Spiked Pit Trap MTG Card
Text of card
Flash , , Sacrifice Spiked Pit Trap: Choose target creature, then roll a d20. 1—9 | Spiked Pit Trap deals 5 damage to that creature. 10—20 | Spiked Pit Trap deals 5 damage to that creature. Create a Treasure token.
Cards like Spiked Pit Trap
The Spiked Pit Trap card offers MTG players a unique twist in creature control. It’s an artifact that shines when compared to other cards in its category. Like Spiked Pit Trap, Icy Manipulator lets players disable threats by tapping target creatures. However, Spiked Pit Trap can outright eliminate a creature with its activated ability, albeit with a higher mana cost for activation.
Analogous to Spiked Pit Trap in function is Dead Weight, an aura that gives a creature a persistent negative stat adjustment. While Dead Weight is cheaper, it lacks the versatility of tackling larger threats that Spiked Pit Trap boasts with potential outright destruction. Additionally, Spiked Pit Trap’s utility isn’t limited to the first creature it touches, unlike Dead Weight’s single-use nature.
Considering alternatives, we also have cards like Pacifism which neutralizes creatures without destroying them. This is an interesting contrast as Spiked Pit Trap can permanently remove problematic creatures from the game which can be pivotal in long matches.
Evaluating these comparisons, Spiked Pit Trap carves a niche for itself among MTG’s creature control options. It offers a potent, albeit mana-intensive, answer to threats, reinforcing its place in strategies favoring decisive removal over temporary solutions.
Cards similar to Spiked Pit Trap by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spiked Pit Trap provides a critical function in MTG by neutralizing key threats on the battlefield. The ability to draw a card upon the death of the trapped creature ensures you stay ahead in the game, maintaining a steady flow of resources.
Resource Acceleration: In the realms of MTG, resource management is crucial, and Spiked Pit Trap aids in this by potentially removing opponent’s creatures without the need to use additional cards from your hand, thereby accelerating your board state while conserving your hand.
Instant Speed: The trap’s instant speed capability shines by providing flexibility, allowing players to respond effectively to incoming threats or end-of-turn tactics. It’s an excellent tool that can surprise an adversary, especially when they least expect it—during their attack phase or at the end of their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spiked Pit Trap demands players to fork over additional mana to activate its ability, which can be a drawback when mana is scarce or when you need to allocate it for other essential plays during your turn.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both colorless and black mana narrows its integration to decks that can reliably produce both, potentially restricting its inclusion only to certain deck archetypes that can accommodate this requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of four mana to set up and activate, Spiked Pit Trap’s investment for its effect could be higher than other removal options, which might offer quicker or more cost-effective solutions for dealing with an opponent’s threats.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spiked Pit Trap’s utility isn’t restricted to a single deck archetype. Its ability to disrupt your opponent’s play makes it a solid inclusion in various control and mid-range decks that aim to manage the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This artifact can synergize with decks that capitalize on artifact interactions or benefit from controlling combat outcomes. It can also serve as a removal option in response to creature-based combo triggers.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-centric strategies often dominate the play environment, having Spiked Pit Trap in your toolkit can give you an edge by efficiently handling problematic creatures. Its presence is particularly relevant in a meta filled with formidable creatures and aggressive decks.
How to beat
Spiked Pit Trap is a nifty artifact with the potential to disrupt your opponent’s gameplay in MTG. When facing this card, it is essential to employ smart tactics to ensure it doesn’t become a thorn in your side. Understanding that the Trap can be activated only as a sorcery lets you predict and plan around it. Keeping mana open to cast instant-speed removal or protection spells during your turn can prevent the Trap’s effect from being a problem. One strategy is to bait the activation with a less valuable creature and then follow up with more significant threats once it has been used.
Another effective method is using cards that can neutralize artifacts, like Disenchant or Naturalize. Playing these cards will let you remove Spiked Pit Trap from the battlefield before it ever gets a chance to spring on you. Alternatively, hexproof or indestructible creatures can be invaluable as they’re immune to the Trap’s abilities. By staying a step ahead, you can maintain pressure on your opponent and take away the Trap’s potential impact. Keeping these strategies in mind will help you navigate and beat any game where Spiked Pit Trap is present.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spiked Pit Trap MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate, 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 Spiked Pit Trap and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Spiked Pit Trap Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 251 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Deruchenko Alexander | |
| 2 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 265 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Deruchenko Alexander |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spiked Pit Trap has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spiked Pit Trap card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | An ability that tells you to roll a die will also specify what to do with the result of that roll. Most often, this is in the form of a “results table” in the card text. |
| 2021-07-23 | An effect that says “choose a target, then roll a d20” or similar still uses the normal process of putting an ability on the stack and resolving it. Choosing targets is part of putting the ability on the stack and rolling the d20 happens later, as the ability resolves. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dice are identified by the number of faces each one has. For example, a d20 is a twenty-sided die. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dice used must have equally likely outcomes and the roll must be fair. Although physical dice are recommended, digital substitutes are allowed, provided they have the same number of equally likely outcomes as specified in the original roll instruction. |
| 2021-07-23 | Some abilities, like that of Pixie Guide and Barbarian Class, replace rolling a die with rolling extra dice and ignoring the lowest roll. The ignored rolls are not considered for the effect that instructed you to roll a die, and do not cause abilities to trigger. For all intents and purposes, once you determine which dice count, any extra dice were never rolled. |
| 2021-07-23 | Some effects instruct you to roll again. This uses the same number and type of dice as the original roll, and that roll will use the same set of possible outcomes. |
| 2021-07-23 | Some effects may modify the result of a die roll. This may be part of the instruction to roll a die or it may come from other cards. Anything that references the “result” of a die roll is looking for the result after these modifications. Anything that is looking for the “natural result” is looking for the number shown on the face of the die before these modifications. |
| 2021-07-23 | The instruction to roll a die and the effect that occurs because of the result are all part of the same ability. Players do not get the chance to respond to the ability after knowing the result of the roll. |
| 2021-07-23 | Tournament events have more specific rules regarding dice and die-rolling. For more information, please see the most recent version of the Magic Tournament Rules at https://wpn.wizards.com/en/document/magic-gathering-tournament-rules. |
| 2021-07-23 | While playing Planechase, rolling the planar die will cause any ability that triggers whenever a player rolls one or more dice to trigger. However, any effect that refers to a numerical result will ignore the rolling of the planar die. |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.