Sea Spirit MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 95
1997-03-24 - Number 119
2008-09-22 - Number 65
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Spirit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
o U: +1/+0 until end of turn
"It rose above our heads, above the ship, and still higher yet. No foggy, ice-laden sea in the world could frighten me more." —General Jarkeld, the Arctic Fox
Cards like Sea Spirit
Sea Spirit is an intriguing creature card that finds its place among water-themed decks in Magic: The Gathering. It’s in league with the likes of Spined Serpent and Water Elemental, both of which embody the essence of blue’s aquatic might. Sea Spirit, with its ability to gain a temporary power boost, echoes the adaptability often celebrated in blue’s creature roster. Where Spined Serpent offers scalability through its modular ability depending on the number of Islands you control, Sea Spirit can surprise opponents with sudden strength.
Another comparable card is Merfolk Thaumaturgist, especially when examining control within blue’s realm. Although differing in functionality, as Merfolk Thaumaturgist focuses on altering creature’s power and toughness, the essence of manipulating the board state aligns with Sea Spirit’s temporary empowerment objective.
In summary, Sea Spirit may not always be the foremost choice for its mana cost compared to other creatures in its family. Yet, its potential for instantaneous power increase secures a unique role within blue’s maritime arsenal, offering tactical advantages when least expected.
Cards similar to Sea Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sea Spirit shines in its potential to give you card advantage. Playing this card could pave the way to a more robust hand, paving the way toward overwhelming your opponent with numerous options to respond to the game’s changing dynamics.
Resource Acceleration: Although Sea Spirit isn’t directly a resource acceleration card, it could complement strategies aiming to untap lands or artifacts, effectively providing a burst of mana when you most need it for deploying other high-impact spells or creatures.
Instant Speed: The versatility of casting creatures like Sea Spirit at instant speed can’t be overstated. It allows savvy players to wait on their opponent’s actions before committing this aquatic ally to the battlefield, ensuring tactical responses and optimal use of each turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Sea Spirit comes with a caveat, mandating the discard of another card upon playing. This can be a strategic setback when your hand is already dwindling, forcing you to make tough decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: The deck building process is constrained by the specific mana cost requirement of Sea Spirit. Decks that focus on a multicolor strategy may find it challenging to consistently meet the blue mana requirement, potentially causing interference with the deck’s mana curve and efficiency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment needed to summon Sea Spirit can be steep, especially when assessed against other creatures in the same mana range. Players may find that there are alternative creatures or spells that could offer greater value or impact on the board for a similar or lesser mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Sea Spirit in Your Collection
Versatility: Sea Spirit offers flexible options for blue-based control or midrange decks, providing a reliable blocker with its flying ability and fitting well into spirit or flying-focused synergies.
Combo Potential: With its ability to gain pseudo-unblockable for a turn, Sea Spirit can complement strategies revolving around dealing combat damage to players, enabling various triggered abilities or enhancing evasion tactics.
Meta-Relevance: As the game shifts and evolves, a card like Sea Spirit that can act as a defensive measure against airborne threats could prove its worth, particularly in formats where flyers are prevalent.
How to beat
Sea Spirit might seem like an unassuming presence on the battlefield, but underestimating this elemental creature could be a mistake. With the ability to grow its power with blue mana, it can catch opponents off guard. Overcoming this watery adversary requires strategic plays and a tight handle on the game’s pace. Nullifying its strength lies in cutting off its access to blue mana sources, ensuring it remains a manageable threat.
Removal spells are key in managing creatures like Sea Spirit. Since it relies on mana to become a larger force, instant-speed removals such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push offer a swift solution, handling the threat before it escalates. Additionally, cards that restrict mana usage or counter creature spells also shut down its potential, with Counterspell or Mana Leak being perfect examples. Always remember, its power is directly tied to the depth of its controller’s blue mana pool. A well-timed removal or counter not only deals with Sea Spirit but can also tilt the game’s momentum in your favor.
Understanding Sea Spirit’s mechanics is crucial to maintaining control. Keeping mana open for instant responses and capitalizing on your deck’s removal capabilities can turn the tides against this aquatic foe. Remember, strategy and timing are your allies in ensuring Sea Spirit doesn’t surge beyond control.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sea Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Sea Spirit and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Sea Spirit Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 119 | 1997 | Normal | White | DiTerlizzi | |
| 3 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 65 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sea Spirit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |