Spark Spray MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Cycling

Key Takeaways

  1. Spark Spray’s cycling ability ensures deck consistency while offering instant impact on the game.
  2. Its mana efficiency aligns well with red decks, enhancing their responsive playstyle.
  3. The instant nature of Spark Spray allows for opportunistic plays, disrupting opponents effectively.

Text of card

Spark Spray deals 1 damage to target creature or player. Cycling (, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.)

It's the only kind of shower goblins will tolerate.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spark Spray offers a strategic edge as you can cycle it from your hand, replacing itself with another card, contributing to maintaining card consistency in your deck.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly generate additional resources, Spark Spray’s low mana cost aids in managing your mana pool efficiently, allowing for a quicker response to battlefield threats.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of an instant-speed spell means Spark Spray can be cast at the most opportune moment, making it a versatile tool for disrupting your opponent’s plays without sacrificing your own turn’s plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other instant-speed removal options, Spark Spray doesn’t ask you to discard, which can be seen as a missed opportunity for synergizing with strategies that benefit from discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: Spark Spray requires red mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored or non-red themed decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its damage output, Spark Spray’s mana cost may be seen as inequitable compared to other direct damage spells, reducing its effectiveness in a mana-efficient strategy.


Reasons to Include Spark Spray in Your Collection

Versatility: Spark Spray proves to be a flexible card, seamlessly integrating into various red deck builds. Its ability to deal one damage makes it a useful tool against early game threats or planeswalker loyalty counters.

Combo Potential: Beyond just dealing damage, Spark Spray can synergize with decks that capitalize on spells being cast or instant-speed interactions, enriching your tactical arsenal during games.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its low cost and instant-speed playability, Spark Spray can be particularly effective in a meta dominated by aggressive strategies or where utility creatures with one toughness are prevalent.


How to beat

Spark Spray presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its versatility as a low-cost damage spell and cantrip. Like other direct damage spells, such as Shock, it gives players the ability to quickly remove small threats from the board. However, Spark Spray adds the strategic advantage of cycling, allowing a player to replace it if a direct damage spell isn’t needed at that moment.

Overcoming Spark Spray requires careful gameplay. One key is to prioritize the deployment of creatures with toughness greater than one to evade its damage. Additionally, holding instant-speed creature buffs can negate the impact of Spark Spray in critical moments, saving your creatures and preserving your board presence. Furthermore, presenting multiple threats simultaneously can dilute its effectiveness, as your opponent will only be able to target one with the Spark Spray. It’s also worth to consider playing around the opponent’s mana availability, as they need to keep one red open to potentially play Spark Spray.

In essence, while Spark Spray offers flexibility and efficiency, it can be outmaneuvered by thoughtfully increasing the resilience of your creatures, broadening threats, and timely use of buffs to ensure your key pieces remain intact on the battlefield.


Cards like Spark Spray

In Magic: The Gathering, Spark Spray serves as an interesting piece in the repertoire of direct damage spells. Much like Shock, Spark Spray delivers a swift hit to creatures or players, though it only deals one damage. Shock, on the contrary, deals two damage but both cards share the low mana cost, making them early game assets for players looking to maintain pressure. Another parallel can be drawn with card Flame Slash, which costs the same but can only target creatures, however, it delivers a more substantial blow of four damage, excellent for taking down larger threats.

When eyeing the scope of one-mana red spells, Gut Shot is commonly cited. Gut Shot has the added versatility of being a Phyrexian mana spell, meaning it can be cast for life points instead of mana, offering flexibility in tight mana situations. Although it’s often used for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s early creatures, just like Spark Spray, the damage output is the same. Unlike Spark Spray, it isn’t solely red mana dependent, opening up possibilities in multicolored decks.

Delving into these comparisons highlights Spark Spray’s role as a useful tool in a MTG player’s arsenal, providing an inexpensive and quick option for dealing with immediate threats or finishing off weakened opponents.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Flame Slash - MTG Card versions
Gut Shot - MTG Card versions
Shock - Stronghold (STH)
Flame Slash - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Gut Shot - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Spark Spray by color, type and mana cost

False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Telim'Tor's Edict - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fighting Chance - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Flames - MTG Card versions
Sonic Seizure - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
False Orders - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Chaoslace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Red Elemental Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Tunnel - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Artifact Blast - Antiquities (ATQ)
Lightning Bolt - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Active Volcano - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Shock - The List (PLST)
Panic - Ice Age (ICE)
Vertigo - Ice Age (ICE)
Telim'Tor's Edict - Mirage (MIR)
Hearth Charm - Visions (VIS)
Pyroblast - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Fighting Chance - Exodus (EXO)
Shower of Sparks - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Heat Ray - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Overload - Invasion (INV)
Engulfing Flames - Odyssey (ODY)
Sonic Seizure - Torment (TOR)
March of Reckless Joy - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spark Spray MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Vintage Masters, 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 Spark Spray and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spark Spray Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 1051997normalblackPete Venters
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1882015normalblackPete Venters
32023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1412015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spark Spray has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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