Spirit Summoning MTG Card


Spirit Summoning - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery — Lesson
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number236
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAndrey Kuzinskiy

Key Takeaways

  1. They bolster card advantage by creating tokens that may trigger additional draw effects.
  2. Spirit cards can enhance mana acceleration, benefiting multi-creature entry tactics.
  3. Summoning at instant speed provides versatility and unexpected defensive options.

Text of card

Create a 3/2 red and white Spirit creature token.

"Books are fantastic, but if you're really curious about the distant past, why not ask someone who was there?" —Augusta, Lorehold dean


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delivers a unique angle to card advantage by summoning spirit creature tokens, which not only add to your board presence but can also trigger draw effects from other cards that reward you for summoning creatures.

Resource Acceleration: Can vastly improve your resource acceleration especially when paired with strategies that benefit from having multiple creatures entering the battlefield, bolstering your mana availability for future plays.

Instant Speed: The ability to summon spirits at instant speed provides immense strategic flexibility, allowing players to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn to increase their board state, preserve mana for counterspells, or create blockers unexpectedly. This can drastically swing the momentum of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Spirit Summoning cards often introduces a challenging discard dynamic. Deploying these evocative entities typically demands the relinquishment of other cards from your hand. This can be strategically and palpably taxing when your arsenal of options is dwindling, ultimately swaying the tempo of the game to your detriment.

Specific Mana Cost: The efficacious conjuring of Spirits is not merely a call upon ethereal forces but also a stringent request for particular mana alignments. Decks that are not tailored to produce the precise blend of mana required may find these spectral summons beyond reach, constricting the designs in which they shine.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The power to invoke these otherworldly allies does not come lightly; it bears a mana cost that on some occasions can be viewed as steep. The trade-off between mana expended and the specter’s might must be weighed against other potential plays. Some decks might find more advantageous maneuvers with a lesser expenditure of those precious mana resources.


Reasons to Include Spirit Summoning Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Spirit summoning cards in MTG can easily slide into various deck archetypes due to their often-flexible casting costs and valuable synergies with other spirits or enchantments. This adaptability makes them excellent additions for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: Spirits are notorious for their combo-enabling properties. Many spirit cards have abilities that either buff each other or provide beneficial effects when casting other spirit or arcane spells. Integrating these cards into your strategy can lead to powerful and unexpected win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: Spirits frequently occupy a valuable niche in the current meta. With their evasive abilities and potent interactions, they can hold their ground against various popular deck types, making them a wise choice for competitive play.


How to Beat

Overcoming the challenges posed by Spirit Summoning in the captivating world of wizardry and wonder within Magic: The Gathering hinges on understanding the card’s intricacies. Spirit Summoning, known for its ethereal advantages, can be thwarted by employing strategic removal spells. These spells efficiently exile or destroy creatures, thus negating the presence of spirits on the battlefield. Targeted removal, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, is particularly effective against individual spirit threats.

Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation clear multiple creatures at once, dealing with the spectral horde summoned by this enchantment. If you’re aiming to be proactive, countering the card before it takes effect is another effective strategy. Counterspells like Cancel or Mana Leak can prevent the initial summoning of spirits, helping maintain control of the game’s pace.

To summarize, while Spirit Summoning can present a daunting challenge with its ability to call forth powerful spirits, arming your deck with an arsenal of removal and countering strategies can assure your dominance on the mystical plane where battles unfold. Victory is well within grasp for those prepared to dispel the summoned spirits with cunning and foresight.


Cards like Spirit Summoning

The allure of calling forth ethereal allies is embodied in the strategic nuances of Spirit Summoning in Magic: The Gathering. This card finds its kinship with other creature-generating spells like Spectral Procession, which also creates multiple spirit creature tokens. Where Spirit Summoning shines is in its inclusion in Learn mechanics, offering flexibility in accessing sideboard cards or a Lesson card to optimize your hand based on game state.

Moving beyond the spectral realm, Triplicate Spirits is a similar card but costs more mana; however, it compensates with convoke, potentially reducing its casting cost by tapping creatures. This nuance caters to a synergistic playstyle where the presence of numerous creatures can turn the tide by casting more spirit tokens for less.

In evaluating side-by-side comparisons, Spirit Summoning has a distinct position within MTG strategies focused on token generation, resilience and maintaining card advantage. Though it vies for deck space with other potent summoning spells, its unique fusion of creating creature tokens while providing access to additional resources is a testament to its strategic value in gameplay.

Spectral Procession - MTG Card versions
Triplicate Spirits - MTG Card versions
Spectral Procession - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Triplicate Spirits - Magic 2015 (M15)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spirit Summoning MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Spirit Summoning and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spirit Summoning has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-04-16 Although you may want to include Lessons in your sideboard if you’re playing with cards that instruct you to learn, Lesson cards can be included in your main deck like other instant or sorcery cards.
2021-04-16 Lesson is a spell subtype found on some instant and sorcery cards in the Strixhaven set. The Lesson subtype has no special rules associated with it.

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