Pit Spawn MTG Card


Pit Spawn’s exile ability offers a card advantage by neutralizing opponent’s creatures effectively. The card can sustain board control and indirectly accelerate your resource management. Its first strike deters enemy tactics, acting as a pseudo instant-speed disruptor in combat.
Pit Spawn - Exodus
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities First strike
Released1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set nameExodus
Set codeEXO
Power 6
Toughness 4
Number70
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Text of card

First strike During your upkeep, pay o Bo B or sacrifice Pit Spawn. If Pit Spawn damages any creature, remove that creature from the game.


Cards like Pit Spawn

In the vast pool of creatures that Magic: The Gathering offers, Pit Spawn stands out with its formidable presence on the battlefield. Like Pit Spawn, Dread Cacodemon also brings a significant impact upon entering the game, offering a board wipe for your opponents’ creatures. However, Pit Spawn’s first strike ability and the exile effect gives it an edge in combat-heavy situations, where every creature count matters.

Comparably, Archfiend of Depravity presents a different form of board control, forcing opponents to sacrifice creatures every end step, yet it lacks Pit Spawn’s immediate exile ability. Pit Spawn requires more of a mana investment compared to Archfiend, but it compensates with its disruptive onboard abilities that can continuously alter the state of the game. Another notable parallel is Desecration Demon, a large flyer that grows stronger as creatures are sacrificed, but it doesn’t provide the consistent board control or the exiling capability that comes with Pit Spawn.

While the mana investment is higher for the latter, the strategic advantages of Pit Spawn in a creature-centric meta can’t be overlooked. Its unique combination of abilities ensures that it can significantly threaten opponents and dictate the pace of creature engagements in MTG.

Dread Cacodemon - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Depravity - MTG Card versions
Desecration Demon - MTG Card versions
Dread Cacodemon - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Depravity - MTG Card versions
Desecration Demon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pit Spawn by color, type and mana cost

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Veldrane of Sengir - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Veldrane of Sengir - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Pit Spawn card features a formidable ability to exile any creature it damages, thus removing your opponent’s threats and potential resources from the game. This can lead to significant card advantage as your opponent’s card economy is directly disrupted.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, Pit Spawn can indirectly accelerate your resources by clearing the way for your other creatures to attack without being blocked by the creatures it exiles. Also, its upkeep cost may seem hefty, but for decks with ample mana generation, sustaining Pit Spawn on the battlefield can be a strategic move to maintain board control.

Instant Speed: Pit Spawn itself doesn’t function at instant speed, but its first strike ability is a strong deterrent that comes into play very quickly during combat, which can throw off an opponent’s strategy in much the same way an instant would by forcing them to reconsider attacks or blocks mid-combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pit Spawn demands the sacrifice of a creature at the beginning of each of your upkeep steps, which could quickly deplete your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring three black mana can make it a challenging fit in multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in player strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of seven, including three that must be black, Pit Spawn sits at a higher mana tier that could delay its deployment, particularly when faster, lower-cost creatures are available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pit Spawn offers a unique blend of offense and control, capable of fitting snugly into decks that focus on demon themes or simply need a robust late-game threat with the added benefit of first strike and exiling any creature it damages.

Combo Potential: This demon’s exile-on-damage ability works superbly in tandem with cards that punish or restrict graveyard strategies, disrupting your opponent’s plans while bolstering your board state.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, specifically where creature-heavy decks prevail, Pit Spawn can serve as a powerful deterrent. Its existence on the board alone can sway the tide of the game by removing key creatures and diminishing the efficacy of opposing reanimator or recursion strategies.


How to beat

Pit Spawn is a fearsome demon card that has carved its niche within Magic: The Gathering due to its formidable presence on the battlefield. With an imposing combination of first strike and the ability to exile any creature it damages, challenging Pit Spawn requires careful strategy. Foremost, creatures with protection from black or those that cannot be targeted, such as those with shroud or hexproof, offer a solid defense against this black card’s debilitating power. Additionally, utilizing spells that limit Pit Spawn’s combat potential, like Pacifism or those that force it to tap without untapping during the next untap phase, can nullify its offensive threat.

Moreover, it is essential to keep in mind Pit Spawn’s upkeep cost that requires the sacrifice of a creature. Ensuring that it becomes costly for your opponent to maintain Pit Spawn’s presence on the field can tilt the tides in your favor. Remember that instant-speed removal spells or sacrifice effects can bypass Pit Spawn’s protection when it attacks or blocks, providing a window to remove this nightmarish demon from play. Implementing these strategies with precise timing and resource management is key to overcoming the terror of Pit Spawn and claiming victory in your Magic: The Gathering games.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pit Spawn MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Pit Spawn and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pit Spawn has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pit Spawn 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 Since this card has First Strike it will often deal damage during first strike damage dealing and its ability will exile the creature it damages before that creature can deal damage back.