Spore Cloud MTG Card

Spore Cloud manipulates game tempo, granting players extra time to develop their board and strategies. Instant speed play adds versatility to Spore Cloud, disrupting opponent’s tactics and enhancing strategic planning. Though mana-specific and potentially costly, Spore Cloud’s control capabilities can be essential in various MTG strategies.

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 72a

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 72c

Fallen Empires (FEM)
1994-11-01 - Number 72b

Masters Edition II (ME2)
2008-09-22 - Number 176

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Tap all blocking creatures. No creatures deal damage in combat this turn. Neither attacking nor blocking creatures untap as normal during their controllers' next untap phase.

Cards like Spore Cloud

Spore Cloud is an intriguing tactical option for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to prevent creatures from attacking or blocking offers a striking parallel to Fog, which is renowned for preventing all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. However, Spore Cloud offers a nuanced edge by also delaying the untapping of creatures, affecting the flow of the following turn. This functionality bears a resemblance to Holy Day or Darkness, which are both effective in dodging damage but do not impact subsequent untaps.

Tapping into the potential of control, we also see cards like Sleep, which taps all creatures an opponent controls. They do not untap during the opponent’s next untap phase, significantly mirroring the delay strategy of Spore Cloud. While Sleep impacts the board immediately, Spore Cloud presents a more preemptive approach, allowing for strategic plays and timing to optimize its effect.

Ultimately, Spore Cloud holds its own among various MTG strategies for its unique combination of immediate and extended control, an attribute that seasoned players can exploit for tactical superiority in a game where timing is everything.

Cards similar to Spore Cloud by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spore Cloud offers an intriguing battlefield control tactic that can dramatically shift the pace of the game. By foggily delaying opponent creatures from untapping, it potentially grants you extra turns of unopposed action, affording you invaluable time to set up your board and strategize your victory.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, Spore Cloud can be seen as a resource acceleration card by buying you time. This time can be spent developing your resources while your opponent’s are temporarily stalled, effectively giving you a leg up in the race for board dominance.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Spore Cloud at instant speed is a critical aspect of its versatility. It allows for strategic timing, enabling you to wait until the maximum number of creatures are commited to the board or to disrupt opponents’ combat phases, making your move when it’s most impactful and catching your opponents off guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For some MTG players, managing hand resources is critical. Spore Cloud can be less appealing in this respect, as it does not necessitate a discard, but rather requires careful timing and board state consideration to maximize its impact without self-sabotage.

Specific Mana Cost: Spore Cloud’s mana cost is color-specific, requiring one green and two other mana sources. This can pose a deck-building constraint, possibly hindering its inclusion in multicolored decks that are tight on color fixing or those that value speed and mana efficiency above all else.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, Spore Cloud’s temporary tap-down effect might feel costly compared to other options. For decks focused on efficiency, this might steer players towards alternatives that offer more permanent control solutions or more impactful board presence for a similar investment.

Reasons to Include Spore Cloud in Your Collection

Versatility: Spore Cloud offers unique tactical options for a wide variety of deck builds. This card’s ability to fog combat and tap all creatures can turn the tide in both aggressive and control-based strategies, delaying assaults and setting up your board.

Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies revolving around creatures being tapped or untapped, enabling intricate combos. Pair it with cards that benefit from creatures changing states to maximize your potential during crucial gameplay moments.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where combat-heavy, creature-based decks are prevalent, a well-timed Spore Cloud can significantly disrupt your opponents’ plans. By postponing attacks and keeping threats at bay, it can give players the necessary breathing room to stabilize and control the game’s tempo.

How to beat

When facing a Spore Cloud in your Magic: The Gathering match, understanding its mechanics is key to overcoming it. Spore Cloud is a traditional control card that falls into the Fog-like effect category, meaning it’s capable of preventing creatures from dealing damage for a turn. This can be particularly frustrating if you’re poised to make an aggressive move. To outmaneuver Spore Cloud, consider using cards that have abilities which can trigger even if they don’t deal combat damage; abilities like ‘tap an opponent’s creature’ or those that have an impact on the board state outside of combat damage.

Another strategy is to play around the time Spore Cloud may be cast. Since it’s a card often used to disrupt a turn, keep track of your opponent’s mana and potential to cast it. Baiting out the Spore Cloud using less crucial attacks can leave your opponent vulnerable for the following turns. Lastly, don’t overlook the value of instant-speed removal or counterspells to handle Spore Cloud directly or indirectly deal with fallout from its activation, as maintaining control of the board is crucial for your victory.

Overall, with strategic play and a keen eye on timing, you can readily navigate the murky waters that Spore Cloud brings to the battlefield, ensuring your path to victory remains clear.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spore Cloud MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fallen Empires, 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 Spore Cloud and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spore Cloud Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	72a	1993	Normal	Black	Susan Van Camp
2	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	72c	1993	Normal	Black	Amy Weber
3	1994-11-01	Fallen Empires	FEM	72b	1993	Normal	Black	Jesper Myrfors
4	2008-09-22	Masters Edition II	ME2	176	1997	Normal	Black	Susan Van Camp

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spore Cloud has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Only makes attackers or blockers that have been declared before the spell is cast unable to untap as normal next turn. So, if used before attackers or blockers are declared, it is simply a Fog-like effect. If used after attackers are declared but before blockers are declared, it does the Fog effect and makes attackers not untap as normal. If done after blockers are declared, it has full effect.
2008-10-01	If a creature affected by Spore Cloud is untapped at the time its controller’s next untap step begins, the “doesn’t untap” effect doesn’t do anything. It won’t apply at some later time when that creature is tapped.
2008-10-01	Spore Cloud doesn’t track the creatures’ controllers. If an affected creature changes controllers before its old controller’s next untap step, Spore Cloud will prevent it from being untapped during its new controller’s next untap step.