Spined Fluke MTG Card

Urza's Saga (USG)
1998-10-12 - Number 160

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number USG-160

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Worm Horror
Power	5
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Card advantage can be gained with Spined Fluke by reusing enter-the-battlefield effects through sacrifice.
It enables instant speed sacrifices, providing tactical advantages in response to opponents’ moves.
Despite its versatility, Spined Fluke requires careful play to avoid card disadvantage from its discard requirement.

Text of card

When Spined Fluke comes into play, sacrifice a creature. oo B Regenerate Spined Fluke.

Its spines are prized as writing quills by the priests of Gix.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spined Fluke provides a unique opportunity to potentially gain card advantage by reusing enter-the-battlefield effects or grave-based synergies after sacrificing a creature you control.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly offering traditional mana acceleration, by sacrificing a less valuable creature and enhancing Spined Fluke, you can accelerate your board presence, effectively using your resources more efficiently in terms of creature stats and abilities.

Instant Speed: Spined Fluke can be sacrificed at instant speed, allowing you to make tactical decisions in response to your opponent’s actions, thereby optimizing the timing and impact of sacrificing a creature to strengthen it during combat or in reaction to removal spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spined Fluke necessitates discarding a creature card to harness its full potential. This tradeoff can leave players at a card disadvantage, especially when facing decks with effective removal spells.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes both black and generic mana, this card requires a precise mana base, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that may not always have the necessary black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to cast, Spined Fluke can be considered high-cost compared to other creatures with similar stats or abilities. This could lead to less efficient use of mana resources throughout the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spined Fluke offers flexibility in deck building. Its ability to swap power and toughness for another creature provides various defensive and offensive strategies, beneficial for decks looking to manipulate board states to their favor.

Combo Potential: Its mechanic works well with cards that have effects when losing or gaining power or toughness. It can also be a strategic component in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for greater rewards or those aiming to exploit enters-the-battlefield triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prominent, Spined Fluke’s capability to disrupt opponent creatures makes it a tactical addition in dealing with larger threats, enabling you to turn the tide of board control to your direction.

How to beat

Spined Fluke can be a challenging card to face in Magic: The Gathering due to its potent ability to grow stronger by sacrificing other creatures. When faced with this parasitic creature, strategy shifts to removing key pieces from the equation. Addressing Spined Fluke directly can be done through removal spells, which come in various forms like Fatal Push, Path to Exile, or Doom Blade, but timing is essential. Targeting it before it becomes a behemoth ensures minimal loss of resources.

Indirect tactics can also be effective. Cards that restrict the opponent from sacrificing creatures, such as Grafdigger’s Cage or Leyline of the Void, can neuter Spined Fluke’s power. Should the opponent build a formidable board presence to support their Spined Fluke, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field. Minimizing the creatures your opponent has available limits the Fluke’s scalability and keeps you in a stronger position.

Defeating Spined Fluke ultimately depends on a proactive defense. Early control of the board and thwarting your opponent’s key plays can keep cards like Spined Fluke from ever gaining traction. Being prepared with the right answers in your deck makes all the difference.

Cards like Spined Fluke

Spined Fluke holds a unique position in the MTG ecosystem, offering a nuanced blend of creature control and power boosting. In comparison, Parasitic Implant offers creature control by granting a way to eliminate a creature and reap an advantage when the creature dies. However, unlike Spined Fluke, Parasitic Implant doesn’t affect the board’s power dynamic immediately upon entering the battlefield.

Unholy Strength is another card that boosts a creature’s power, rendering Spined Fluke’s pump ability familiar to many players. The key difference lies in Spined Fluke’s additional facet of life loss, an element that Unholy Strength forgoes for simplicity and a lower mana cost. Grafted Wargear also resembles Spined Fluke by providing a substantial power and toughness increase, yet it comes without the life sacrifice, offering a different risk-reward equation.

When evaluating Spined Fluke alongside its counterparts, the card’s blend of aggressive stat enhancement with a strategic life cost presents an interesting choice for players. It stands as a testament to the diverse array of options available in MTG, catering to those who favor high-risk, high-reward gameplay.

Cards similar to Spined Fluke by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spined Fluke MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and The List, 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 Spined Fluke and other MTG cards: