Scorch Spitter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental Lizard
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	159
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johan Grenier

Key Takeaways

Scorch Spitter excels in aggression, demanding answers from opponents to its consistent damage.
Its low cost and instant damage synergize with rapid damage-dealing strategies and combos.
Vital in fast-paced matches, Scorch Spitter applies early-game pressure and sustains tempo.

Text of card

Whenever Scorch Spitter attacks, it deals 1 damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.

"Yes, she can be a nuisance. But at least my tea never gets cold." —Marlan Farthwald, innkeeper

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Scorch Spitter doesn’t allow for direct card draw, its potential to inflict damage each time it attacks can quickly whittle down an opponent’s life total. This repetitive burn can indirectly translate to card advantage by requiring the opponent to use their resources to deal with a single threat.

Resource Acceleration: Scorch Spitter itself does not offer traditional mana acceleration. However, its low casting cost provides an early game presence, often conserving more significant mana resources for later plays.

Instant Speed: Scorch Spitter operates at sorcery speed as a creature, but its relevance comes from its ability to initiate combat damage triggers instantaneously upon attacking. This creates immediate pressure and can synergize with instant speed spells or abilities that players can utilize during combat to maximize damage output.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Scorch Spitter doesn’t necessitate discarding, its presence might pressure players to opt for more aggressive cards, potentially causing a discard of more strategic options to maintain an aggressive tempo.

Specific Mana Cost: Scorch Spitter requires red mana, which confines it primarily to mono-red or red-inclusive multicolor decks, potentially restricting its versatility in a player’s broader collection.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low casting cost, in a fast-paced game, Scorch Spitter may still be outpaced, as other one-mana creatures could offer more immediate board presence or utility, making its cost less efficient in certain scenarios.

Reasons to Include Scorch Spitter in Your Collection

Versatility: Scorch Spitter is a solid choice for red aggressive decks that leverage swift damage to opponents. Its ability to perform in both early and mid-game plays makes it adaptable in fast-paced games where every point of damage counts.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that amplify damage, working well with effects that increase direct damage or with cards that trigger off of dealing noncombat damage to adversaries.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta favoring quick matchups, Scorch Spitter can apply early pressure, potentially tipping the scales in your favor by delivering consistent early-game damage before opponents can set up their defenses.

How to beat

Scorch Spitter is a card that embraces the aggressive nature of red decks in MTG. This small creature can apply pressure early in the game, dealing damage even when blocked. To counter this fiery foe, it’s prudent to employ early game removal or blockers with a toughness greater than one. Cards like Shock or Magma Spray can dispatch Scorch Spitter immediately, negating its ability to chip away at your life total.

Another strategy is to stabilize your board presence with creatures that offer more value for your mana investment. Since Scorch Spitter can deal damage only once per turn, establishing a strong line of defense can absorb its assault, rendering it ineffective. Look for cards that provide lifelink to mitigate the damage done or those that can outclass Scorch Spitter in combat, leaving your opponent with an unfavorable trade-off.

Remember, Scorch Spitter thrives in decks built to maximize its potential, often surrounded by other cards that benefit from dealing noncombat damage. Preparing sideboard options that can handle a swarm of small creatures or that gain you life can be an effective way to extinguish the flames Scorch Spitter aims to spread across the battlefield.

Cards like Scorch Spitter

Scorch Spitter is an intriguing creature card that brings a spark of aggression to red decks in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It shares some common ground with other one-drop red creatures, such as Goblin Guide. The Scorch Spitter, much like Goblin Guide, is valued for its ability to deal damage quickly, yet it differs by guaranteeing damage to the opponent each time it attacks, regardless of whether it’s blocked or not. This aspect ensures that it contributes to your damage output from the very moment it joins the fray.

Monastery Swiftspear is another card often compared to Scorch Spitter, as it also boasts a low mana cost and has the potential for early game pressure. While Monastery Swiftspear doesn’t automatically deal damage when it attacks, its prowess ability allows for power boosts during the casting of non-creature spells, giving it a potentially higher damage ceiling throughout the game.

Child of Night is not a direct comparison but serves as a contrast being a low-cost creature from another color that provides a different type of early game advantage, this time through lifelink. Whereas Scorch Spitter is about fast, guaranteed damage, Child of Night offers staying power and resilience.

When evaluating Scorch Spitter against its peers, it stands out for its unique damage consistency, positioning itself as a strong contender for inclusion in red aggressive strategies in MTG.

Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scorch Spitter MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Scorch Spitter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scorch Spitter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-07-12	If the planeswalker Scorch Spitter is attacking is reduced to 0 loyalty from the damage caused by its ability, Scorch Spitter continues to attack. It can be blocked, and it won’t deal any combat damage if it’s not blocked.
2019-07-12	The damage Scorch Spitter deals as its ability resolves isn’t combat damage.