Rampaging Spiketail MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dinosaur |
| Abilities | Cycling,Swampcycling |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 116 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | John Tedrick |
Key Takeaways
- Rampaging Spiketail hinders opponents, offering tactical advantages and enhancing card advantage.
- Its abilities favor instant-speed interactions, adding strategic depth to gameplay.
- Careful deck construction can mitigate its high mana cost and mana base strain.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rampaging Spiketail MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Rampaging Spiketail 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
Text of card
When Rampaging Spiketail enters the battlefield, target creature you control gets +2/+0 and gains indestructible until end of turn. Swampcycling (, Discard this card: Search your library for a Swamp card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you play Rampaging Spiketail, it adds depth to your hand by potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy, giving you an edge in maintaining control of the game.
Resource Acceleration: This creature can serve as a deterrent, forcing your opponent to hold back spells, thereby indirectly bolstering your mana efficiency and allowing you to develop your board unimpeded.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the abilities of Rampaging Spiketail interact favorably with instant-speed plays, providing an additional layer of tactical flexibility during your turn or at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The need to discard another card to activate its abilities can set you back, particularly in tight gameplay where every card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: With a demand for both red and green mana, Rampaging Spiketail can strain your mana base and may not fit smoothly into multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at a 5 mana value for a 4/4 creature, this card faces strong competition from other creatures and spells which could provide higher value or more impactful abilities for the same or lower cost.
Reasons to Include Rampaging Spiketail in Your Collection
Versatility: Rampaging Spiketail’s ability to act as both a creature and a control element makes it a valuable addition to various decks. Whether you’re looking to apply early game pressure or need an efficient way to disrupt your opponent’s plans, this fiery dinosaur offers flexibility on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key piece in decks that capitalize on dealing damage or dragon synergies. Its presence can enhance combos that get more powerful with each creature entering the fray or with each spell cast that targets a creature.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where low-cost spells are prevalent, Rampaging Spiketail offers a strategic edge. By forcing opponents to spend more mana to resolve their spells or risk being countered by this quick creature, it can significantly impact the tempo and outcome of matches.
How to beat
Rampaging Spiketail is a creature that adds a layer of strategy when you’re managing battles in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique ability can disrupt plays, making it crucial to have a game plan against it. Firstly, consider removal spells to bypass its effects. Spot removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile get around having to pay the extra mana. Another approach is timing your spells to exploit its limitations; wait for your opponent to tap out, limiting their ability to use Rampaging Spiketail’s ability.
Control decks can outmaneuver Rampaging Spiketail by keeping mana open or using spells on their turn, reducing the creature’s impact. For aggressive decks, swarming the battlefield overwhelms a single Rampaging Spiketail, as it can’t counter multiple threats simultaneously. In addition, artifacts or enchantments are unaffected by its ability, so prioritizing non-creature spells can also help maintain the flow of your game. Strategically, this dinosaur demands attention but doesn’t have to be a roadblock to a well-constructed strategy.
Considering its characteristics and potential counters, Rampaging Spiketail may be formidable, but it’s far from unbeatable. Crafting a versatile deck with varied removal and strategic spellcasting can ensure it’s more of a minor nuisance than a major threat.
Cards like Rampaging Spiketail
Rampaging Spiketail situates itself as an interesting creature card in Magic the Gathering. It finds its counterparts in a range of other creatures that carry a punch at a low mana cost. One such example is Scorch Spitter, a card that also delivers immediate impact the moment it comes into play. The Spiketail, crawling out of your deck at three mana and pushing damage onto your opponent, echoes Scorch Spitter’s penchant for swift aggression. It’s all about nudging down your adversary’s life total before they can build a formidable board presence.
Another analogue that MTG enthusiasts might recognize is Goblin Arsonist. Although less impactful on its own compared to Rampaging Spiketail, the Arsonist combines well with other cards to maximize its damage potential. While Rampaging Spiketail does not offer direct synergy with other cards, its solitary presence offers a solid, straightforward path to applying early pressure in the game. It stands ready to damage any opponent daring enough to block it while serving as a modest yet reliable defender if the tides turn.
In sum, Rampaging Spiketail may not be the most complex of creatures, but it fits snugly into a deck looking to deal damage early, holding its own when compared to MTG creatures of similar mana value and damage-dealing capacity.
Cards similar to Rampaging Spiketail by color, type and mana cost
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rampaging Spiketail has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |