Spawning Pool MTG Card
1999-02-15 - Number 142
1999-08-04 - Number js142
2007-07-13 - Number 358★
2007-07-13 - Number 358
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Spawning Pool comes into play tapped. oc T: Add one black mana to your mana pool. o1oo B Spawning Pool becomes a 1/1 black creature with "oo B Regenerate this creature" until end of turn. This creature still counts as a land.
Cards like Spawning Pool
Spawning Pool is an intriguing land card known for its unique ability to transform into a creature in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable to other lands that can morph into creatures, such as Mishra’s Factory, Spawning Pool offers strategic flexibility on the battlefield. Mishra’s Factory can become a 2/2 creature at the same cost of one mana, but Spawning Pool has the added benefit of regeneration, giving it a survivability edge in combat situations.
Another land with a similar twist is Mutavault, which can become a creature with all creature types, making it versatile in tribal decks. Although Mutavault does not boast regeneration, it can benefit from other tribal effects. Another comparable card is Faerie Conclave, which turns into a flying creature. The flying ability offers evasion at the expense of needing two mana to activate compared to Spawning Pool’s one mana activation cost.
In evaluating these cards, Spawning Pool holds its ground as a defensive option within creature-land cards in Magic: The Gathering, with its cost-effective activation and resilience in combat distinguishing it from peers like Mishra’s Factory and Mutavault.
Cards similar to Spawning Pool by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spawning Pool may not directly grant extra cards, but its capacity to resurrect itself as a creature contributes to maintaining board presence, which is critical for sustaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: This card acts not only as a land to provide mana but also doubles as a tool for resource acceleration by transforming into a creature that can be used for blocking or sacrifice mechanics.
Instant Speed: Spawning Pool’s ability to become a creature is usable at instant speed, offering strategic flexibility during the endgame or when reacting to combat developments on an opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spawning Pool requires a creature to be sacrificed when activating its ability. This can lead to a loss of board presence, forcing players to make challenging decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: To utilize Spawning Pool’s ability, it demands both black mana and a generic mana. This specificity can sometimes complicate its incorporation into multi-colored decks that might struggle for mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Activating the ability of Spawning Pool incurs a total cost that includes both tapping the land and a payment of two mana. This investment can be significant, especially when comparing it to other cards that might provide creatures or effects at a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spawning Pool’s ability to transform into a creature makes it a flexible addition to any deck. It serves as a land during your development stages and then converts into a blocker or aggressor when needed.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or being in the graveyard, offering a unique angle for combo interactions.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where utility lands can tip the scales, Spawning Pool provides both a mana source and creature utility, making it a noteworthy consideration for deck building.
How to beat
Spawning Pool stands out in the realm of land cards for its ability to turn into a creature. Unlike other versatile lands that provide mana, Spawning Pool has the unique function of becoming a 1/1 black Skeleton creature. This can become a surprise blocker or an unexpected means of dealing the final blow. However, there are strategies to undermine its effectiveness.
For one, land destruction spells can target the Spawning Pool before it transforms, removing the threat preemptively. Additionally, cards that deny creature abilities, such as Pithing Needle, can halt the activation of Spawning Pool’s transformation, keeping it a non-threatening land. Players can also utilize cards that prevent regeneration or deal with 1/1 creatures efficiently, stopping the Spawning Pool from leveraging its secondary function. Watchful removal during your opponent’s upkeep can also ensure that the Spawning Pool does not impact the board state significantly.
Overall, while Spawning Pool offers a dual aspect of utility or menace, understanding its weaknesses allows you to nullify its potential and maintain control over the game’s pace and outcome.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spawning Pool MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Pool and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
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Printings
The Spawning Pool Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-02-15 | Urza's Legacy | ULG | 142 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Rob Alexander | |
| 2 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | js142 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Rob Alexander | |
| 3 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 358★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 358 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spawning Pool has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spawning Pool card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |
| 2009-10-01 | Activating the ability that turns it into a creature while it’s already a creature will override any effects that set its power and/or toughness to a specific number. However, any effect that raises or lowers power and/or toughness (such as the effect created by Giant Growth, Glorious Anthem, or a +1/+1 counter) will continue to apply. |