Spectral Sliver MTG Card

Enhances Slivers, transforming each draw into a multifaceted threat for sustained board control. Spectral Sliver’s instant speed activation tilts unpredictability in your favor during combat. While powerful, the discard requirement for activation necessitates prudent resource management.

Legions (LGN)
2003-02-03 - Number 83

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number D27

Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
2005-08-22 - Number D28

Spectral Sliver - Premium Deck Series: Slivers (H09)

Premium Deck Series: Slivers (H09)
2009-11-20 - Number 17

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Sliver Spirit
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

All Slivers have ": This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn."

"Sure, I've seen agents of the Cabal here and there. Well, not here, and certainly not in any of the sliver labs. Oh dear, I've said too much." —Apprentice researcher

Cards like Spectral Sliver

Exploring the universe of Sliver creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Spectral Sliver is a card that resonates well with Sliver enthusiasts. Drawing a parallel with Crystalline Sliver, both provide defensive advantages to Sliver decks. While Crystalline Sliver offers shroud to protect against targetable spells and abilities, Spectral Sliver allows players to pump up defensive stats, giving Slivers toughness on demand. The versatility in strategy with Spectral Sliver can be game-changing during combat.

Affinity lies with Muscle Sliver as well, a fellow member of the Sliver family that boosts the power of fellow Slivers. However, unlike Spectral Sliver’s emergency defense, Muscle Sliver’s ability is constant without the need for additional mana investment, ideal for aggressive strategies. Then there’s Sentinel Sliver, offering vigilance, reinforcing Slivers as formidable attackers and blockers. This stands in contrast to Spectral Sliver’s focus on adaptability and on-the-spot adjustments.

In essence, when comparing Spectral Sliver to its counterparts, its strength lies in the dynamic control it gives players over the battlefield, allowing them to tailor their tactics to the demands of each game moment. This quality certainly makes Spectral Sliver a unique and valuable asset in MTG Sliver decks.

Cards similar to Spectral Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spectral Sliver offers the flexibility to enhance your Sliver creatures, indirectly contributing to card advantage by improving the board state without needing additional cards. Each Sliver gains the potential to become a threat, increasing the value of every Sliver you draw.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Spectral Sliver allows for a more efficient use of mana. By giving Slivers the ability to pump themselves, your mana can be allocated on an as-needed basis, making it a utility for both offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Instant Speed: The ability of Spectral Sliver to activate at instant speed gives players the significant advantage of unpredictability. This adaptability makes it harder for opponents to make informed decisions, as they must always consider the potential for instant-speed buffs to your Slivers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spectral Sliver necessitates discarding a card to activate its ability. This can be problematic during late-game scenarios or when your hand is already strained for resources. Players need to be strategic about what they discard to avoid depleting their hand, potentially leading to a disadvantage against opponents with fuller grips.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost, while not overly burdensome, does require a specific combination of mana. This can limit the card’s inclusion to decks that are able to produce both white and blue mana reliably. As a result, Spectral Sliver may not be an ideal choice for decks that cannot consistently meet its color requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its effect, players might find Spectral Sliver’s mana demand steep when considering other cards at lower costs that provide similar benefits. The mana invested in playing Spectral Sliver could potentially be used for more impactful plays, making it a less attractive option in decks where mana efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include Spectral Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Spectral Sliver offers a unique flexibility to Sliver decks, providing an option to pump individual Slivers and avoid over-committing on the board. This can be advantageous against board wipes and targeted removal, making your Sliver army more resilient.

Combo Potential: In combination with other Slivers that provide mana, card draw, or other buffs, Spectral Sliver can become part of an overwhelming force. Its ability to grant all Slivers the option to gain “pay 2 mana: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn” can turn the tide in a tight match by unexpectedly bolstering your creatures’ power and toughness.

Meta-Relevance: Given that slivers as a tribe benefit from synergy and shared abilities, Spectral Sliver maintains relevance by adapting to the ever-shifting meta. The cumulative effect of its ability can overpower opponents in both casual and competitive scenes when the timing is right, making it a valued piece in a Sliver player’s toolkit.

How to beat

Spectral Sliver presents itself as a resilient threat in the world of Magic: The Gathering, empowering fellow Slivers with its power of fleeting invisibility. Tackling this formidable card requires strategic planning and timely execution. Key to overcoming this elusive adversary is the use of removal spells that don’t target, such as Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict, both capable of clearing the board without falling prey to Spectral Sliver’s protective ability.

Alternatively, leveraging spells that change the base power and toughness of creatures, like Dismember or Toxic Deluge, allows players to bypass the targeting restriction, and establishing control through these means can be pivotal. Countermeasures should also include abilities that restrict activations or ones that provide benefit when creatures die, like cards featuring the morbid mechanics, ensuring that you gain the upper hand even as Slivers try to phase in and out of danger.

In scenarios crowded with Slivers, crafting a game plan that can neutralize or capitalize on the pivotal moments when Spectral Sliver’s ability is inactive remains essential. This can involve the timing of mass removal or finding windows of opportunity to remove key pieces, ultimately blunting the Sliver onslaught and steering the game towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spectral Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Salvat 2005, 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 Spectral Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spectral Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2009-11-20. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2003-02-03	Legions	LGN	83	1997	Normal	Black	Pete Venters
2	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	D27	2003	Normal	White	Pete Venters
3	2005-08-22	Salvat 2005	PSAL	D28	2003	Normal	White	Pete Venters
4	2009-11-20	Premium Deck Series: Slivers	H09	17	2003	Normal	Black	Pete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spectral Sliver has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spectral Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2013-07-01	Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01	If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.