Snake Basket MTG Card
1997-02-03 - Number 155
1999-04-21 - Number 312
2000-08-02 - Number nl312
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
o X, Sacrifice Snake Basket: Put X Cobra tokens into play. Treat these tokens as 1/1 green creatures. Play this ability as a sorcery.
"Uh, does anyone have a flute?" —Rana, Suq'Ata market fool
Cards like Snake Basket
Snake Basket is a unique artifact in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, providing a way to summon multiple creature tokens in one fell swoop. When examining cards with akin functionalities, Verdant Force stands out. While Snake Basket requires a considerable amount of mana to activate and sacrifice, creating numerous Snake tokens, Verdant Force routinely brings Saproling tokens to the battlefield at each upkeep, offering a consistent token generation method without additional mana investment post-casting.
Dragon Fodder is another card that parallels Snake Basket’s token-generation theme but on a much smaller scale. While it produces two Goblin tokens immediately for a modest two mana, what it gains in efficiency, it loses in scalability compared to the potential flood of tokens Snake Basket can generate. Lastly, we must mention Myr Battlesphere, which shares the artifact essence and creates a swarm of Myr tokens upon entering the battlefield, although with a higher upfront casting cost and a distinctive impact on the game through its added ability to tap Myr for damage.
Ultimately, within the breadth of Magic: The Gathering, Snake Basket’s capacity to fill the board with creatures holds its own niche, offering an explosive tactical edge, especially in decks that capitalize on such token-driven strategies.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Snake Basket can flood the board with Snake creature tokens, effectively creating multiple blockers or attackers from a single artifact, thereby potentially turning the tide of the match in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: This powerful artifact allows for an explosive burst of board presence. Activating its ability can quickly escalate your creature count and overwhelm opponents, especially when combining with other cards that benefit from high creature volume.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Snake Basket at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to threats or amplify your offensive power on the opponent’s turn. This adaptability ensures your mana isn’t tied up during your own turn, leaving options open for defensive or offensive plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While it may not be evident at first, Snake Basket can be a liability if you are forced to discard other important cards to make use of its ability. This is particularly true in situations where your hand is already sparse, and each card is a valuable asset.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating Snake Basket requires a substantial investment of four colorless mana, which can be a hindrance in multicolored decks where mana must be carefully allocated. Decks focusing on efficient mana curves may find this cost too steep for the effect provided.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating its efficiency, the four mana required to bring Snake Basket to the field could be seen as excessive. In the evolving landscape of MTG, many players might opt for alternative creature generators or token strategies that offer more immediate board presence or utility for a similar or lower investment.
Reasons to Include Snake Basket in Your Collection
Versatility: Snake Basket is a unique artifact that can adapt to various deck strategies. Whether you’re running aggro, token generation, or even tribal snake decks, it can provide a burst of creatures to support your game plan.
Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with effects that capitalize on creature tokens entering the battlefield. With the right setup, Snake Basket can become a power play, transforming your mana investment into a formidable army of snakes.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, so do the decks. In a meta where board presence can shift the tide of battle, having Snake Basket ready to unleash a swarm can be crucial. It is especially potent against control decks that may struggle to clear multiple threats at once.
How to beat Snake Basket
Snake Basket is an artifact card that offers a creative angle to creature generation in Magic: The Gathering. Resembling other creature-generating artifacts, it doesn’t merely place a creature on the battlefield but explodes into a swarm of snake tokens when sacrificed. This surge of creatures can potentially turn the tide of a game, enabling a sudden army for defense or an overwhelming offense.
To effectively counteract Snake Basket, one strategy could be employing spells that limit the number of tokens that can be created, such as ‘Illness in the Ranks’ or ‘Virulent Plague’. These cards diminish the impact of token swarms. Sweeper spells like ‘Wrath of God’ or ‘Damnation’ can wipe out the snake tokens regardless of their numbers, negating the sudden advantage. Artifact removal like ‘Naturalize’ or ‘Disenchant’ can preemptively destroy the Snake Basket, thus preventing any snakes from ever entering the battlefield. Managing your resources to keep these counters in hand can be crucial when facing an opponent wielding this slithery asset.
In summation, while Snake Basket holds potential for an imposing presence on the board, a prepared player with the right removal cards can defuse this reptilian threat, maintaining control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Snake Basket MTG card by a specific set like Visions and Classic Sixth 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 Snake Basket 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Snake Basket Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Roger Raupp.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-02-03 | Visions | VIS | 155 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Roger Raupp | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 312 | 1997 | Normal | White | Roger Raupp | |
| 3 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | nl312 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Roger Raupp |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Snake Basket has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Snake Basket card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-02-01 | It used to make Cobra tokens. Now it makes Snake tokens. |