Inspired Sprite MTG Card


Inspired Sprite - Morningtide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Faerie Wizard
Abilities Flying, Flash
Released2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameMorningtide
Set codeMOR
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number37
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMichael Sutfin

Key Takeaways

  1. Inspired Sprite excels in instant speed interactions, enhancing decks focused on opponents’ turns.
  2. While powerful, its discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit flexibility in play.
  3. Despite these drawbacks, its combo potential and versatility make it valuable in dynamic strategies.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash Flying Whenever you play a Wizard spell, you may untap Inspired Sprite. : Draw a card, then discard a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Inspired Sprite is a remarkable card that can consistently stock your hand with options. Each time you cast a spell during an opponent’s turn, it lets you draw a card, potentially leading to a significant lead in resources over your adversary.

Resource Acceleration: This sprite doesn’t directly generate additional mana, but the card drawing ability essentially accelerates your resources by providing you with more actions per turn. More spells in hand means more ways to impact the board or counter your opponent’s moves.

Instant Speed: One of the sprite’s shining qualities is its affinity for instant speed interactions. Not only does it incentivize you to play at instant speed to reap its card-drawing benefit, but it also thrives in a deck that operates on the same swift wavelength, keeping you one step ahead of your opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Inspired Sprite demands a card from your hand be discarded to trigger its ability. This can potentially drain your hand of valuable resources, leaving you at a disadvantage, especially if the game drags on or you’re already facing hand disruption from your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: With requiring both blue mana and another color, this sprite flies into territory that is not always fluid for multi-colored decks. If your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned, the Inspired Sprite might hover useless in your hand at crucial moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For decks that aim for efficiency and speed, the Inspired Sprite’s casting cost may be a hurdle. There are alternative creatures and spells in the current meta that offer similar or better effects with less mana investment. This makes it crucial to consider the sprite’s cost-to-benefit ratio when building your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Inspired Sprite brings a dynamic element to decks that thrive on spellcasting and drawing cards. It complements strategies that require a consistent flow of options, making it a fit for various blue-centric constructs.

Combo Potential: As a faerie, Inspired Sprite aligns well with tribal synergies, and being able to untap it whenever you cast a spell gives room for intricate combo plays. It opens the door to multiple activations in a single turn, particularly in decks that cast numerous low-cost spells.

Meta-Relevance: If the current competitive scene favors interactive games where drawing and casting spells is key to success, Inspired Sprite gains significant value. Its ability to keep your hand filled while posing a threat on the board makes it a savvy choice for contesting the ever-evolving MTG landscape.


How to beat

Inspired Sprite is a deceptively powerful Magic: The Gathering card due to its combination of card draw and faerie synergy. To counter it, it’s crucial to manage the sprite’s trigger conditions. Priority should go towards interrupting the untapping process, which fuels the card draw engine, rendering it much less effective. Cards with tap-down abilities or those that can alter the state of the battlefield play a vital role here.

Spot removal is also essential; getting rid of Inspired Sprite before it can leverage its effect is a tactical move. Employ instant-speed removal spells when the opponent lacks the mana to respond. Additionally, graveyard interaction can be your ally; cards that remove creatures from graveyards prevent any recursion strategies that might return Inspired Sprite to play. Lastly, counter spells remain an effective defense; countering Inspired Sprite upon casting ensures that your opponent wastes resources without gaining advantage.

Essentially, dealing with Inspired Sprite requires a proactive and reactive blend of tactics, emphasizing the efficient use of removal, countering spells, and consistent control of the untap phase. Neutralizing this card helps prevent your opponent from gaining a formidable advantage in card economy and board presence.


Cards like Inspired Sprite

Inspired Sprite joins a unique cadre of fae creatures in Magic: The Gathering that offer more than just a flying trait. Notably, it could be compared to Spectral Sailor from recent sets. Both cards provide card draw; however, Inspired Sprite requires a specific condition of playing a spell during your opponent’s turn to trigger its ability. This stipulation can add a tactical layer to deck building that Spectral Sailor, which only requires open mana to activate its draw ability, does not demand.

Another card that echoes in synergy is Faerie Vandal, which, like Inspired Sprite, thrives on the flash mechanic to surprise opponents. Faerie Vandal’s strength increases each time you draw a card, but without the built-in card draw that Inspired Sprite offers. Considering these characteristics, players will find that while Inspired Sprite demands a more intricate play strategy, it can potentially provide greater card advantage and control over the game’s pace.

All factors considered, Inspired Sprite showcases its value among fae creatures with the unique draw-per-spell ability and intrinsic synergy with flash-enabled cards in a player’s deck, ensuring its place in strategies that capitalize on playing on an opponent’s turn.

Spectral Sailor - MTG Card versions
Faerie Vandal - MTG Card versions
Spectral Sailor - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Faerie Vandal - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inspired Sprite MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Inspired Sprite and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inspired Sprite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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