Spitebellows MTG Card

Spitebellows offers card advantage and battlefield control through its versatile evoke ability. High mana cost and red mana commitment may limit deck integration and early game play. Potent removal ability makes it a valuable asset, especially in meta with large creatures.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Evoke
Power 6
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Spitebellows leaves play, it deals 6 damage to target creature. Evoke (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play.)

Disaster stalks with gaping jaws across unready lands.

Cards like Spitebellows

Spitebellows emerges as a unique elemental creature in MTG that packs a punch with its departure-triggered ability. It shares a kinship with creatures like Flametongue Kavu, another card that offers removal perks when it enters the battlefield. Spitebellows, however, stands out by allowing a delayed impact, potentially removing a heftier creature upon leaving the game.

Comparatively, we could look at Ingot Chewer, which also boasts a leave-the-battlefield ability and a modicum of creature removal. Ingot Chewer focuses on the narrower target of artifact removal, whereas Spitebellows casts a wider net, dealing with any creature. Additionally, Spitebellows offers a more devastating damage potential of six, overshadowing Ingot Chewer’s limitation to just one damage.

Examining creature cards with similar destructive capabilities puts Spitebellows in a favorable light. Its combination of high damage removal and the possibility to exploit its leave-the-field effect without a heavy mana investment through evoke, sees it outshine many in its category, flexing both tactical versatility and raw power. It’s a card that can swing the board state significantly, adhering to the MTG philosophy of strategic depth and timing.

Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Ingot Chewer - MTG Card versions
Flametongue Kavu - MTG Card versions
Ingot Chewer - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Spitebellows. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
SkelementalsSkelementals ModernSkelementalsModern Challenge 64 2023-12-01

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spitebellows works as a form of card advantage through its evoke mechanic, which allows you to remove a threat upon entry for a lesser cost without losing card quantity in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spitebellows does not directly accelerate resources, it can act as a pseudo accelerator by efficiently dealing with opponent’s creatures, which can save the mana you’d otherwise spend on multiple removal spells.

Instant Speed: Even though Spitebellows is not an instant itself, the ability to evoke it at a moment’s notice makes it a versatile tool, granting you the semblance of instant-speed interaction when keeping your board clear of high-powered creatures is crucial.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must be prepared for the catch that comes with unleashing Spitebellows’ power. Using the evoke ability means sacrificing the creature as it enters the battlefield, which could prematurely deplete a valuable asset from your hand without guaranteeing a board impact.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck construction can be tricky with cards like Spitebellows, which demand a commitment to red mana. This mana cost specificity can restrict deck versatility and may not align with multicolored strategies that have a light red mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of six, Spitebellows sits on the upper end of the curve, potentially making it a cumbersome draw in the early game. While its ability is potent, players might find it challenging to balance their mana investments, especially when compared to other lower-cost removal options.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spitebellows offers a unique blend of removal and creature advantage. Its ability to take down big threats on the board makes it a useful addition to any red deck, particularly in Commander where big creatures are common.

Combo Potential: This card’s evoke cost can be leveraged in decks that synergize with creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. It can be a tactical play in conjunction with sacrifice effects or death triggers for a powerful impact on the game state.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting meta, a card like Spitebellows remains relevant due to its capacity to disrupt opponent strategies that rely heavily on formidable creatures, making it a worthwhile consideration for your collection.

How to Beat Spitebellows

Spitebellows is a potent elemental creature that can be a real nemesis on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to deal significant damage upon leaving the battlefield, it can often feel like a ticking time bomb. However, there are effective strategies to mitigate its impact. Cards like Path to Exile offer a direct answer, exiling Spitebellows before its leave-the-battlefield trigger can resolve.

Countering Spitebellows with instant-speed removal is crucial, as it prevents the damage distribution usually caused by its departure. Additionally, graveyard manipulation spells like Bojuka Bog can disrupt strategies focused on recurring Spitebellows. By understanding the mechanics and keeping removal or graveyard disruption on hand, players can neutralize the threat posed by Spitebellows and maintain control over the game’s flow.

When faced with Spitebellows, the key lies in preparedness. A well-timed removal or interference with opponent’s graveyard can turn the tide, demonstrating that even the most daunting cards have their weaknesses. In this intricate dance of action and counteraction, mastering the art of response is what defines a skilled Magic: The Gathering player.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spitebellows MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Commander 2011, 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 Spitebellows and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spitebellows Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-02-01MorningtideMOR 1052003NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1352003NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1202003NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
42014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1812015NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
52015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1282015NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1172015NormalBlackLarry MacDougall
72023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2572015NormalBlackBrent Hollowell

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spitebellows has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spitebellows card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-04-01 Effects that cause you to pay more or less to cast a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its evoke cost, too. That’s because they affect the total cost of the spell, not its mana cost.
2008-04-01 Evoke doesn’t change the timing of when you can cast the creature that has it. If you could cast that creature spell only when you could cast a sorcery, the same is true for cast it with evoke.
2008-04-01 If a creature spell cast with evoke changes controllers before it enters the battlefield, it will still be sacrificed when it enters the battlefield. Similarly, if a creature cast with evoke changes controllers after it enters the battlefield but before its sacrifice ability resolves, it will still be sacrificed. In both cases, the controller of the creature at the time it left the battlefield will control its leaves-the-battlefield ability.
2008-04-01 If you’re casting a spell “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t use its evoke ability.
2008-04-01 When you cast a spell by paying its evoke cost, its mana cost doesn’t change. You just pay the evoke cost instead.
2008-04-01 Whether evoke’s sacrifice ability triggers when the creature enters the battlefield depends on whether the spell’s controller chose to pay the evoke cost, not whether they actually paid it (if it was reduced or otherwise altered by another ability, for example).