Hungry Spriggan MTG Card

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 120

Hungry Spriggan - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)

Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
2017-03-17 - Number 129

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Abilities	Trample
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Hungry Spriggan’s power can double when attacking, putting considerable pressure on the opponent.
The card’s demanding mana and growth potential make it a key player in green decks.
Effective countermeasures include instant speed removal and managing board state.

Text of card

Trample Whenever Hungry Spriggan attacks, it gets +3/+3 until end of turn.

If a spriggan's eyes are larger than its stomach, it has ways to remedy the situation.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hungry Spriggan itself does not directly allow you to draw cards, its aggressive stats for its cost can put pressure on opponents, often demanding an answer. Successfully attacking with it can translate into a form of indirect card advantage by potentially depleting the opponent’s hand as they are forced to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Hungry Spriggan isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration in the typical sense of providing additional mana. Its main strength lies in its efficiency and the potent threat it presents, hence it can expedite the pace of the game in your favor, which is a form of tempo acceleration.

Instant Speed: Hungry Spriggan operates at sorcery speed as a creature, yet its ability to double its power when attacking can create sudden and unpredictable shifts in board state. This potential for rapid power increase demands respect and can force instant-speed responses from opponents, effectively playing into the pace and decision-making akin to instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hungry Spriggan’s aggressive potential is enticing, it’s key to note that it does not come with any discard effects. Players will need to seek other cards to pair with it in a strategy reliant on discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: Hungry Spriggan demands a precise mana alignment, costing one green mana. This requirement could be restrictive, particularly in multi-colored decks that might struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a cost of three mana might be a tad steep for a 1/1 creature, despite its ability to grow in strength during attacks. In a format where mana efficiency is paramount, there could be other creatures or spells that provide a more immediate or substantial impact on the game.

Reasons to Include Hungry Spriggan in Your Collection

Versatility: Hungry Spriggan is an adaptable card that can be a workhorse in a variety of green deck builds. Its innate trample ability ensures that even if blocked, potential damage will push through to the opponent. It’s particularly effective in decks that aim to ramp up quickly and press the attack.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with pump spells or abilities that increase its power, potentially turning it into a formidable threat with each attack. It’s ideal for synergizing with effects that grow creatures based on the number of spells cast or lands under your control.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Hungry Spriggan can be an invaluable asset for its ability to scale its power and serve as both an early-game aggressor and a late-game threat.

How to beat

The Hungry Spriggan card holds its ground as a formidable entity within the green creature roster of Magic the Gathering. Unlike other creatures that might require specific conditions or combinations to elevate their power, the Hungry Spriggan simplifies the process. Upon attacking, it automatically triples its might, transitioning from a modest 1/1 to a threatening 3/3 force on the battlefield.

Navigating a strategy to outwit this creature involves maintaining a board presence with creatures robust enough to survive or intercept the Spriggan’s attack. Tactical removal spells are also key, ensuring that the Spriggan is dealt with before it can declare an attack and boost its power. Instant speed spells are particularly valuable here, providing the element of surprise and disrupting your opponent’s battle phase.

Recognizing the importance of timing and board control can significantly hamper the impact of the Hungry Spriggan in play. With the right balance of creature deployment and spell usage, this once intimidating creature can be reduced to a manageable threat, keeping your life total secure and your position in the game strong.

Cards like Hungry Spriggan

Hungry Spriggan holds an intriguing position in the swath of aggressive creatures Magic: The Gathering offers. With its trample ability and power boost when attacking, it recalls the mechanics of other cards like Gore-House Chainwalker. Although the Chainwalker also benefits from becoming a 3/2 when attacking, it lacks Hungry Spriggan’s potential exponential growth each turn.

Goblin Heelcutter is another creature that can disrupt opponents by making a creature unable to block for a turn. However, Hungry Spriggan’s steady climb in power can often present a more significant threat if left unchecked. Comparatively, Bloodrush creatures such as Slaughterhorn offer a one-time power boost and share a similar ‘charge-in’ combat ethos, but they too don’t promise the sustained board presence and accumulated might that Hungry Spriggan threatens with each swing.

In the landscape of red and green creatures that excel in direct combat, Hungry Spriggan may not have the initial impact of some alternatives but compensates with a unique capacity for growth that can swiftly spiral out of control if it connects with the opponent consistently.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hungry Spriggan MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Hungry Spriggan and other MTG cards: