Spike, Tournament Grinder MTG Card
Text of card
({PB} can be paid with either or 2 life.) {PB}{PB}{PB}{PB}: Choose a card you own from outside the game that has been banned or restricted in a Constructed format, reveal that card, and put it into your hand.
"Just wait—I have a response."
Cards like Spike, Tournament Grinder
Spike, Tournament Grinder holds a unique position in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) cards, thanks to its distinct ability to fetch any card from outside the game. A similar card in this niche category includes Mastermind’s Acquisition, which also fetches cards from outside the game or from your deck. Spike, Tournament Grinder requires you to pay life equal to the card’s mana cost, while Mastermind’s Acquisition has a fixed mana cost, offering versatility without the life payment trade-off.
Glorious Wish is another card that can access cards from outside the game but limits the options to white cards only. In comparison, Spike can retrieve cards of any color, but at the expense of your life points, which is a significant downside for some players. Research // Development, while a less direct comparison, allows players to fetch cards with an entirely different approach, providing a broader card choice, yet it lacks the immediate ‘wish’ capability inherent to Spike.
Though Spike, Tournament Grinder may have a steeper cost in terms of life points, its unfettered access to silver-bordered cards, usually not permitted in competitive play, offers a layer of strategic depth and versatility unmatched by other ‘wish’ cards in MTG.
Cards similar to Spike, Tournament Grinder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spike, Tournament Grinder offers unique card access, allowing players to delve into their sideboard mid-game to find the perfect answer or threat, giving a strategic edge and superiority in card options.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or acceleration, Spike, Tournament Grinder can bypass traditional mana costs by paying life and Phyrexian mana instead. This flexibility can propel a player ahead by deploying high-impact cards earlier than usual.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Spike, Tournament Grinder at instant speed grants tremendous maneuverability, letting players wait until the most opportune moment to pull a silver bullet from their sideboard, remaining ever adaptable to dynamic game states.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spike, Tournament Grinder requires the discard of a premium card from your hand to utilize its ability. This demand can prove disadvantageous in game scenarios where maintaining card advantage is vital.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Spike’s unique ability necessitates payment with four specific mana types (black, white, red, and blue), which can be a challenge to muster, especially in decks not centered around a four-color scheme.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a significant investment of mana to fetch a silver-bordered card from outside the game, Spike, Tournament Grinder’s ability comes at a higher cost compared to other tutors in MTG, which may offer more immediate and versatile solutions for assembling your key combos.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spike, Tournament Grinder has a unique ability to fetch any banned or restricted card in a Commander game, as long as you can pay Phyrexian mana, making it incredibly adaptable to a wide range of strategic plays.
Combo Potential: The card can be part of numerous combo setups, synergizing with cards that have been powered down for balancing reasons and providing access to a toolbox of options depending on the situation.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, the card’s ability to exploit the most powerful elements of the current meta makes it a tactical asset in any tournament-level deck that can support its casting cost and Phyrexian mana payment.
How to beat
Spike, Tournament Grinder offers unique tactical advantages in Magic the Gathering, leveraging its ability to fetch powerful cards from outside the game. This kind of utility demands a strategic approach to counteract. For starters, understanding the metagame is key to anticipating what Spike could potentially bring into play. Cards with graveyard hate, like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can effectively neutralize the tools Spike may search for.
Interaction with the stack is also vital. Counterspells like Negate or Disallow can prevent Spike from resolving and thus shield you from a potentially game-changing power play. It’s also practical to keep removal ready; instant-speed answers such as Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can take Spike out before its ability becomes a problem.
Lastly, it pays to control the pace of the game. Denying your opponent the life payment necessary for Spike’s ability with cards like Erebos, God of the Dead or Rain of Gore limits their options, reducing Spike’s impact on the game. A balanced approach that melds anticipation, disruption, and pace control can effectively undermine the strengths of Spike, Tournament Grinder.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spike, Tournament Grinder MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and The List (Unfinity Foil 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 Spike, Tournament Grinder 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
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Printings
The Spike, Tournament Grinder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 69 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Zoltan Boros | |
| 2 | 2022-10-07 | The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) | ULST | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Zoltan Boros |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spike, Tournament Grinder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | A full list of cards that have been banned and/or restricted in a Constructed format as of the release of Unstable can be found here: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/unstable-faqawaslfaqpaftidawabiajtbt-2017-12-06 |