Spike Tiller MTG Card

Spike Tiller offers card advantage by turning lands into creatures, enhancing board presence unexpectedly. Its instant speed ’till’ ability is pivotal for reactive play, matching well against opponents’ strategies. Spike Tiller’s usage can be tricky; requiring creature sacrifice and green mana can limit its applicability.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Spike
Released	2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set name	Time Spiral
Set code	TSP
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	218
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tony Szczudlo

Text of card

Spike Tiller comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spike Tiller: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spike Tiller: Target land becomes a 2/2 creature that's still a land. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.

Cards like Spike Tiller

Exploring the realm of creature utility in Magic: The Gathering reveals Spike Tiller as a unique cultivator on the battlefield. This card possesses an ability reminiscent of the classic ‘tapper’ archetype, yet with an intriguing twist – it can convert lands into creatures. Spike Tiller’s closest relatives in this niche include the likes of Llanowar Scout and Sakura-Tribe Scout, which allow you to put additional lands onto the battlefield. However, neither has the transformative touch of Spike Tiller, which not only expands your mana base but also gives you a creature in the process.

Another card that shares a certain kinship with Spike Tiller is the Obsidian Acolyte, which, though not affecting lands, offers protection to your other creatures. While this doesn’t influence the lands directly, it’s a strategic tool for outlasting opponents. Spike Tiller’s potential for a surprise blocker or attacker often catches adversaries off guard, a tactical advantage these other cards lack.

Assessing Spike Tiller against its counterparts, you begin to see its multifunctional use – a creature that serves as both a ramp and a converter of resources to threats. This duality puts Spike Tiller in a category that strategically minded players will find both versatile and valuable on the MTG battlefield.

Cards similar to Spike Tiller by color, type and mana cost

Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spike Tiller enables you to transform a land into a creature, potentially turning a non-threatening resource into an offensive or defensive asset. This transformation not only advances your board presence but can also be a surprise element that throws your opponent’s strategy off balance.

Resource Acceleration: Employing Spike Tiller can be part of a larger strategy focusing on resource acceleration. It contributes by not only providing you with an additional creature but also by offering the unique ability to potentially reuse fetch lands or other lands with enter-the-battlefield effects, thus generating additional mana or other resources.

Instant Speed: Spike Tiller’s ’till’ ability operates at instant speed, which allows for reactive gameplay. You can hold back on committing until you’ve seen your opponent’s moves, thus maximizing the effectiveness of your plays and offering surprise tactical adjustments during the course of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In order to utilize Spike Tiller effectively, a player must be willing to sacrifice a creature, which might not always align with their game strategy or board position. This requirement can make it a situational card and could potentially hinder your own board development if not planned carefully.

Specific Mana Cost: Spike Tiller has a mana cost that includes green mana, which restricts its inclusion to green-centered or multi-colored decks. The need for green mana can pose a problem for players running few green sources or relying mainly on other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana value to cast, Spike Tiller comes with a somewhat steep price for its effect to convert a land into a 2/2 creature with haste. When considering the pace of gameplay and the range of alternatives available, its cost can be a bit high relative to the tactical advantage it provides, especially in faster-paced formats or against decks with efficient removal.

Reasons to Include Spike Tiller in Your Collection

Versatility: Spike Tiller has flexible uses, fitting effortlessly into decks focused on land animation or landfall strategies. Its ability to turn lands into creatures can adjust your battlefield presence dynamically.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous opportunities for combos, especially within decks that exploit land synergies or make use of creature-based strategies.

Meta-Relevance: When creature and land manipulation strategies become prevalent or if the meta shifts in favor of decks that Spike Tiller can counter or align with, its relevance climbs, making it a savvy pick for adaptive players.

How to beat

Spike Tiller stands out in the realm of creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It presents an unusual threat by transforming land into creatures. It can catch an unwary opponent by surprise, suddenly turning a passive land into an active participant in combat. This creates a unique challenge: the need to anticipate and be prepared for these seemingly benign lands to jump into the fray.

However, this versatile ability also has its Achilles’ heel. By focusing on removal spells that can target not just creatures but any type of permanent, you can effectively neutralize the threat posed by Spike Tiller. Versatile removal such as Assassin’s Trophy or Abrupt Decay, which don’t discriminate between creature, artifact, or land types, are your best bet. Instant-speed interaction allows you to wait until your opponent commits to the transformation before you respond, ensuring your resources are used effectively.

Ultimately, defeating Spike Tiller requires foresight, quick reflexes, and the right removal spells. Being vigilant of the board state and ready to act at the right moment will ensure that your opponent’s lands stay just that—lands.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spike Tiller MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Spike Tiller and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spike Tiller has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spike Tiller 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.