Sporoloth Ancient MTG Card
2007-05-04 - Number 152
2013-06-07 - Number 163
2021-03-19 - Number 232
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Fungus |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Sporoloth Ancient. Creatures you control have "Remove two spore counters from this creature: Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play."
Cards like Sporoloth Ancient
Sporoloth Ancient is a unique presence in the lineup of creatures that boost spore counter growth in Magic: The Gathering. It bears comparison with its fellow fungus Thallid, which also thrives on spore counters for creature generation. Where Sporoloth Ancient stands out is in its ability to speed up the process, allowing you to remove just two spore counters to create a Saproling, as opposed to Thallid’s three.
Doubling Season is another card that shares a synergy with counter mechanics, effectively doubling the amount of spore counters on your fungi each turn. While this enchantment doesn’t create creatures directly, it complements Sporoloth Ancient’s ability wonderfully by amplifying its creature production capabilities. However, Doubling Season does come with a significantly higher mana cost and doesn’t provide the same creature-based pressure as the Ancient.
In evaluating these cards together, we see that Sporoloth Ancient offers an aggressive and mana-efficient option for spore counter-based decks in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to quickly develop a board of Saproling creatures to overwhelm their opponents.
Cards similar to Sporoloth Ancient by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sporoloth Ancient serves as a cornerstone in decks that capitalize on fungus and spore counters. Its ability to speed up the proliferation of spore counters on fungus creatures ensures a steady flow of Saproling tokens. These tokens are not just expendable blockers but also an arsenal for various sacrificial mechanics, effectively translating into a form of card advantage as you get more creatures on the field without expending additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Every Saproling token generated via Sporoloth Ancient has the potential to be converted into mana or other resources with the help of various synergistic cards. Whether it’s tapping them for mana, buffing up other creatures, or enabling convoke mechanics, the Ancient exponentially ramps up the resource availability on your battlefield.
Instant Speed: Whilst Sporoloth Ancient itself is not an instant, its impact can be felt at instant speed. The acceleration of spore counters means that fungus creatures, which naturally accumulate counters and create Saprolings at the upkeep, reach their potential much quicker. This acceleration can catch opponents off guard by rapidly populating the board, allowing players to exploit timing and board state to their advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sporoloth Ancient may not directly demand a card to be discarded, but it does require a very specific board state to be effective. Without a thriving supply of spore counters and support from other Thallids or saproling-related cards, players might feel as though they are discarding opportunities for a more immediate impact on the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Sporoloth Ancient requires a dedicated mana investment with its cost, which includes green mana. This may reduce versatility by tying the card closely to green-based or saproling-themed decks, potentially excluding it from more diverse mana base strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at the higher end for its effect, players might compare Sporoloth Ancient unfavorably to other options. While it does offer a cost reduction for saproling creation, there may be more mana-efficient creatures or spells that can foster a saproling army with greater speed or less resource commitment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Sporoloth Ancient has the adaptability to become a foundational piece in decks that capitalize on spore counters and saproling generation. This card’s ability to accelerate the production of saprolings turns it into a powerful engine in any spore-counter-centric strategy, allowing for rapid board presence advancement.
Combo Potential: As a key enabler for combos, Sporoloth Ancient synergizes with cards that benefit from the creation or sacrifice of creatures. It shines in an environment filled with proliferate mechanics or effects that reap benefits each time a creature is summoned or dies, thus giving deck builders creative avenues for exploitation.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Sporoloth Ancient offers a continuous creature stream, increasing the deck’s resilience against removal-heavy opponents. Moreover, given its cost-effective nature, it slots neatly into various stages of the game, keeping it current and competitive within evolving metas.
How to beat
Sporoloth Ancient is a unique Magic: The Gathering creature that benefits heavily from the proliferate mechanic, often embedding itself in dedicated fungus and spore counter decks. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to disrupt the synergy between Sporoloth Ancient and the spore counters it relies on. Removal spells are a straightforward solution, with options like Murder or Path to Exile efficiently handling the threat regardless of whether it’s on the battlefield bulked up with counters or freshly played.
Since it thrives in a combo-oriented setup, a viable strategy is to attack the deck’s key components before they can establish their presence. Counter spells such as Cancel or Mana Leak are crucial when the Ancient is on the stack, while board wipes like Wrath of God can clear the field of already-settled threats. Additionally, graveyard disruption via cards like Tormod’s Crypt prevents recursion shenanigans which often accompany such creature-based strategies.
The aim is to keep the board clear and maintain card advantage to prevent the Ancient and its counterparts from overwhelming you. By prioritizing the control of the board state and disrupting your opponent’s long-term plans, you can nullify the impact of Sporoloth Ancient and keep the momentum in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sporoloth Ancient MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Modern Masters, 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 Sporoloth Ancient and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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Printings
The Sporoloth Ancient Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by James Kei.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-05-04 | Future Sight | FUT | 152 | future | Normal | Black | James Kei | |
| 2 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 163 | 2003 | Normal | Black | James Kei | |
| 3 | 2021-03-19 | Time Spiral Remastered | TSR | 232 | 2015 | Normal | Black | James Kei |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sporoloth Ancient has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sporoloth Ancient card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | All creatures you control gain the ability, regardless of whether they have spore counters on them, which means for example, they would lose the bonus from Muraganda Petroglyphs. |
| 2007-05-01 | Your other creatures that produce spore counters (such as Thallids) can create a Saproling by removing two spore counters (by using this ability) or by removing three spore counters (by using their own ability). |