Spore Frog MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Frog |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Sacrifice Spore Frog: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
The end of one life is merely the beginning of thousands more.
Cards like Spore Frog
Spore Frog is a unique utility creature within the world of Magic: The Gathering. This unassuming one-mana green card is often compared to creatures like Kami of False Hope, which shares Spore Frog’s ability to sacrifice itself to prevent combat damage for a turn. While both cards have similar functionalities, Spore Frog’s residence in green decks allows it to synergize with common green themes like creature recursion and battlefield presence.
Examining other comparisons, Fog is an iconic spell that mimics Spore Frog’s damage prevention effect at the same mana cost, yet as an instant, it lacks the reusability of a creature. Dawn Charm also offers versatile protection and can prevent all combat damage for a turn, but with a slightly higher mana cost and as a part of white’s color pie.
Despite the presence of these similar cards, what sets Spore Frog apart is its creature type and the multitude of ways it can be exploited in-game, from being recurred from the graveyard to being a chump blocker. Its versatility in sacrifice and recursion strategies often makes it a preferred choice for decks that capitalize on such synergies.
Cards similar to Spore Frog by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Spore Frog. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abzan Midrange | Pauper | Pauper Jungle | ||
Selesnya Gates | Pauper | Monthly Tournament #33 | ||
Elves | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spore Frog provides a strategic edge through its ability to protect your board presence repeatedly when paired with recursion mechanics, keeping your valuable creatures out of harm’s way and maintaining your battlefield position.
Resource Acceleration: Although Spore Frog itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can effectively save the mana and turns you might otherwise spend replaying creatures lost to removal, allowing you to invest more into developing your board or enacting your game plan.
Instant Speed: The Frog’s sacrifice ability can be activated at instant speed, providing reactive flexibility to halt a potential onslaught from your opponent, no matter the size of their attacking force—giving you crucial time to find answers or set up a winning move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Spore Frog itself doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, it can indirectly lead to such a situation. Sacrificing Spore Frog to prevent damage might be necessary, but it can leave you short on board presence, making you more vulnerable to discard effects from your opponent’s disruption plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Spore Frog requires green mana to play. This requirement makes it exclusive to decks running green or those with a mana base flexible enough to accommodate multiple colors. It’s less convenient for those focusing on a mono-colored strategy that excludes green.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its notable ability to fog the battlefield, the recurring need to use Spore Frog can be mana-intensive over time. Each turn represents an investment of one green mana to defensively preserve your life total. In faster-paced games or when under mana constraints, this could diminish the overall efficiency of your strategy when compared to other lower-cost or passive defensive options.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spore Frog has the unique ability to prevent all combat damage for a turn, making it a flexible addition to decks looking to control the pace of the game or to safeguard against aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: With its sacrifice effect, Spore Frog can be paired with recursion cards to repeatedly fog the battlefield, forming a frustrating barrier for opponents and enabling various combo plays within your decks.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to disrupt combat-centric decks, Spore Frog can be highly relevant in metas where creature-based strategies prevail. This humble frog could be the difference between victory and defeat.
How to beat
Spore Frog is a unique creature card in Magic the Gathering, capable of frustrating many strategies with its simple but effective ability. To effectively bypass the defensive capability of Spore Frog, consider employing removal spells that can target it regardless of its potential to be sacrificed. Cards like Bojuka Bog can exile it from the graveyard to prevent recurring strategies. Additionally, utilizing spells that restrict your opponent’s actions, such as Silence or Teferi, Time Raveler, can stop the activation of its ability by limiting when your opponent can play spells or abilities.
Direct damage spells, like Shock or Lightning Bolt, can unequip Spore Frog from the board before its ability is used. In games where Spore Frog’s recursion is key, graveyard disruption with cards such as Leyline of the Void ensures that once the frog leaves the battlefield, it stays out of play. In sum, adapting your strategy to either prevent Spore Frog’s ability from activating, handling it directly, or attacking your opponent’s resources like their graveyard, stands as the best method to surpass this amphibian obstacle.
BurnMana Recommendations
Spore Frog is not just an average one-drop; it’s a tactical tool that can turn the tide of battle in MTG, especially when facing onslaughts where every turn counts. For those looking to harness the power of this versatile creature, understanding its strategic applications and potential interactions is key. With the ability to nullify combat damage and play well with graveyard recursion, Spore Frog could be the cornerstone of a defensive strategy or the lynchpin in a complex combo. Dive deeper into the role of Spore Frog within various deck archetypes and discover advanced tactics to dominate the battlefield. Delve into a reservoir of knowledge and bring a new depth to your MTG expertise alongside us.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spore Frog MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy and Modern Horizons, 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 Frog 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 Spore Frog Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2000-06-05 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2000-06-05 | Prophecy | PCY | 126 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
2 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 180 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
3 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 696 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Riot Games |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spore Frog has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |