Spawning Breath MTG Card

Spawning Breath balances direct damage with strategic creature token generation for flexible battlefield control. Acts as a mana accelerator via Eldrazi Spawn token sacrifice, aiding in casting higher-cost spells early. At instant speed, offers adaptable play, allowing for reactions during an opponent’s turn for tactical advantage.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Rise of the Eldrazi
Set code	ROE
Number	164
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Trevor Claxton

Text of card

Spawning Breath deals 1 damage to target creature or player. Put a 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature token onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool."

Death by death, Kozilek's lineage spread.

Cards like Spawning Breath

When examining Spawning Breath within the scope of mana-generating cards in Magic: The Gathering, a few parallels can be drawn with cards such as Seething Song and Desperate Ritual. These cards also serve to boost your mana pool for a single turn, with Seething Song adding five red mana at the cost of three mana, offering a higher net gain than Spawning Breath. Desperate Ritual, on the other hand, adds three mana for two, but doesn’t come with the additional benefit of creating a creature token like Spawning Breath does—a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn token, which can be sacrificed for more mana.

Looking at another counterpart, Geosurge provides a massive surge of red mana, specifically four for just four mana, but this can only be used to cast artifact or creature spells. Meanwhile, Spawning Breath’s flexibility allows you to utilize the mana in any way you see fit. The creation of a token as a secondary outcome can’t be understated either, as it adds a strategic layer not found in pure mana generation spells like Geosurge.

The subtle advantages that come with token generation alongside mana ramp make Spawning Breath a unique and situationally superior option compared to alternatives in the right MTG deck composition. Its versatility within creature-centric strategies or decks focused on utilizing creature tokens can often tip the scales in a player’s favor.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spawning Breath offers the dual benefit of creature creation and potential mana generation. This can lead to a richer hand while populating the battlefield with an additional creature.

Resource Acceleration: The token produced by using Spawning Breath can be converted into colorless mana, acting as an accelerator to deploy more costly cards ahead of time or enable multi-color deck users to more easily cast their spells.

Instant Speed: As an instant-speed spell, Spawning Breath grants the versatility to react on an opponent’s turn. Whether it’s creating a blocker or simply using resources more efficiently, the instant nature of this card offers strategic depth in game play.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Spawning Breath requires a precise combination of mana, one colorless and one red, to cast. This can limit flexibility in decks that are not based around primarily red mana sources or in situations where mana color availability is restricted.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for its effect, Spawning Breath may be considered costly for the creation of just one 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token that can be sacrificed for mana later on. There may be alternative cards with a lower mana cost or more impactful effects for the same investment.

Discard Requirement: While Spawning Breath doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, using it effectively often requires a well-thought-out strategy to utilize the Eldrazi Spawn token meaningfully, otherwise, the token can end up being a marginal benefit that doesn’t justify the card slot in the deck.

Reasons to Include Spawning Breath in Your Collection

Versatility: Spawning Breath offers utility across various styles of play. This card lets you deal direct damage while also providing a creature token. This makes it a flexible inclusion in decks that need both creature presence and removal options.

Combo Potential: With its ability to create 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens, Spawning Breath can be a key component in combos that utilize creature sacrifice for mana or to activate various abilities. These tokens can be catalysts for powerful plays, especially in decks that capitalize on token generation or sacrifice mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Understanding the current meta is critical, and Spawning Breath can be particularly potent in environments where low-toughness creatures are prevalent. Additionally, the mana acceleration the Eldrazi Spawn provides can be crucial in outpacing opponents, making this card a strategic choice in certain meta-game scenarios.

How to beat

Spawning Breath is a unique card in the vast pool of Magic: The Gathering spells. Noteworthy for its ability to create Eldrazi Spawn tokens, it provides players with both a direct damage outlet and potential for mana ramping. This versatility can give the caster a significant edge in board presence and resource management.

To effectively counter Spawning Breath, it is crucial to minimize the impact of its spawn-creating ability. Engaging in removal tactics that sweep multiple tokens at once can negate the mana advantage afforded by the spawns. Clearing the battlefield with cards like Pyroclasm or Electrickery can be particularly devastating to strategies heavily reliant on token generation. Moreover, applying pressure with creatures that can outclass spawn tokens also chips away at Spawning Breath’s utility, forcing an opponent to use them defensively rather than for mana acceleration.

Understanding that the true strength of Spawning Breath lies in the flexibility it affords, players must focus on either outpacing the mana acceleration or invalidating the tokens’ strategic advantage. This approach ensures that the dual purpose of Spawning Breath does not tilt the scales too heavily in favor of the opposing side.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spawning Breath MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Spawning Breath and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spawning Breath has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal