Roil Spout MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Awaken
Released	2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Battle for Zendikar
Set code	BFZ
Number	219
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Igor Kieryluk

Key Takeaways

Roil Spout’s tempo control can significantly delay an opponent, offering a tactical edge in MTG matches.
Its need for specific mana can limit flexibility, yet serves well in Azorius-centered decks.
Though its mana cost is high, Roil Spout’s potential for game-changing tempo plays justifies inclusion.

Text of card

Put target creature on top of its owner's library. Awaken 4— (If you cast this spell for , also put four +1/+1 counters on target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Roil Spout aids in controlling the flow of the game by sending an opponent’s crucial creature back to the top of their library, thereby delaying their draw and obstructing their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, Roil Spout can be a form of tempo acceleration, setting your opponent back and giving you the upper hand in deploying your resources more effectively.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Roil Spout works strategically during your turn, allowing you to plan ahead and potentially clear the way for a decisive attack or set up for upcoming plays without the surprise element of instant speed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Roil Spout does not necessitate discarding cards; however, many strategic plays in Magic the Gathering involve evaluating resource allocation, and holding onto Roil Spout until the right moment could lead to missed opportunities for developing your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Roil Spout demands a very specific mana combination to be played, specifically one blue, one white, and one colorless mana. This might be a little restrictive, limiting its flexibility for players not running a deck centered around Azorius (blue/white) colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, especially considering two of these must be blue and white, Roil Spout’s effect might be considered high when compared to other cards with similar effects. Players might find more cost-effective ways to control the board or set back their opponents without committing as much mana. Given the pace of many games, a turn spent casting Roil Spout can be a critical point where other strategies might offer a more impactful play.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Roil Spout is a flexible card, apt for various deck builds. Its ability to put a creature on top of its owner’s library pairs well with decks designed for tempo control, causing potential setbacks for opponents and maintaining board advantage.

Combo Potential: This card opens the door for synergies with strategies that capitalize on manipulating opponents’ decks. Combined with cards that allow you to look at or exile the top card of an opponent’s library, Roil Spout adds a level of control and foresight to your game plan.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tempo plays a pivotal role, Roil Spout fits in seamlessly. It handles threats temporarily without spending resources on permanent removal and provides crucial time to stabilize or further your board position.

How to Beat Roil Spout

Roil Spout is a versatile spell with a dual nature in MTG. As part of the Awaken mechanic, this card not only sends an opponent’s creature back to the top of their library, a setback in tempo for them, but it can also turn one of your lands into a formidable creature later in the game. Its utility in disrupting the pace of your opponent’s game plan can be compared to spells like Unsummon or Vapor Snag, but with the added twist of affecting the library instead of the hand.

To navigate against the challenge posed by Roil Spout, consider using instant-speed responses that can shuffle your library or draw cards, thereby diluting the setback. Spells like Brainstorm or fetch lands, such as Flooded Strand, can effectively counteract the top-of-library placement effect. Additionally, creature protection such as hexproof or indestructibility from cards like Heroic Intervention allows your creatures to dodge the Spout’s reach, effectively nullifying its impact on the battlefield.

Make no mistake, facing Roil Spout necessitates a strategic approach. Recognize the key moments when your opponent may aim to maximize its value and be prepared with countermeasures. A well-timed response not only preserves your board state but also turns the tide by exploiting the investment your opponent made casting Roil Spout.

Cards like Roil Spout

Roil Spout stands out in the vast repertoire of MTG’s sorcery options, neatly fitting into the trend of cards that manipulate the opponent’s deck. Comparable to this are spells like Griptide, which also places a target creature on top of its owner’s library. Roil Spout adds a twist with its ability to Awaken, transforming a land into a creature for a late-game presence. Griptide lacks this additional layer, focusing solely on temporary creature delay.

Another analog is the card Void Shatter. Although it’s an instant countering a spell, it similarly disrupts an opponent’s strategy by exiling the countered card instead of shuffling it in the library. However, Void Shatter doesn’t offer the board presence increment that comes with Roil Spout’s Awaken feature. Then, there’s the spell Unsummon, which is purely a temporary setback by returning a creature to its owner’s hand, lacking Roil Spout’s deck interference and versatility in later turns.

Hence, when examining such spells, Roil Spout’s combination of top-deck disruption and potential creature creation gives it a unique niche within interruptive sorcery cards in MTG, marking its strategic value in both early and late game scenarios.

Cards similar to Roil Spout by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Roil Spout MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Roil Spout and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Roil Spout has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Roil Spout card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2015-08-25	Awaken doesn’t give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.
2015-08-25	If a spell with awaken has multiple targets (including the land you control), and some but not all of those targets become illegal by the time the spell tries to resolve, the spell won’t affect the illegal targets in any way.
2015-08-25	If the non-awaken part of the spell doesn’t require a target and you cast the spell for its awaken cost, then the spell won’t resolve if the target land you control becomes illegal before the spell resolves (such as due to being destroyed in response to the spell being cast).
2015-08-25	If the non-awaken part of the spell requires a target, you must choose a legal target. You can’t cast the spell if you can’t choose a legal target for each instance of the word “target” (though you only need a legal target for the awaken ability if you’re casting the spell for its awaken cost).
2015-08-25	The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that’s turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for .
2015-08-25	You can cast a spell with awaken for its mana cost and get only its first effect. If you cast a spell for its awaken cost, you’ll get both effects.