Spiteflame Witch MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental Shaman
Released	2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Shadowmoor
Set code	SHM
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	197
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	William O'Connor

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage through noncombat damage triggers and life loss-based draw effects.
Instant speed activation offers game pace control and crucial decision-making flexibility.
The dual mana requirement may limit inclusion to specific deck themes or colors.

Text of card

: Each player loses 1 life.

Cinder beliefs revolve around the Path of Sorrow, a spiritual descent into oblivion. They don't mind taking others on their journey down.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spiteflame Witch offers unique opportunities for card advantage by damaging opponents and triggering draw effects that key off of dealing noncombat damage or when an opponent loses life.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, this card could potentially accelerate your game plan by efficiently reducing your opponent’s life total and enabling faster execution of your strategy.

Instant Speed: With abilities that can be activated at instant speed, Spiteflame Witch provides flexibility, allowing you to make decisions and control the pace of the game more effectively on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spiteflame Witch’s ability necessitates discarding a card, which could be burdensome if your hand is already scarce. This can possibly leave you at a disadvantage in the later stages of the game, where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost mandates both black and red mana, making it less flexible for decks that do not run both colors. For mono-colored decks or those that don’t include black and red, Spiteflame Witch may not fit seamlessly into the strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While her ability can turn unused cards into direct damage, the initial investment of three mana can be hefty, particularly in a fast-paced game where tempo is key. Other options available could offer more immediate impact on the battlefield or cost less mana to deploy, potentially giving opponents an advantage in the early to mid-game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spiteflame Witch offers a flexible role in a variety of decks, especially those looking to capitalize on spellcasting and creature sacrifice dynamics to control the board.

Combo Potential: This card easily slots into synergistic engines, capitalizing on its ability to deal damage and provide benefits each time you cast a noncreature spell.

Meta-Relevance: With its low mana cost and direct damage, Spiteflame Witch proves effective against creature-heavy decks dominating the current meta, providing a consistent and reliable threat.

How to beat

Spiteflame Witch is a card that offers players of Magic: The Gathering an intriguing blend of damage dealing and strategic sacrifice. Dominating the battlefield with this creature requires a clever approach, particularly considering its ability to deal damage. The key to overcoming the Spiteflame Witch lies in timing and resource management. Nullifying its impact involves instant-speed removal spells to prevent the Witch from utilizing its ability to the fullest.

Effective tactics include using bounce spells to return the Witch to the opponent’s hand before they can exploit its sacrifice ability for significant damage. Counterspells can also be instrumental in keeping this fiery adversary off the board entirely. Creature-based strategies may consider blockers with high toughness to withstand the Witch’s ability or creatures that benefit from being the target of spells, turning the Witch’s strength into an ally.

To sum up, while the Spiteflame Witch can ignite a swift path to victory, outpacing it by strategic use of resources, and well-timed removal will extinguish its threat and help secure a win against decks that wield this potent card.

Cards like Spiteflame Witch

Spiteflame Witch weaves her unique spell within the intriguing realm of MTG creatures with abilities that trigger during your turn. She’s akin to cards like Guttersnipe which deals damage to each opponent every time you cast an instant or sorcery. However, Guttersnipe’s effect is broader, not requiring the discard mechanic that is central to Spiteflame Witch’s ability.

In the realm of discard synergy, Fireblade Artist stands out as well. This card offers a sacrifice outlet to trigger damage, showcasing a similar aggressive playstyle to Spiteflame Witch’s self-damage and card draw interaction. Fireblade Artist demands a creature sacrifice for its effect, differing from Spiteflame Witch’s discard requirement to unleash her potential.

Comparatively, Olivia’s Dragoon also allows for discarding cards to provide a temporary benefit, but it’s focused on enabling the Madness mechanic rather than direct damage. Spiteflame Witch is distinct for combining both a damage-dealing component with card cycling, facilitating both aggression in play and fluidity in hand management.

Ultimately, Spiteflame Witch holds her own in the array of MTG cards with turn-based triggers, combining the aggressive potential of damage-dealing with the strategic advantage of cycling unneeded cards, a true asset in decks geared for a swift and relentless onslaught.

Cards similar to Spiteflame Witch by color, type and mana cost

Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions

Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions

Grenzo, Dungeon Warden - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spiteflame Witch MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Spiteflame Witch and other MTG cards: