Troublesome Spirit MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 4 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Spirit |
Abilities | Flying |
Released | 2000-06-05 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Prophecy |
Set code | PCY |
Power | 3 |
Toughness | 4 |
Number | 52 |
Frame | 1997 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Adam Rex |
Text of card
Flying At the end of your turn, tap all lands you control.
As erratic and turbulent as a summer squall.
Cards like Troublesome Spirit
Troublesome Spirit offers a unique dynamic to gameplay with its evasion abilities in Magic: The Gathering. This blue creature bears resemblance to cards like Rishadan Airship with its flying skill, enabling it to soar over ground-based defenses. Yet, Troublesome Spirit’s distinct bouncing mechanism at the end of turns where you haven’t played a land, presents both a challenge and opportunity, unlike the Airship, which stays on the battlefield.
A closer comparison might be the Dream Thrush, which also holds a tie to the land you control, but instead permits the manipulation of land types rather than affecting the battlefield presence. Then we have the Skywing Aven found in similar decks, a feathered companion sharing the same mana cost yet allowing more control over its flight pattern, balancing on-board strategy.
Assessing the parallels, Troublesome Spirit remains a wildcard. While it doesn’t have the same level of board manipulation as Dream Thrush or the permanence of Rishadan Airship and Skywing Aven, it encourages strategic land play to maintain its aerial assault. Its unique blend of unpredictability and tactical advantage carves its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse array of flying creatures.
Cards similar to Troublesome Spirit by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Troublesome Spirit’s ability to disrupt the opponent’s play can indirectly lead to gaining card advantage as it forces opponents to play around it, often at the cost of using their cards less efficiently.
Resource Acceleration: While Troublesome Spirit itself doesn’t produce mana, it can be a cog in strategies that aim to choke the opponents’ resources, making your own resource acceleration more impactful relative to theirs.
Instant Speed: Troublesome Spirit’s flying ability offers a significant advantage, enabling you to keep your defenses up and only commit to attacking when it’s most advantageous. Additionally, its instant speed interactions pair well with flash-enabling cards, which can further optimize your tempo and keep opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Troublesome Spirit demands a card discard to keep it on the field, which can deplete your hand and reduce strategic options over time.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of this card is color-specific, requiring both blue and white mana, which may not be readily available in every deck’s mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its effects, there are alternative spirits or creatures that could provide a more cost-effective impact on gameplay.
Reasons to Include Troublesome Spirit in Your Collection
Versatility: Troublesome Spirit offers great flexibility in deck building. This card can easily slip into blue-based control decks or aggressive fliers decks, serving as a reliable creature that can apply pressure or defend when needed.
Combo Potential: With its ability to remain untapped, this creature poses a consistent threat. In conjunction with tap and untap synergies, it can become a linchpin in a combo strategy, providing substantial value as both an attacker and enabler.
Meta-Relevance: As the game ebbs and flows with new sets and strategies, a card like Troublesome Spirit can become a strategic asset. Its persistent presence on the battlefield makes it a valuable tool against decks that are susceptible to flying creatures and continuous attacks.
How to beat
The Troublesome Spirit is a unique card in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, posing a distinct challenge with its flying ability and the hindrance it places on untapped lands. This card forces players to rethink their typical strategies, especially when it comes to managing lands during the untap step. To navigate around this spectral nuisance, players should consider land untapping strategies or cards that allow lands to be untapped at will, thereby mitigating the spirit’s disruptive effect.
Employing instant-speed spells can also be an effective tactic. Such spells don’t require the player to keep lands untapped on their opponent’s turn, thereby lessening the impact of the spirit’s ability. Additionally, using creatures with reach or other flying blockers can nullify the spirit’s attacks, while removal spells that bypass the troublesome hexproof or protection abilities can directly deal with the spirit. Board wipes are also a strong option, as they can clear the spirit along with other potential threats on the board at once. Smart deck building and strategic plays are essential to overcoming the challenges posed by Troublesome Spirit.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Troublesome Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Troublesome Spirit 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Troublesome Spirit has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |