Spark of Creativity MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 131
2022-12-02 - Number 602
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage through deck inspection, possibly drawing a card in optimal scenarios.
- Bypasses mana costs for resource acceleration, converting unused cards into direct damage.
- Instant speed allows for strategic responses, enhancing gameplay with surprise tactics.
Text of card
Choose target creature. Exile the top card of your library. You may have Spark of Creativity deal damage to that creature equal to the exiled card's converted mana cost. If you don't, you may play that card until end of turn.
"To invent is to rebel." —Pia Nalaar
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spark of Creativity provides a valuable peek at the top card of your library, potentially drawing you a card if the situation is right, thereby offering a boost in card advantage that can be crucial during tight matches.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana acceleration, Spark of Creativity can circumvent the need for certain mana costs by allowing you to convert extra lands or unneeded spells into direct damage, effectively speeding up your resource allocation and usage during gameplay.
Instant Speed: Offering the flexibility of instant speed, this card fits seamlessly into your strategy by allowing you to respond swiftly to an evolving board state or end your opponent’s turn with a surprise that could shift the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spark of Creativity’s activation necessitates the sacrifice of a potential resource, as you must exile a card from your hand, potentially depleting your valuable tools for progress in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring red mana, this card is constrained to decks that run red mana sources, restricting its universality and flexibility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is not insignificant for the variability of its outcome, players may find other options more appealing for consistent effects at similar or lower mana investments, making Spark of Creativity less favorable in a tight mana curve strategy.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spark of Creativity offers flexibility in gameplay, able to function as both a cheap removal option or a way to sift through your library for answers, adaptable to the needs of aggressive or combo-driven decks.
Combo Potential: As a card that interacts with the top of the deck, it can be an integral part of setups that manipulate or benefit from library sequencing, fueling strategies that thrive on such synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where quick response and efficient resource management are key, Spark of Creativity’s marginal cost and dual-functionality make it a solid choice against a variety of popular deck types.
How to Beat Spark of Creativity
Spark of Creativity presents a unique challenge for any Magic: The Gathering player with its ability to potentially remove creatures or provide card advantage. It stands out due to its flexibility and the element of surprise, keeping opponents on their toes. But no card is unbeatable. To outsmart Spark of Creativity, it’s critical to understand when and how it’s most effectively used.
To start, keeping a diverse array of threats on the board can dilute its impact. The card relies on revealing a card from your library, and if it reveals a low-cost card, its removal potential drops significantly. This can turn Spark of Creativity into a mere cantrip, failing to control the board as intended. Moreover, leveraging instant-speed spells and abilities in response can disrupt the player’s plans, making it a risky gamble for them, especially if they rely on it to take out a key creature.
Ultimately, while Spark of Creativity can be an unexpected jolt to your strategy, understanding its mechanics allows you to develop a game plan that leaves it fizzling out. Maintain board presence, strategize around its reveal mechanic, and counter with timely responses to ensure Spark of Creativity doesn’t disrupt your path to victory.
Cards like Spark of Creativity
Spark of Creativity shines in the realm of red card advantage when compared with its analogs in Magic: The Gathering. Its uniqueness lies within its versatility, as it can either be used to draw a card, much like the infamous red cantrip Crash Through, or it can serve as a pinpoint removal option if the revealed card’s mana cost is sufficient. This dual nature sets it apart from Crash Through, which solely focuses on cycling through the deck.
Another close relative is Abbot of Keral Keep, which exiles the top card of your library when it enters the battlefield. While Spark of Creativity offers a potential damage output, Abbot allows you to play the exiled card, presuming you have the mana available. However, Spark provides more player agency since it doesn’t require a commitment to casting the exiled card to reap benefits.
Finally, evaluating Spark of Creativity against options like Wild Guess or Tormenting Voice highlights the former’s non-reliance on preexisting hand content. Where Wild Guess and Tormenting Voice necessitate a discard, Spark of Creativity bypasses this, allowing for resource gain without an upfront cost. Thus, this innovative card earns its place in the ranks of versatile red spells that balance card draw with potential board control.
Cards similar to Spark of Creativity by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spark of Creativity MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Spark of Creativity 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 Spark of Creativity Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 131 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 602 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spark of Creativity 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 Spark of Creativity card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-20 | If a card in exile has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |
| 2016-09-20 | If a land card is exiled this way, you can play that land card until end of turn if you have any available land plays. |
| 2016-09-20 | Spark of Creativity doesn't change when you can play the exiled card. For example, if you exile a creature card without flash, you can cast it only during your main phase when the stack is empty. |
| 2016-09-20 | You can't cast Spark of Creativity without targeting a creature. If the creature becomes an illegal target for Spark of Creativity, none of its effects happen. You don't exile the top card of your library. |
| 2016-09-20 | You must pay all costs to play the exiled card. You may pay alternative or additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those. |
