Spike Drone MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spike Drone
Released	1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set name	Tempest
Set code	TMP
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	258
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Charles Gillespie

Key Takeaways

Spike Drone excels in granting card advantage via counter synergies and flexible creature boosts.
Moderate cons include a discard requirement and specific mana cost, limiting its versatility.
With its unique abilities, Spike Drone can be a significant asset in counter-centric decks.

Text of card

Spike Drone comes into play with one +1/+1 counter on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spike Drone: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spike Drone provides a level of card advantage by enabling the fusion ability or enhancing synergies within a deck that focuses on +1/+1 counters, ensuring that players can squeeze more value out of their creature plays.

Resource Acceleration: By utilizing Spike Drone in combination with other cards that generate or manipulate +1/+1 counters, players can escalate their board presence quickly. Spike Drone acts as a catalyst in decks engineered around counter mechanics, leading to accelerated development of formidable creatures.

Instant Speed: The activation of Spike Drone’s ability at instant speed empowers players to respond adaptively to threats or opportunities as they unfold during the match. This gives players the strategic advantage of adjusting their gameplay in reaction to their opponent’s actions, making the Spike Drone a versatile tool in many game scenarios.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Spike Drone card is that playing it requires you to dispose of another card from your hand. This can prove to be a setback when your hand size is dwindling and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Spike Drone demands a particular combination of mana for casting, which can potentially restrict its inclusion to only those decks that can produce the required colors consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For what the Spike Drone offers in terms of gameplay, its mana cost might appear steep when measured against alternative creatures or abilities that might yield a higher value or versatility for the same or a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spike Drone offers adaptability across a variety of decks, serving particularly well in those that synergize with +1/+1 counters. Its ability to transfer counters can be instrumental in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: Its counter manipulation capabilities enable powerful combinations. Whether you’re amplifying the strength of a single creature or spreading the power across your board, Spike Drone can be the keystone in a meticulously crafted combo.

Meta-Relevance: Given Spike Drone’s ability to interact with proliferate mechanics and counter-centric decks, its importance in the current meta cannot be overstated. A deck that leverages such synergies could gain a competitive edge in matches that revolve around intricate and persistent board states.

How to beat

Spike Drone stands out among utility creatures in Magic the Gathering, particularly for its flexible counter manipulation abilities. While initially appearing innocent due to its single +1/+1 counter, it can be tricky to face when paired with other cards enhancing its counter capabilities or in decks emphasizing proliferate strategies.

Dealing with Spike Drone effectively involves disrupting these synergies. Cards such as Pithing Needle can shut down Spike Drone’s activated abilities, immediately neutralizing its threat. Moreover, targeted removal spells are also a sound strategy, as eliminating the Spike Drone before it can disperse its counters or grow beyond reach is crucial. Incidental graveyard hate like Grafdigger’s Cage is also beneficial, preventing Spike Droney from being a recurring nuisance from the graveyard when combined with cards like Grimoire of the Dead.

Lastly, it’s important to keep the board clear of creatures that may benefit from the counters Spike Drone distributes. Prioritize removing or neutralizing key creatures that can exploit these additional resources, thereby reducing Spike Drone’s impact and maintaining control of the match.

Cards like Spike Drone

Exploring the arsenal of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Spike Drone presents a unique blend of abilities. When looking at creatures with modular abilities, Arcbound Worker stands out as a direct comparison. Much like Spike Drone, the Worker arrives with a +1/+1 counter, which upon its departure from the battlefield, can be transferred to another artifact creature, sustaining the value even after it’s gone. The flexibility of Spike Drone, however, lies in its ability to transfer counters at any time with a simple mana investment, giving it a tactical edge in creature management.

Another creature that echoes a semblance of resemblance is Animation Module. Although not a creature itself, it interacts with +1/+1 counters, producing Servo tokens and allowing the accumulation of those valuable counters, akin to Spike Drone’s growth potential. What sets Spike Drone apart is the immediate impact of counter distribution without the need of proliferate effects.

While evaluating the synergy cards like these can unleash, Spike Drone manages to stand firm with its maneuverability and strategic counter play, carving its niche amid the creatures and artifacts of Magic: The Gathering. Its adaptability in the intricate interplay of +1/+1 counters makes it an intriguing option for deck builders focused on evolving their in-game tactics.

Cards similar to Spike Drone by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spike Drone MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Spike Drone and other MTG cards: