Spreading Rot MTG Card

Spreading Rot allows strategic land destruction, offering a resource edge by hindering opponent’s land development. Its instant speed lets players optimize destructive timing for maximal disruption of opponents’ strategies. The card’s specific mana requirements and discard cost may restrict versatility and deck compatibility.

Ixalan (XLN)
2017-09-29 - Number 125

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 779

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number XLN-125

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Destroy target land. Its controller loses 2 life.

"What is this foul presence that defies the sun's cleansing rays?" —Itzama the Crested

Cards like Spreading Rot

Spreading Rot is an option to consider when players want to impede their opponents’ mana bases in Magic: The Gathering. A resemblance can be seen when comparing it to cards like Rain of Tears or Icequake, which also destroy a land and have the potential to disrupt an opponent’s strategy. However, Spreading Rot edges ahead with its life loss component, which deducts two life from its target’s life total adding pressure.

Another comparable card is Fulminator Mage, which not only destroys lands but provides the flexibility of being a creature that can affect the battlefield beyond its sacrificial land destruction role. Conversely, Fulminator Mage doesn’t deal direct life loss, which positions Spreading Rot uniquely in multiplayer formats where health totals can be a decisive factor.

Topping off the list is the land-destroying powerhouse, Sinkhole. This card is legendary for its efficiency, but it lacks the incidental damage to opponents that Spreading Rot delivers. Each of these cards carves a niche within the realm of land destruction in MTG, yet Spreading Rot finds its place among them by offering an extra kick against an opponent’s life total.

Cards similar to Spreading Rot by color, type and mana cost

Voices from the Void - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Spreading Rot card disrupts your opponent’s strategy by destroying their land, which can potentially set them back and give you a crucial edge in resources. This disruption can be particularly advantageous in formats where land-based strategies are prevalent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spreading Rot doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its capability to impede your opponent’s land development can act as a form of indirect acceleration, effectively advancing your board position while hindering theirs.

Instant Speed: Spreading Rot’s ability to be played at instant speed provides a strategic advantage. You can wait for the most opportune moment to play it, such as when your opponent is least prepared to recover from the setback or when they have committed most resources to their turn, ensuring maximum impact.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spreading Rot demands discarding another card from your hand to activate its potent land destruction ability. This creates a disadvantageous situation when your hand is nearly empty, effectively reducing your play options and potentially leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and green mana to be cast, Spreading Rot narrows its compatibility, especially for players who operate mono-color decks. This limitation can hinder its utility in various deck types that may not have the resources to accommodate such specific mana needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost that’s on the higher end for its effect, Spreading Rot may not be the most mana-efficient choice available for land removal. Players might prefer to include spells in their decks that deliver a similar or greater impact on the game board without needing to commit as many mana resources at one time.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spreading Rot is a card that provides strategic adaptability. Its ability to destroy a land is useful in any deck focused on resource disruption or land control strategies.

Combo Potential: This card excels in setups that capitalize on opponents’ land deficiencies or employ graveyard-based synergies, as it can regularly seed the graveyard with targetable land cards for reanimation or recursion combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where land-based strategies are prevalent, Spreading Rot gains significance by acting as a direct countermeasure. It could play a vital role in dismantling opponent’s formations in decks that rely heavily on mana development.

How to beat

Spreading Rot is a card that can significantly impact the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Crucially, this land destruction spell can set back an opponent who relies heavily on specific lands to execute their strategy. To effectively counter Spreading Rot, it’s essential to have a game plan that minimizes your reliance on nonbasic lands which are its primary targets. Employing basic lands and land ramping spells can mitigate the potential damage caused by Spreading Rot.

Another strategy to overcome this card is to use instant-speed land protection. Spells like Heroic Intervention can safeguard your lands by making them indestructible for the turn. Similarly, versatile land cards that can bounce back to your hand in response to an enemy’s land destruction tactic serve as an excellent foil to Spreading Rot. Remember, quick recovery is key—a robust deck with spells that allow you to retrieve lands from the graveyard or replace them swiftly will ensure that Spreading Rot doesn’t derail your strategy for long.

Moreover, proactively using counter spells to prevent Spreading Rot from being cast at all can nullify the threat before it wreaks havoc. Thus, identifying and neutralizing Spreading Rot promptly through these measures can secure your positional advantage on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spreading Rot MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan and Mystery Booster, 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 Spreading Rot and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spreading Rot Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2017-09-29	Ixalan	XLN	125	2015	Normal	Black	Yeong-Hao Han
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	779	2015	Normal	Black	Yeong-Hao Han
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	XLN-125	2015	Normal	Black	Yeong-Hao Han

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spreading Rot has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal