Spark Fiend MTG Card


Spark Fiend - Unglued
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Released1998-08-11
Set symbol
Set nameUnglued
Set codeUGL
Power 5
Toughness 6
Number51
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byPete Venters
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Spark Fiend enhances card advantage and land untapping, offering a strategic edge in the right conditions.
  2. High mana cost and color specificity may limit its inclusion in diverse MTG decks.
  3. Its unpredictable nature, combo potential, and meta relevance make it a wildcard in gameplay.

Text of card

When Spark Fiend comes into play, roll two six-sided dice. On a total of 2, 3, or 12, sacrifice Spark Fiend. On a total of 7 or 11, do not roll dice for Spark Fiend during any of your following upkeep phases. If you roll any other total, note it. During your upkeep, roll two six-sided dice. On a total of 7, sacrifice Spark Fiend. If you roll the noted total, do not roll dice for Spark Fiend during any of your following upkeep phases. On any other roll, there is no effect.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spark Fiend presents the opportunity to potentially draw multiple cards during its attack phase abilities, assuring the player can replenish their hand and stay ahead in card resources.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially untapping all lands used in its casting cost if certain conditions are met, Spark Fiend can lead to a substantial boost in mana availability within the same turn, creating unexpected and powerful plays.

Instant Speed: Equipped with abilities that can be activated at instant speed, Spark Fiend grants flexibility and strategic depth, allowing players to respond swiftly to an opponent’s actions or end-of-turn situations, thus maximizing its tactical advantages during gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spark Fiend demands you to discard a card to activate its essential ability. This can be a drawback when you’re already behind in card advantage or wish to maintain card options in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a combination of red mana could potentially restrict the utility of Spark Fiend. Decks not based on red mana or multi-colored decks that can’t always produce the required colors might find it difficult to cast this card on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side, Spark Fiend competes with other potent four-mana spells in MTG. Players may opt for alternatives that offer a more immediate impact on the game or that don’t require an additional cost like discarding.


Reasons to Include Spark Fiend in Your Collection

Versatility: Spark Fiend offers adaptability in various decks, specifically those looking to capitalize on random effect outcomes or synergy with chaos-themed mechanics.

Combo Potential: This card can form powerful combinations with spells or abilities that manipulate or benefit from random events, potentially turning the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: For players confronting a meta that’s heavy on strategy and order, introducing an element of unpredictability with Spark Fiend could disrupt opponents’ plans and give you a surprise advantage.


How to beat Spark Fiend

Spark Fiend remains a unique challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This creature card is a perfect example of the risk-reward gameplay that makes MTG such an intellectually stimulating game. It requires a strategic mindset to overcome its abilities effectively. One of the key tactics is to minimize the randomness Spark Fiend brings to the game. This involves controlling the coin flips, which could be done using cards that manipulate probabilities or by employing instant-speed removals to ensure Spark Fiend doesn’t get the chance to wreak havoc.

Instant-speed spells are Spark Fiend’s nemesis. Since it must survive until your upkeep for its ability to trigger, utilizing removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can remove this pesky creature before it begins flipping those coins. Additionally, running cards that negate the effects of coin tosses or having a backup plan to exploit a lost flip ensures Spark Fiend’s potential threats are neutralized. These methods exhibit the depth of tactic and forethought that experienced players bring into play, cementing MTG not just as a game of luck but as a showcase of skill and strategy.

Strategically speaking, managing a stalemate with Spark Fiend on the board extends beyond just dealing with the creature itself. It’s about assessing the broader situation and making calculated decisions that counter the card’s volatility, thus solidifying one’s position in the game while disarming an opponent’s unpredictable threat.


Cards like Spark Fiend

Spark Fiend, a unique creature card from Magic: The Gathering, offers players a dose of chance infused with strategy. It echoes traits found in cards like Wild Wurm, which also operates on a chance mechanic, potentially offering great rewards or sudden demise. Both cards share the risk factor, but Spark Fiend introduces a new level of excitement with its dependency on a coin flip, providing both potential advantage and unpredictability to the battlefield.

Looking elsewhere, Goblin Archaeologist stands as another card that flirts with fortune. While it shares the coin-toss mechanic with Spark Fiend, it instead targets artifacts, posing a threat to your opponent’s equipment or potentially to your own. Risky Move, another comparable card, transfers control of itself based on the outcome of a coin flip, constantly changing loyalties and disrupting the board dynamic. However, unlike Spark Fiend, Risky Move involves no mana cost during the coin flip, delineating a key difference in strategy and resource management.

Ultimately, Spark Fiend stands out amongst MTG’s cadre of luck-based cards by merging the anticipation of a coin flip with the calculated use of resources, appealing to players who enjoy a blend of chaos and control in their gameplay.

Wild Wurm - MTG Card versions
Goblin Archaeologist - MTG Card versions
Risky Move - MTG Card versions
Wild Wurm - Tempest (TMP)
Goblin Archaeologist - Darksteel (DST)
Risky Move - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Spark Fiend by color, type and mana cost

Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Torchling - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Shard Phoenix - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Soul of Magma - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hunted Dragon - The List (PLST)
Torchling - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spark Fiend MTG card by a specific set like Unglued, 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 Spark Fiend and other MTG cards:

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