Hellspark Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Haste,Trample,Unearth
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Hellspark Elemental provides card advantage with its potential for double strike from the graveyard.
  2. Its affordable mana cost coupled with instant-speed unearth enables surprise attacks.
  3. Despite its power, the required red mana and ephemeral presence on the battlefield can be restrictive.

Text of card

Trample, haste At the beginning of the end step, sacrifice Hellspark Elemental. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hellspark Elemental has unearth ability, giving players a second chance to utilize it from the graveyard, effectively making the most out of every card.

Resource Acceleration: Offering significant damage relative to its mana cost, this card accelerates your game plan, pressuring your opponent early in the game and shifting resources to your favor swiftly.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Hellspark Elemental can be unearthed at instant speed, providing surprise attacks during the opponent’s turn or after their blockers have been declared.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hellspark Elemental’s unearth ability allows it to return to the battlefield for a brief encore, but at the cost of being exiled at the end of the turn. This means that any investment in the card, whether it be buffs or equipment, becomes a temporary boost, leading to a potential loss of resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Hellspark Elemental requires a specific arrangement of mana, including one generic and one red mana. This can be restrictive, as it dictates a need for red mana sources, potentially limiting its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce red mana early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the 3/1 trample might appear aggressive for its two-mana cost, its self-exiling nature upon the end of the turn means it might not always provide the persistent board presence needed against decks that can deploy larger creatures or multiple blockers at the same or lower mana costs.


Reasons to Include Hellspark Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Hellspark Elemental is a chameleon in red aggressive decks, fitting snugly into strategies that prize speed and recurring threats. Its unearth ability gives it a commendable role, bringing a burst of damage over multiple turns.

Combo Potential: With its ability to return to play, this elemental aligns well with cards that capitalize on entering or leaving the battlefield effects, paving the way for resourceful combo plays that can surprise opponents and shift the momentum of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s hospitable to quick, aggressive plays, Hellspark Elemental shines. It offers persistent pressure against control decks, and its low casting cost makes it a consistent early-game threat in various red-focused strategies.


How to beat

Hellspark Elemental is a swift and fiery challenger on the battlefield, presenting a unique set of challenges for Magic: The Gathering players. This creature’s Unearth ability makes it a relentless foe, capable of returning from the graveyard for a surprise attack. Handling this Elemental requires a strategic approach that often involves graveyard disruption. One can use cards like Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt to remove Hellspark Elemental from the game completely, ensuring it doesn’t return to plague your defenses.

Another effective tactic is to establish robust defense. Creatures with high toughness or those that can be flashed into play, like Wall of Omens or Snapcaster Mage, serve as excellent bulwarks against Hellspark Elemental’s charges. It’s also helpful to keep instant-speed removal at the ready. Path to Exile or Fatal Push are precise answers, able to remove the Elemental permanently and prevent any further Unearth shenanigans.

Stemming from these strategies, players can outwit a Hellspark Elemental’s aggressive plays. Success lies in preparedness and an understanding of how best to utilize available resources to ensure that once it hits the field, or the graveyard, it stays out for good.


Cards like Hellspark Elemental

Hellspark Elemental is a dynamic force that offers MTG players a potent mix of damage and recurring threats. Much like Ball Lightning, it provides a swift burst of power with its trample ability, although with lower power. The difference lies in the unearth ability of Hellspark Elemental, allowing it to leave the graveyard fora fleeting but meaningful second attack. While Ball Lightning can’t return after its initial assault, the elemental’s reusability gives players an edge.

Comparing it to Spark Elemental reveals another facet of utility. Spark Elemental costs less and can be a quick surprise due to its Flash ability, but it lacks the second-chance playability Hellspark Elemental is prized for. Conversely, Keldon Marauders edges into this space with a similar vein of impact, delivering guaranteed damage through its entering and leaving the battlefield effects. Yet, it doesn’t quite match the direct and rapid offensive that Hellspark Elemental can unleash.

Hence, amongst its kin, Hellspark Elemental stands out with its versatility and the persistent threat it poses. This makes it an exceptional choice amongst cards that embody the surprise attack strategy in MTG’s hasty creature lineup.

Ball Lightning - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Keldon Marauders - MTG Card versions
Ball Lightning - The Dark (DRK)
Spark Elemental - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Keldon Marauders - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Hellspark Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Mudbrawler Cohort - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Mudbrawler Cohort - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Stigma Lasher - Eventide (EVE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hellspark Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Hellspark Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hellspark Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2013-03-15. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 361722003normalblackNils Hamm
22006-01-02DCI PromosPDCI 252003normalblackNils Hamm
32009-02-06ConfluxCON 652003normalblackJustin Sweet
42010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 B182003normalblackJustin Sweet
52013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 462003normalblackJustin Sweet

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hellspark Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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