Necrogen Spellbomb MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Number	216
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jim Nelson

Key Takeaways

Draw or disrupt at instant speed, fitting into various strategy blueprints and enhancing reactive playstyles.
Demands sacrifice and an additional mana for full effect, a consideration for resource planning.
Strategic addition to decks, particularly in metas where hand disruption alters the course of play.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Necrogen Spellbomb: Target player discards a card from his or her hand. , Sacrifice Necrogen Spellbomb: Draw a card.

"Forget that which was never known." —Spellbomb inscription

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Necrogen Spellbomb offers an efficient way to cycle through your deck by sacrificing it to draw a card. This added draw supports hand replenishment, ensuring a steady flow of resources during the mtg game.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly affecting mana resources, the flexibility of Necrogen Spellbomb lets players optimize their plays. It aligns well with strategies that benefit from artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield, potentially accelerating the overall game plan.

Instant Speed: The capacity to activate Necrogen Spellbomb at instant speed adds a layer of depth to gameplay. Players can choose the optimal moment to force an opponent to discard or to draw a card themselves, reacting swiftly to the ever-evolving state of the match. This aligns seamlessly with strategies aiming to disrupt opponents during their most crucial turns.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Necrogen Spellbomb provides a tactical advantage in disrupting your opponent’s hand, its activation does come at a cost. To draw a card, this artifact demands you to sacrifice it and pay one black mana, which could deplete your hand, especially if you’re already low on resources or if you’re desperate for card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Necrogen Spellbomb is versatile in its initial casting cost, being a mere single generic mana. However, the additional black mana required to utilize its drawing capability could pose a restriction for decks that don’t heavily feature black mana or for players who are struggling with mana fixing at a crucial game moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost-effectiveness of Necrogen Spellbomb can be called into question when considering the total investment of two mana to draw a card once the artifact is sacrificed. This can sometimes be viewed as less efficient compared to other available options in MTG that might offer card draw or other utilities at a lower overall cost or with additional benefits attached to them.

Reasons to Include Necrogen Spellbomb in Your Collection

Versatility: Necrogen Spellbomb offers its wielders a flexible approach to gameplay. It can be used as a draw engine with its “pay one, sacrifice and draw a card” ability. Alternatively, it disrupts the opponent’s hand, making it a utilitarian addition to multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This artifact thrives in synergy-driven decks, particularly those capitalizing on graveyard mechanics or those looking to exploit artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield. It can serve as a potent enabler for such combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where hand disruption is key to undermining control or combo decks, the Necrogen Spellbomb stands out as a strategic tool. Its presence can alter an opponent’s pace and decision-making, contributing to its status as a relevant card in various meta scenarios.

How to beat

Necrogen Spellbomb is a versatile tool in the arsenal of Magic: The Gathering players. With the ability to draw a card for one mana or make an opponent discard a card at instant speed, it can serve multiple strategies. To effectively counter this card, players can use spell disruption techniques or prevent it from reaching the field altogether. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize can remove Necrogen Spellbomb before its effects are activated, while Krosan Grip’s Split Second ability offers a surefire solution by preventing any immediate responses.

Anticipating when an opponent might leverage the Spellbomb’s discard effect can also be key. Holding onto cards with redundancies, ensuring your hand is not too valuable, or utilizing instant-speed draw spells allow you to minimize the impact of the discard. It’s also important to consider pacing when facing an opponent with this artifact; by keeping pressure and forcing them to choose between using the Spellbomb or playing other key spells, you can dilute its effectiveness and maintain control of the game.

While the Necrogen Spellbomb can be an asset for one’s deck, with the right countermeasures and strategies, its potential disruption can be mitigated, maintaining a smooth course towards victory in your MTG matchups.

Cards like Necrogen Spellbomb

Necrogen Spellbomb forms part of Magic the Gathering’s suite of utilitarian Spellbombs, offering flexibility and strategic depth to gameplay. It mirrors the characteristic of Nihil Spellbomb, which also exiles a player’s graveyard, albeit without the card draw option. Necrogen Spellbomb, distinct in its ability, allows players to pay an additional mana to draw a card, offering both graveyard disruption and card advantage.

Another comparable artifact is Relic of Progenitus. While this relic sweeps away all graveyards and provides card draw, Necrogen Spellbomb targets a single player, giving more controlled graveyard manipulation. This creates opportunities for tactical plays, balancing between denial and drawing power. Codex Shredder also aligns with the draw-and-discard dynamic but involves milling, allowing a different angle for players to exploit their opponents’ libraries.

Assessing these comparable artifacts, Necrogen Spellbomb holds its ground as a viable role-player. Its dual functionality can give players an upper hand by selectively purging graveyards while staying resource-positive, making it a strategic pick for decks that thrive on nuanced plays and incremental advantages.

Cards similar to Necrogen Spellbomb by color, type and mana cost

Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death - MTG Card versions

Sphere of Annihilation - MTG Card versions

Executioner's Capsule - MTG Card versions

Augmenting Automaton - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Necrogen Spellbomb MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Necrogen Spellbomb and other MTG cards: