering Kaervek’s Spite useless if it can’t reach the stack or have its cost paid.

Utilizing hand disruption mechanics, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, helps you remove dangerous cards like Kaervek’s Spite before they can be used against you. Moreover, emphasizing on speed and aggression in your play can leave your opponent with insufficient time to gather the necessary resources to unleash Kaervek’s Spite’s full potential. Proper understanding of the card’s timing and graveyard manipulation will serve as your best defense in maintaining control over the game and ultimately securing victory.

When it boils down to it, facing down Kaervek’s Spite requires foresight and maintaining a diverse array of responses within your deck. By preparing for the worst, you can ensure that your strategy will outlast the sacrifices demanded by such a high-stakes card in the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaervek's Spite MTG card by a specific set like Visions, 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 Kaervek's Spite and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaervek's Spite has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	As always, you can’t sacrifice things you do not control.
2004-10-04	The sacrifice of all your permanents and discarding of your hand is part of the cost and is paid on casting. You do not have a choice to pay this cost zero times or more than one time in order to multiply the effect.