Temporal Spring MTG Card
2001-06-04 - Number 125
2010-11-08 - Number A107
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Put target permanent on top of its owner's library.
One splash of the spring's water knocks you clear into last week.
Cards like Temporal Spring
In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Temporal Spring stands out for its versatile delaying capability. It shares this aspect with Capsize, a card known for bouncing permanents to their owner’s hand. However, Temporal Spring does more than just return a permanent; it tucks it on top of its owner’s library, effectively setting them back one draw. Unlike Capsize, though, it doesn’t have the “buyback” ability, which would allow you to reuse it multiple times at a cost.
Next in line is the spell Venser, Shaper Savant. Venser has a similar function, also returning spells or permanents to their owner’s hand, but comes with a body. While Venser might not stall a draw like Temporal Spring, the immediate board presence and the option to bounce a spell even as it’s cast offer a different strategic advantage.
Evaluating the benefits of such options, Temporal Spring is notable for its specific disruption by delaying opponents’ plans. Although it may not have the reusable nature of some alternatives, it shines in scenarios where simply bouncing a permanent isn’t enough, and you need to hinder an opponent’s draw alongside. It’s a subtle yet powerful twist on traditional bounce mechanics in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Temporal Spring by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Temporal Spring. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Temur Ponza | Pauper | Rock, Pauper, Scissors! - IPT | |
 | Simic Tempo | Legacy | $1K - Legacy - SCG CON Atlanta - Sunday - 9:30 am | |
 | Bant Control | Pauper | Bant Control | Pauper League 2024-02-19 |
| Temur Cascade | Pauper | 12^ tappa | Lega Pauper Mediavalle e Garfagnana 2023/24 - Road to Paupergeddon Pisa | |
| Abzan Slivers | Pauper | Bant Control | IPT Pauper Paradise |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Temporal Spring offers a unique form of card advantage by setting your opponent back a turn. By returning any permanent to the top of their library, it effectively makes them draw the same card again, denying them a new draw and new resources.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your own resources, Temporal Spring accelerates your game plan by decelerating your opponent’s. By bouncing their lands, it inhibits their mana development. If their key nonland permanent is sent back, they must spend time and mana to redeploy it. This can give you a critical window to pull ahead.
Instant Speed: The power of Temporal Spring is augmented by its ability to be cast at instant speed. This versatility allows you to disrupt opponents strategically during their turn, whether in response to a spell or after they’ve declared attackers, ensuring maximum inconvenience and timing surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Temporal Spring doesn’t have an inherent discard requirement, it may necessitate holding onto cards to optimize its effect, which could lead to missed opportunities for playing other spells.
Specific Mana Cost: Temporal Spring’s cost includes both green and blue mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to only certain multicolored decks and limiting its flexibility in mono-colored builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of one green, one blue, and one colorless mana, Temporal Spring has a relatively steep cost for the effect of putting a single target on top of its owner’s library, especially when compared to other bounce or removal spells in the format.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Temporal Spring is a multipurpose tool that suits a variety of deck archetypes. This card not only sets your opponent back by returning a permanent to their library, but it can also be applied strategically to your own cards for reuse or protection.
Combo Potential: The ability to tuck any permanent on top of its owner’s library allows Temporal Spring to integrate seamlessly with top-deck manipulation strategies or shuffle effects, maximizing the chance of disrupting your opponent’s draws.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting landscape of the metagame, the adaptability of Temporal Spring keeps it relevant, able to counter key pieces of popular deck strategies or provide a timely answer to threats.
How to Beat
Temporal Spring positions itself as a versatile tool in the world of Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to set back opponents by returning a permanent to the top of their library. This can lead to tactical advantages, particularly in disrupting the tempo of your opponent’s game plan. To effectively counteract Temporal Spring, it’s essential to maintain a diverse array of permanents on the board. By doing so, the impact of Temporal Spring is minimized as it delays only one of several threats you present.
Moreover, instant-speed spells or abilities that can be activated in response to Temporal Spring can prove beneficial. For instance, utilizing cards with flash can ensure that your resources are spent efficiently and not preemptively laid out for disruption. Additionally, embracing strategies that capitalize on graveyard synergies or benefits from casting spells can pivot the disadvantage into an opportunity for setups you might have in place.
Adapting to the setback that Temporal Spring can introduce involves foresight and strategic diversity. By cultivating a game state resilient to individual disruptions, you preserve your ability to press forward even when key pieces of your strategy are temporarily delayed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Temporal Spring MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Magic Online Theme Decks, 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 Temporal Spring and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Temporal Spring Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2010-11-08. Illustrated by John Matson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-06-04 | Apocalypse | APC | 125 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 2 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A107 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Matson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Temporal Spring has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |