Spell Shrivel MTG Card


Spell Shrivel can turn the tide of a game by countering and potentially exiling key opponent spells. Moderate mana cost and instant speed make this card a versatile yet resource-intensive play. A useful tool for control decks, Spell Shrivel can disrupt opponent strategies and maintain tempo.
Spell Shrivel - Battle for Zendikar
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Devoid
Released2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameBattle for Zendikar
Set codeBFZ
Number66
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJack Wang

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) Counter target spell unless its controller pays . If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.


Cards like Spell Shrivel

Spell Shrivel is part of the counter spell landscape in MTG, offering a unique take on mana leak effects. It’s often weighed against cards like Mana Leak itself, which requires less mana to cast. While Mana Leak asks for a flat three mana to nullify the spell if the cost isn’t paid, Spell Shrivel has the added utility of exiling the countered spell if the caster can’t pay the four mana, potentially thwarting graveyard strategies.

There’s also Void Shatter, another card similar to Spell Shrivel. It’s slightly more powerful due to its Devoid trait, making it colorless and thus versatile against certain deck types, and does not provide the caster an opportunity to pay extra mana – the spell is simply countered and exiled. Conversely, Dissolve offers the same mana cost as Spell Shrivel but with the added bonus of scrying 1, providing minor deck manipulation alongside the counter.

Drawing parallels with these alternative cards shows the niche Spell Shrivel fills by offering a balance between cost and effect, particularly geared towards disrupting opponent’s graveyard tactics while maintaining a standard counter spell’s essence.

Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Void Shatter - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Void Shatter - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spell Shrivel by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spell Shrivel offers a strategic edge by potentially removing an opponent’s spell from the game if they can’t pay the additional mana cost. This disruptive ability can translate to an advantage in card quality, if not in raw numbers.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spell Shrivel doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the mana cost situation imposed on your opponent can hinder their tempo, effectively giving you a comparative boost in resource allocation and game pace.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Spell Shrivel enhances your tactical versatility, allowing you to react on the fly to your opponent’s plays, potentially providing a surprise setback that can be leveraged into a winning strategy. Being able to cast it at any time ensures that you keep your opponent guessing and adds pressure during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Spell Shrivel doesn’t directly demand a discard from your hand, the card exiles the countered spell unless its controller pays the mana cost. Thus, playing Spell Shrivel can indirectly lead to card disadvantage if the opponent can afford the cost, causing you to lose a card while they retain theirs.

Specific Mana Cost: Spell Shrivel’s casting requirement of two generic and one blue mana makes it moderately restrictive. Decks that do not generate blue mana consistently might struggle to have Spell Shrivel ready at the crucial moment, potentially reducing its effectiveness in multi-color or color-intensive decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, Spell Shrivel is more costly compared to other counterspells in MTG. Although it can counter any spell, the conditionality of its exile effect and the mana investment required, could render it a suboptimal choice when faster or more guaranteed control options are available.


Reasons to Include Spell Shrivel in Your Collection

Versatility: Spell Shrivel is a counter spell that fits seamlessly into various blue-based control or midrange decks. Its ability to handle a wide array of spells makes it a flexible addition that’s beneficial in multiple game situations.

Combo Potential: Not only does it counter nonland spells, but Spell Shrivel also exiles them unless their controller pays (4). This exile effect can be crucial in disrupting opponents’ graveyard strategies or preventing spells from being recast from outside the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where casting large, impactful spells is commonplace, Spell Shrivel ensures you have a say in what resolves. The conditional exile effect becomes particularly relevant, giving you an edge in matches where opponents rely on specific spells for their deck’s function.


How to beat

Spell Shrivel is a control tool loved by blue mage players for its ability to counter threats when your Mana reserve is abundant. This countering spell isn’t without its weaknesses, though. Its effectiveness is inversely proportional to your opponent’s available Mana. As the game progresses, players typically amass more resources, rendering Spell Shrivel less potent. To outmaneuver it, there are a couple of strategies to consider. First, attempt to bait out the counter with less crucial spells, compelling the opponent to use up their Mana. Secondly, simply amassing more Mana than the Spell Shrivel’s choke point makes it obsolete; the spell demands four additional Mana upon casting if the countered spell is to be exiled. By carefully managing your Mana and choosing the right moment to cast your game-changers, you can diminish the impact of Spell Shrivel on your strategy and preserve your most significant threats for a time when your adversary’s Mana pool is too strained to use it.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spell Shrivel MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Spell Shrivel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spell Shrivel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spell Shrivel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-08-25 A card with devoid is just colorless. It’s not colorless and the colors of mana in its mana cost.
2015-08-25 Cards with devoid use frames that are variations of the transparent frame traditionally used for Eldrazi. The top part of the card features some color over a background based on the texture of the hedrons that once imprisoned the Eldrazi. This coloration is intended to aid deckbuilding and game play.
2015-08-25 Devoid works in all zones, not just on the battlefield.
2015-08-25 If a card loses devoid, it will still be colorless. This is because effects that change an object’s color (like the one created by devoid) are considered before the object loses devoid.
2015-08-25 Other cards and abilities can give a card with devoid color. If that happens, it’s just the new color, not that color and colorless.