Spire Golem MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 145
2008-11-07 - Number 16
2014-12-05 - Number 16
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Abilities | Affinity,Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Affinity for Islands (This spell costs less to play for each Island you control.) Flying
The longer it soars above the shimmering swirls of the Quicksilver Sea, the more it adopts their unpredictability.
Cards like Spire Golem
Within the arsenal of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Spire Golem is a unique specimen. Sharing the battlefield with other artifact creatures like Porcelain Legionnaire, Spire Golem offers a special affinity for Islands that can potentially set it to a free casting cost. Porcelain Legionnaire, while also cost-effective due to Phyrexian mana, does not share this affinity and is always a trade-off for life or a set mana cost.
Another relative in the realm of artifact creatures is Frogmite, which also enjoys an affinity for artifacts, making it a favorable option in a deck stacked with them. Though Spire Golem’s affinity is specifically for Islands, it allows for a more focused deck build strategy. Guardian Idol, while not a creature initially, becomes animated as one. Unlike Spire Golem, it doesn’t offer an evasion ability such as flying, yet it compensates with its innate mana-generating ability.
These comparisons shed light on the tactical diversities present among artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Each has its own merits and strategic uses, but Spire Golem holds a special lure for those wielding decks rich in Islands, providing an efficient aerial blocker or attacker without the burden of mana costs.
Cards similar to Spire Golem by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spire Golem offers a substantial boost to players through the Affinity for Islands mechanic, which can effectively reduce the card’s casting cost to zero. This means you can deploy a sturdy flying defender or attacker without sacrificing card economy, allowing you to keep more spells in hand to outmaneuver your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially costing nothing to cast for decks heavy on Islands, Spire Golem accelerates your resources. It frees up mana for other uses each turn, acting like a pseudo mana dork that can contribute to your board presence without dipping into your reserves.
Instant Speed: While Spire Golem itself doesn’t have an instant speed mechanic, its zero-cost potential synergizes well with holding mana for instant-speed interaction. This gives strategic depth as you can feign countermagic or removal and then deploy Spire Golem if no threats materialize, optimizing both your defensive and offensive plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Spire Golem doesn’t directly ask for a discard, it should be noted that the artifact subtype could become a disadvantage. Artifact removal is common in many MTG decks, which might force a player to discard it unwillingly if an opponent targets it.
Specific Mana Cost: Spire Golem’s affinity for islands can be a double-edged sword. It requires a heavy commitment to Islands to be effective, thus limiting its playability to mono-blue or blue-heavy decks, potentially reducing its versatility across the broader metagame.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Without an established board of Islands, Spire Golem’s initial six mana investment is taxing, especially when compared to other creatures of a similar cost. This becomes particularly evident when facing aggressive decks that capitalize on the fast deployment of low-cost creatures.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spire Golem can easily find its place in artifact-centric and blue decks. Its ability to reduce its casting cost for each Island you control makes it a solid fit in mono-blue builds or any deck that favors Island-heavy mana bases.
Combo Potential: With its affinity for Islands, this golem complements strategies that optimize artifact synergies. Use it to empower cards that count the number of artifacts you control or to fuel sacrifice mechanics for an advantageous play.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where flying creatures are advantageous and artifact manipulation is key, Spire Golem holds its ground. It’s particularly effective in metagames where its cost reduction can be maximized, ensuring you deploy a formidable defender or attacker early on.
How to beat
Spire Golem presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This artifact creature is a classic from the ‘Darksteel’ set and a frequent resident of the skies in artifact-centric decks. With its Affinity for Islands ability, the cost of casting Spire Golem decreases by one for each Island you control which can make it a free cast in the right deck. This flying golem can be a pesky defender and a consistent attacker in blue-based control strategies.
When facing Spire Golem, remember it thrives in environments dense with Islands. Land disruption strategies, such as those utilizing cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin, can be effective in reducing the Golem’s affordability. Moreover, countering it upon casting can be the most straightforward method of avoidance, as blue decks often have access to a suite of countermagic. In absence of counterspells, any color deck can rely on universal removal spells like Doom Blade or the exile effect of Path to Exile to ensure this aerial threat is grounded permanently.
Ultimately, Spire Golem’s strength can be mitigated by understanding its dependency on Island landscapes and preparing your deck with spells that can either neutralize the Golem directly or the lands that fuel its presence on the board. With the right strategy, this seemingly daunting artifact creature becomes manageable.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spire Golem MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, 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 Golem 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 Spire Golem Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 145 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 2 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 16 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 16 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spire Golem has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |