Reckless Spite MTG Card


Eliminates two threats instantly, providing a tactical board control and card advantage. Instant speedallows for surprise plays and keeps opponents on their toes. Life loss and mana specificity are significant drawbacks, but offer a balanced trade-off.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Destroy two target nonblack creatures. Lose 5 life.

"My plan's elegance leads my enemies to believe it is spite that fuels me." —Volrath


Cards like Reckless Spite

Reckless Spite stands in MTG as a powerful instant that lets players destroy two nonblack creatures at the cost of 5 life points. This card reminds players of similar destructive spells, such as Diabolic Edict, which also targets creatures but requires the opponent to choose the creature to sacrifice. Diabolic Edict doesn’t deal damage to the caster, but it lacks the precision of selecting specific threats that Reckless Spite provides.

Turning our attention to another comparable card, we have Terminate. While Terminate allows for the destruction of a single creature without regeneration, it comes without the life point expenditure Reckless Spite demands. However, Reckless Spite’s ability to remove two creatures simultaneously can often turn the tide of a game, signaling its potent strategic advantage despite the self-inflicted life cost.

When assessing these options side by side, Reckless Spite’s life cost is a significant factor, yet its instant speed and double-target potential carve a niche for itself within MTG’s array of removal spells, solidifying its role in decks that value impact over life preservation.

Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Terminate - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Terminate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Reckless Spite by color, type and mana cost

Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions
Spoils of Evil - MTG Card versions
Dark Banishing - MTG Card versions
Carrion - MTG Card versions
Sick and Tired - MTG Card versions
Corpse Dance - MTG Card versions
Bone Harvest - MTG Card versions
Slay - MTG Card versions
Afflict - MTG Card versions
Dismember - MTG Card versions
Body Count - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Graves - MTG Card versions
Execute - MTG Card versions
Kill! Destroy! - MTG Card versions
Sudden Death - MTG Card versions
Footbottom Feast - MTG Card versions
Fevered Strength - MTG Card versions
Hideous End - MTG Card versions
Corpse Lunge - MTG Card versions
Necrobite - MTG Card versions
Murder - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reckless Spite offers the ability to eliminate two threats on the board, effectively disrupting your opponent’s strategy. This action could potentially put you ahead, as you’re removing two of their resources while only using one card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Reckless Spite itself does not directly result in resource acceleration, clearing the board of opposing threats can indirectly hasten your game plan. By dealing with multiple creatures at once, you pave the way for your own creatures to attack without obstacle or enable you to exploit a now unprotected opponent.

Instant Speed: The fact that Reckless Spite can be cast at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This level of unpredictability can be an advantage, as it forces your opponent to play around the possibility of an instant removal, affecting their decision-making process throughout the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Reckless Spite does not require a card to be discarded, its steep cost is the loss of life. This can be quite a drawback when the game state is precarious or life totals are low.

Specific Mana Cost: Reckless Spite has a strict mana requirement, needing both black and generic mana. This may restrict its integration outside of mono-black or two-color black-inclusive decks, reducing its overall flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a relatively high cost of five mana to destroy only two creatures, Reckless Spite might be seen as inefficient compared to other removal spells in the same mana range that offer additional benefits or lower life loss.


Reasons to Include Reckless Spite in Your Collection

Versatility: Reckless Spite offers a powerful means of dealing with threats on the battlefield. As an instant, it allows players to react swiftly and decisively to eliminate two nonblack creatures, disrupting opponent strategies at any stage of the game.

Combo Potential: This card aligns well with decks capitalizing on life loss mechanisms, turning a potential drawback into an advantage. Synergizing with cards that benefit from death triggers or life payment can create potent combinations that further your game plan.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where creature-based decks can dominate, having access to instant-speed, multi-target removal can be a game-changer. Reckless Spite’s ability to remove key components from your opponent’s board makes it a strategic inclusion against prevalent meta-decks.


How to beat

Reckless Spite presents itself as a potent tool in Magic: The Gathering, offering the ability to eliminate two nonblack creatures at the expense of 5 life points. This instant-speed interaction can turn the tides of a game, making it a double-edged sword for its caster. To effectively counter this card, players should consider a few strategies.

One approach is keeping a watchful eye on your opponent’s mana and life total, as using Reckless Spite requires a specific setup. Having protection for your creatures, such as hexproof or indestructible, can nullify this threat. Creatures with the ability to regenerate or those that create value upon hitting the graveyard could also mitigate the impact of this removal spell.

Additionally, playing around this card by not overextending on the battlefield and keeping backup creatures in hand ensures that Reckless Spite doesn’t leave you without a presence on the board. Understanding the balance between deploying threats and retaining resources is key when facing an opponent who has access to such impactful removal. With careful play, one can navigate around Reckless Spite’s high-risk and high-reward gameplay to maintain an edge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the fine balance of power and peril is essential in MTG, especially when playing cards like Reckless Spite. This card’s ability to dispatch two nonblack creatures at instant speed can dramatically alter the game’s pace. Despite its life point cost, the strategic advantage it provides cannot be ignored. As you seek to refine your deck and tactics, we encourage diving deeper into the synergies and counterplays surrounding such impactful cards. Elevate your game sense, expand your strategic horizon, and make each match an opportunity for growth. We invite you to explore further with us and harness the potential of cards like Reckless Spite to its fullest. Visit us and evolve your gameplay today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reckless Spite MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Invasion, 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 Reckless Spite and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Reckless Spite Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 1521997NormalBlackPete Venters
22000-10-02InvasionINV 1211997NormalBlackChippy
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 912003NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
42014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1232003NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
52017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 372015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7502015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
72020-09-26The ListPLST E01-372015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
82021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1512015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
92023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1172015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reckless Spite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal