Sporogenesis MTG Card

Sporogenesis excels at generating Saprolings, amplifying card and resource advantage over time. This enchantment can be a drawback with its specific mana cost and upfront card loss. Inclusion in your deck offers versatility, combo potential, and meta relevance.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Number	273
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Text of card

During your upkeep, you may put a fungus counter on target nontoken creature. Whenever a creature with a fungus counter on it is put into a graveyard, put a Saproling token into play for each of those fungus counters. Treat these tokens as 1/1 green creatures. When Sporogenesis leaves play, remove all fungus counters from all creatures.

Cards like Sporogenesis

Sporogenesis is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering with a distinct focus on fungus tokens. It shares thematic and functional traits with Mycoloth, which also thrives on devouring creatures to produce spore counters and ultimately, saproling tokens. While Mycoloth has the potential for a larger immediate impact by devouring upon entry, Sporogenesis provides a steady token generation, bolstering your field each upkeep without the cost of sacrificing creatures.

Another card with parallels is Verdant Force, a creature that produces saproling tokens each upkeep as well. However, Verdant Force lacks the interactive playstyle that Sporogenesis offers through its ability to place spore counters on other creatures, thus allowing for versatile strategic plays. Fungus Sliver serves a similar purpose within a Sliver deck by providing a spore counter generation mechanism for all Slivers on the field.

In comparison to these cards, Sporogenesis may seem slower, but it allows for a broader token strategy, enhancing numerous creatures and not just itself. It’s the incremental value and board presence that set Sporogenesis apart, steadily turning any creature army into a growing threat each turn.

Cards similar to Sporogenesis by color, type and mana cost

Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions

Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sporogenesis offers a unique engine for generating incremental card value. Once it’s on the battlefield, you reap the rewards each time a creature you control gets put to rest in the graveyard. By spawning Saproling tokens, you effectively transform creature losses into new, board-presence assets.

Resource Acceleration: In decks that capitalize on creatures entering the graveyard, Sporogenesis accelerates your board state significantly. Each Saproling can be a vital resource, either as an additional creature for offensive strategies, block fodder to protect your life total, or even as sacrificial elements to power up various synergies within your deck.

Instant Speed: Sporogenesis itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, but the tokens it creates bolster your ability to interact on the fly. This enchantment provides a consistent stream of Saprolings that can be employed in numerous ways, including surprise blocking, instant-speed sacrifice effects, or through abilities that can be activated any time you could cast an instant. The flexibility of these tokens makes Sporogenesis a multi-faceted tool, no matter the pace of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sporogenesis demands you relinquish a card upon casting. This can put you at a significant setback when your hand is already depleted, potentially stripping you of key plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is quite particular, requiring both green mana and additional generic mana. Its usage is primarily confined to green-centric decks, possibly restricting its playability across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a four mana casting cost, including three generic and one green, Sporogenesis sits at a higher curve. When assessing cost-efficiency, it’s noted that there can be other, less intensive options available for creating creature tokens or utilizing +1/+1 counters.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sporogenesis offers a unique benefit as it can adapt to various deck themes, especially those revolving around counter mechanics or token generation. This card thrives in environments where proliferation and doubling tokens strategies are appreciated.

Combo Potential: This enchantment has substantial synergy potential, particularly in decks that capitalize on saprolings as a resource for convoke, sacrifice, or life gain. It pairs well with cards that can remove or manipulate counters to maximize token production each turn.

Meta-Relevance: In game formats where board presence and creature-based strategies dominate, Sporogenesis can play a pivotal role. It provides a consistent token engine that can quickly tip the scales in your favor during prolonged games.

How to beat

The Sporogenesis card operates by creating a spore counter during each of your upkeep phases, turning your fallen creatures into fresh Saproling tokens. This enduring enchantment can quickly overrun opponents who are unprepared. However, experienced players know that the key to disrupting Sporogenesis is to target its core mechanics.

One effective method to overcome Sporogenesis is by employing enchantment removal spells, such as Disenchant or Nature’s Claim, which can directly eliminate the threat. Alternatively, creatures with abilities to destroy or exile enchantments can be invaluable in this scenario. Another strategy focuses on graveyard disruption to prevent the creature cards from being utilized as spore counter generators. Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void are excellent examples of cards that can inhibit Sporogenesis’s functionality. Countering Sporogenesis as it’s cast is also a potent move, so having counter spells at the ready can be a game-changer.

In essence, to triumph against Sporogenesis, a player must consider their deck’s composition to include enchantment control and graveyard manipulation, ensuring that they can respond effectively to this unique card’s abilities.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sporogenesis MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Sporogenesis and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sporogenesis has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sporogenesis 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	Adding a counter is optional. If you forget to add one during your upkeep, you cannot back up and add one later.
2004-10-04	If a non-creature with fungus counters on it leaves the battlefield, there is no effect.
2004-10-04	If more than one Sporogenesis is on the battlefield and a creature with fungus counters on it leaves the battlefield, each Sporogenesis will put a Saproling onto the battlefield for each counter. In other words if there are N copies of Sporogenesis and the creature had M fungus counters, you get N * M Saprolings.
2004-10-04	If one Sporogenesis leaves the battlefield, all fungus counters are removed even if other Sporogenesis cards are on the battlefield.