Spined Sliver MTG Card
1998-03-02 - Number 130
2006-10-06 - Number 101
2009-11-20 - Number 14
2015-05-06 - Number 213
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Sliver |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- While not directly creating card advantage, it promotes a growing army of resilient Slivers.
- Its color-specific mana cost may limit deck-building options in the diverse MTG meta.
- Spined Sliver shines in tribal synergies, elevating both offense and defense strategies.
Text of card
If any Sliver is blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature blocking it.
"Slivers are evil and slivers are sly; And if you get eaten, then no one will cry." —Mogg children's rhyme
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though not a direct provider of card advantage, the Spined Sliver encourages stratagems where multiple creatures can be supported, potentially leveraging the numbers to outpace the opponent’s board presence through favorable interactions and an unyielding offense.
Resource Acceleration: While Spined Sliver doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the form of extra mana, it complements decks focused on rapid growth and swarming strategies, effectively accelerating the potential of your sliver legion on the battlefield with each deployment.
Instant Speed: As a creature, Spined Sliver doesn’t benefit from instant speed advantages. However, its static ability synergizes exceptionally within the framework of quick-to-assemble Sliver decks, rewarding players with increased creature resilience and strength which can shift board states almost as dynamically as instants might.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For players looking to optimize their deck’s performance, including Spined Sliver can present a challenge. To fully leverage the card’s potential, you may find yourself at a disadvantage by needing to effectively manage your hand and potentially discard other valuable cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck building flexibility is key in MTG, but Spined Sliver’s strict mana requirement of both red and green mana can be a stumbling block. This makes the card a less versatile choice for players wanting to experiment with multi-color decks or those that don’t operate within this specific mana spectrum.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Spined Sliver offers certain advantages to a Sliver-based strategy, its mana cost sits on the higher end of the curve for creatures of its type. This invariably influences its play value when compared with other, lower-costed Slivers that may provide similar or greater benefits for less mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spined Sliver offers flexibility in how it’s used. This creature can adapt across various deck strategies, assisting in both offense and defense. Its ability to grant bonus power to all Slivers can be particularly effective in tribal synergies, which is a favorite among many players.
Combo Potential: With its potential to stack attack power gains, Spined Sliver becomes a key piece in combinations that can quickly escalate the threat level on your board. Pairing this card with other Slivers that have different abilities can lead to devastating effects against your opponents.
Meta-Relevance: As a card that comes out early in the game and can influence the board profoundly, Spined Sliver retains relevance, especially in a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent. Its presence can dictate the pace of the game and force opponents to reconsider their tactics.
How to beat
Spined Sliver presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, with its ability to bolster every Sliver’s power when they are blocked. This card can quickly escalate the power dynamics of a Sliver deck, making opposing creatures think twice before engaging. However, there are strategic ways to navigate through this quandary and maintain control of the game.
One way to outmaneuver Spined Sliver is by leveraging removal spells that can preemptively disrupt the Sliver synergy before it overwhelms you. Cards like Path to Exile or Terminate are perfect fits for this task, efficiently eliminating the threat before it can affect the board state.
Controlling the number of creatures your opponent commands can also be a decisive strategy, with board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation resetting the stage to your advantage. Without a field of Slivers to empower, Spined Sliver’s ability becomes moot. It’s worth noting that with precise timing and adequate threat assessment, a combination of creature control and tactical plays can navigate you to victory against the prickly might of Spined Sliver.
Cards like Spined Sliver
Spined Sliver holds a unique place among creature cards within the MTG realm. Its effects resonate with the overarching Sliver tribe theme, which grants mutualistic abilities to all Slivers on the field. This is akin to the synergistic nature of Muscle Sliver and Predatory Sliver, each providing a collective power and toughness boost to their kind. Yet, Spined Sliver twists the narrative by adding a defensive layer to its aggressive support—whenever a Spined Sliver becomes blocked, each Sliver you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
In comparison, Horned Sliver provides Slivers with the vaunted trample ability, emphasizing on overwhelming opponents’ defenses without the need for direct combat to trigger its effect. Bonescythe Sliver, though more costly in mana, doubles the threat by granting all Slivers the double strike ability, increasing both offensive and defensive capacities without being situational.
Despite their differences in application and conditions, it’s the adaptive nature of Slivers like Spined Sliver that renders the tribe formidable. They can be tailored to match various strategies, making Spined Sliver a valuable component in any Sliver-themed arsenal and a dynamic player on the MTG battlefield.
Cards similar to Spined Sliver by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spined Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Spined Sliver and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Spined Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 130 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 2 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 101 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 3 | 2009-11-20 | Premium Deck Series: Slivers | H09 | 14 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer | |
| 4 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 213 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spencer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spined Sliver has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spined Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If two Spined Slivers are on the battlefield then each blocked sliver gets +2/+2 for each creature blocking it. |
| 2013-07-01 | Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit. |
| 2013-07-01 | If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures. |
