Spire Barrage MTG Card
2009-10-02 - Number 150
2012-03-30 - Number 71
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Spire Barrage deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of Mountains you control.
Goblin lessons include the 2,071 tips for survival. Frek only remembered 2,070.
Cards like Spire Barrage
Spire Barrage adds an interesting dynamic to the array of direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its effect, dealing damage to a target based on the number of Mountains you control, echoes the power of land-focused cards like Roil Eruption, which also scales its damage with additional land investments. However, what separates Spire Barrage from Roil Eruption is Spire Barrage’s potential to deal substantial late-game damage as the number of Mountains in play increases, whereas Roil Eruption maintains a more consistent damage rate.
Comparatively, Volcanic Hammer presents an upfront, no-frills damage spell that deals a set amount of damage. Unlike Spire Barrage, this card doesn’t scale with land count, which adds a reliability factor that can be vital in early game scenarios. Then there’s Banefire, a versatile spell that can deal variable damage and becomes uncounterable, which is critical in matches against control decks—an edge that Spire Barrage lacks.
In essence, while Spire Barrage has the capacity to serve as a powerful finisher in the right deck, MTG players should consider land count and game tempo when choosing it over its counterparts. This card’s unique dependency on terrain resonates with strategies that capitalize on land presence for a formidable impact on the board.
Cards similar to Spire Barrage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spire Barrage amplifies your damage output based on the number of Mountains you have, turning each land into potential extra damage. This can translate into card advantage as it may eliminate the need for multiple spells to achieve the same effect, effectively preserving the resources in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While Spire Barrage itself doesn’t accelerate your resources, it synergizes well with decks that focus on resource acceleration—particularly those that ramp up the number of Mountains on the battlefield. In doing so, it capitalizes on the increased land count to deal substantial damage, making it a powerful payoff for ramp strategies.
Instant Speed: Although Spire Barrage is a sorcery, its significant damage potential can be a game-changer during your main phases. Timing its cast when you’ve reached peak land saturation turns it into a formidable finishing move capable of catching opponents off-guard, especially after deploying creatures or other threats earlier in the turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Spire Barrage doesn’t ask players to toss another card just to cast it, it does hinge heavily on having a large number of Mountains. This requirement can feel like an implicit discard, as you’re pressured to hold onto Mountains rather than play them to meet the card’s full potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Spire Barrage’s cost is deeply entrenched in red mana, demanding four red mana symbols to cast. This makes it a difficult fit for multicolored decks who may find their mana bases strained by such needs. It’s not just a hefty price; it’s a restrictive one that mandates a deep commitment to red mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, Spire Barrage’s damage output is contingent on a saturated board of Mountains. This setup is a tall order, especially when considering alternative removal or damage spells in red that deliver immediate impacts without the condition of land count. In fast-paced games or formats, this mana investment may not be the optimal path to victory.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spire Barrage adds a flexible damage option to red decks, capable of scaling with the number of mountains you have. It’s suitable for late-game plays in a mono-red or dual-colored deck, where land count is high.
Combo Potential: For decks that focus on land accumulation or landfall abilities, Spire Barrage can serve as a formidable finisher. It synchronizes well with cards that allow you to play multiple lands each turn or fetch mountains directly to the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In games dominated by creature-heavy strategies, Spire Barrage provides a significant one-time removal tool, able to swing the board state in your favor, or even target the opponent directly, capitalizing on a developed mana base for a potentially game-ending strike.
How to beat
Spire Barrage carries notable potential in MTG as a finishing move, leveraging the number of Mountains you control to deal direct damage to any target. This makes it a formidable card in the late game, particularly within a mono-red deck or a deck rich in Mountain lands. To counteract this threat, controlling the opponent’s land count becomes crucial. Land destruction cards can be an efficient way to reduce the impact of Spire Barrage.
A more defensive strategy would entail employing damage prevention effects or spells that can negate a spell. Counterspells are a blue mage’s best friend against it, dismissing Spire Barrage before it can ever take effect. Alternatively, white and black decks might offer cards that provide protection from red spells for a turn, or utilize life gain strategies to stay out of reach from Spire Barrage’s damaging capability.
Lastly, maintaining a high life total can put you out of the danger zone, reducing the effectiveness of Spire Barrage as a lethal threat. In combination, these tactics can greatly diminish the card’s potential and should be considered when facing a deck that might wield it.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spire Barrage MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Spire Barrage 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Spire Barrage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-10-02 | Zendikar | ZEN | 150 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2012-03-30 | Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth | DDI | 71 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spire Barrage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |