Wellspring MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Number | 288 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Susan Van Camp |
Text of card
When Wellspring comes into play, gain control of enchanted land. At the end of each of your turns, lose control of enchanted land. At the beginning of each of your turns, gain control of enchanted land.
Cards like Wellspring
Wellspring is an intriguing component in the world of artifact synergies within Magic: The Gathering. It can be associated with other ramp artifacts like Mind Stone, which shares the characteristic of mana acceleration. Mind Stone, however, offers unconditional mana upon tapping and a card draw when sacrificed, while Wellspring requires a more specific condition to trigger its ability.
Moving to Prismatic Lens, the common ground is apparent as both provide mana fixing utilities. Prismatic Lens, though, offers immediate mana of any color whereas Wellspring’s color fixing advantage is conditional. Izzet Keyrune is another artifact vying for attention, with its dual capacities of mana provision and transformation into a creature, presenting a versatile threat Wellspring lacks. Although Izzet Keyrune provides a payoff later in being a creature, Wellspring’s early game utility can be unmatched for enabling multicolored plays.
After a comparative analysis of these artifacts, Wellspring holds its unique place, especially in decks that can exploit its conditional nature. Its integration with multicolored strategies can certainly give a player the upper hand by smoothing out mana requirements and enabling more complex plays.
Cards similar to Wellspring by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Wellspring card shines in providing card advantage, allowing players to consistently pull ahead in the hands race. With its unique ability to sift through the top cards of your library, this card ensures your options stay plentiful, keeping you one step ahead of your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Wellspring offers significant resource acceleration, enabling players to ramp up their available mana. This aspect of the card is especially powerful in formats where timing and mana efficiency are crucial to outpacing the competition.
Instant Speed: The capacity to operate at instant speed gives Wellspring an edge by offering the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s moves. This play allows you to maximize efficiency, using your mana on your terms during the most opportune moments in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wellspring demands you to part with another card from your hand as part of casting it. This can put players at a disadvantage, especially when hand size is crucial for maintaining strategic options throughout the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Wellspring card has a specific mana requirement that might not seamlessly fit into all types of decks. If your deck doesn’t generate the right colors, this card could become a dead draw at a critical moment in the match.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes with a heavier mana investment than some alternatives available in the game. This could slow down your game plan, as you might need to dedicate an entire turn’s worth of mana to play it, often resulting in a loss of momentum.
Reasons to Include Wellspring in Your Collection
Versatility: Wellspring easily integrates into numerous deck archetypes. Whether providing mana fixing for multi-color decks or acting as an efficient cycling engine, it has several applications across various formats.
Combo Potential: With Wellspring in play, the ability to consistently draw cards can play a pivotal role in assembling combo pieces. Additionally, any strategy bolstered by card draw synergies or graveyard interactions will find Wellspring to be a valuable asset.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames with a high concentration of control or combo decks, Wellspring offers a recurrent stream of card advantage. Its impact is consistent and can give players the upper hand in prolonged matches where resources are key.
How to beat
Wellspring presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This particular card offers an incremental advantage to its controller by potentially drawing cards or untapping lands as creatures enter the battlefield under their control. To counter this card, players need to limit the opportunities for its activation. One excellent strategy is to use removal spells on creatures that trigger Wellspring before the ability resolves, limiting the card advantage it can provide.
Additionally, countering creature spells before they hit the table can make Wellspring far less effective. Strategies that focus on non-creature spells also naturally circumvent Wellspring’s abilities, as it requires creature spells to be played for its effects to trigger. Moreover, employing graveyard exile effects can prevent creatures from returning to the battlefield, precluding repeated Wellspring triggers. Ultimately, a proactive approach and careful consideration of the spells you play can ensure that the advantage Wellspring might give an opponent is neutralized effectively.
Understanding the mechanics behind Wellspring and deploying the appropriate counterspells or removal abilities ensures that you maintain control over the game. Well-timed interference can transform this potential threat into a non-issue, preserving the balance of the match in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wellspring MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Wellspring 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 Wellspring has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wellspring card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If Wellspring leaves the battlefield, the control effect still lasts until end of turn. |