Spikeshot Elder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin Shaman
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Spikeshot Elder leads to card advantage by forcing opponents to use resources or lose key creatures.
  2. Instant speed of its ability offers strategic depth and reaction time, making it a formidable card.
  3. Ability cost and red mana specificity may limit the card’s deck inclusion and optimization.

Text of card

: Spikeshot Elder deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

Now that he knows a thousand ways of hurting people, his next shamanic quest is to discover a thousand more.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spikeshot Elder offers strategic flexibility in your gameplay, allowing for potential card advantage as you can repeatedly deal damage to creatures or players. This can force your opponent to use their resources inefficiently or lose valuable creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Spikeshot Elder itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, its ability could eliminate creatures that are hindering your resource progression, such as mana dorks or tax pieces, effectively speeding up your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The real power of Spikeshot Elder lies in its activated ability, which operates at instant speed. This gives you the upper hand, offering the freedom to react on your opponent’s turn and maximizing your mana use across different phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When harnessing the power of Spikeshot Elder, one must be mindful of the absence of a discard requirement. While not having to part with cards from your hand can be advantageous, this characteristic denies synergy in strategies that capitalize on discarding for value, potentially limiting strategic diversity within certain deck builds.

Specific Mana Cost: Spikeshot Elder presents a specific mana cost constraint, requiring red mana exclusively for both its casting and activated abilities. This characteristic deeply roots it in red-focused decks and might not mesh well with multicolored strategies where mana flexibility is paramount.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activated ability of Spikeshot Elder demands a relatively high investment of three mana. In contrast, other cards with similar damage-dealing abilities may offer more cost-effective solutions. For players seeking efficient mana usage, especially in the early stages of the game, the Elder’s activated ability might not always represent the optimal play.


Reasons to Include Spikeshot Elder in Your Collection

Versatility: Spikeshot Elder has the ability to become a repeatable source of damage with just a simple boost in power. This flexibility makes it a solid choice in many red-based decks, particularly those that can easily increase creature statistics.

Combo Potential: This card can be a linchpin in combos, especially when paired with ways to augment its power. Equipment, auras, and instant spells that bump its power can turn it into a formidable damage dealer, capable of picking off key creatures or closing out a game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where utility creatures hold sway, Spikeshot Elder stands out as a creature capable of removing problematic opponents’ creatures while also posing a threat to your opponent’s life total, making it a relevant choice for many game scenarios.


How to beat

Spikeshot Elder is a formidable red creature from Magic: The Gathering that can become a thorn in the side of any opponent, especially in the late game when pumped with additional power. To counter this threat effectively, it’s essential to neutralize the Elder before it can be buffed. Utilize instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate it no matter the size it grows to, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push. Moreover, keeping creatures with higher toughness on the battlefield makes it more challenging for the Spikeshot Elder to pick them off one by one.

Another strategy is to limit the Elder’s enhancement opportunities. Enchantments like Pacifism can prevent it from attacking or even using its ability, while cards like Pithing Needle can shut down its activated abilities altogether. Lastly, remember to stay vigilant and remove the Elder swiftly because as long as it remains on the board, it poses a constant threat. A mix of control, timing, and the right spells will ensure that this pesky goblin doesn’t shoot down your chances of victory.


Cards like Spikeshot Elder

Spikeshot Elder is a distinctive creature within the pantheon of red cards in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It is often likened to cards like Goblin Sharpshooter, which also boasts a tap-to-deal-damage ability. Spikeshot Elder, however, allows for direct player control over the amount of damage dealt through its activated ability, scaled by mana investment. In contrast, Goblin Sharpshooter’s damage is fixed, although it untaps whenever a creature dies, perhaps offering repetitive strikes in the right circumstances.

Another card that echoes this design is Prodigal Pyromancer, capable of pinging creatures or players consistently each turn. Yet, it lacks the scalability of Spikeshot Elder’s damage output. There’s also Cunning Sparkmage, which shares the tap-to-damage effect. Both the Sparkmage and the Pyromancer are more accessible regarding mana cost than the Elder. Nonetheless, they do not offer the same potential for increased damage late-game that Spikeshot Elder provides.

The strategic depth and flexibility of Spikeshot Elder make it a formidable card, especially in matches where the mana supply allows for maximized use of its activated ability. Comparatively, the adaptability and potential for escalated power place it enticingly in the realm of red damage-dealers.

Goblin Sharpshooter - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Pyromancer - MTG Card versions
Cunning Sparkmage - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sharpshooter - Onslaught (ONS)
Prodigal Pyromancer - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Cunning Sparkmage - Worldwake (WWK)

Cards similar to Spikeshot Elder by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Goblin Digging Team - The Dark (DRK)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Goblin Artisans - Rinascimento (RIN)
Gorilla Shaman - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Roc Hatchling - Weatherlight (WTH)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Enslaved Dwarf - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spikeshot Elder MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Spikeshot Elder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spikeshot Elder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2015-05-22. Illustrated by Izzy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1042003normalblackIzzy
22015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1272015normalblackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spikeshot Elder has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-01-01 How much damage Spikeshot Elder deals as a result of its ability is determined by its power as that ability resolves. If Spikeshot Elder is no longer on the battlefield at that time, its last existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its power.

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