Spinal Graft MTG Card


Spinal Graft offers a game-changing power boost, with strategic implications for threat management. It demands careful play, with notable cons like the discard requirement and color-specific cost. Versatile and meta-relevant, Spinal Graft carves a niche in decks aimed at swift, potent strikes.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchanted creature gets +3/+3. If enchanted creature is the target of a spell or ability, destroy that creature. The creature cannot be regenerated this turn.

"This one has not screamed enough to show effective implantation. Kill it." —Volrath


Understanding Spinal Graft’s Role

Spinal Graft, a creature enchantment from Magic: The Gathering, offers a significant power boost. Its closest relatives in terms of mechanics and benefits could be seen in cards like Giant Strength and Brute Force. Spinal Graft provides a permanent +3/+3 increase as long as certain conditions are met, notably outclassing the temporary surge of Brute Force’s one-time +3/+3 effect, which only lasts for a turn.

Cards like Spinal Graft

When examining cards functionally close to Spinal Graft, Rancor is a familiar comparison. Rancor, too, enhances a creature’s power and toughness and adds a layer of resilience by returning to your hand when the creature dies. Spinal Graft, however, offers a larger increase in power but at the risk of losing the creature to any targeting spell or ability, which is a critical strategic consideration.

Another enchantment, Obsidian Battle-Axe, shares the theme of powering up creatures. It auto-equips when warriors come into play and gives a speedier advantage with the addition of haste. Spinal Graft doesn’t have these attributes but focuses primarily on the power/toughness boost.

Hence, while Spinal Graft may not provide the same utility or protective benefits as Rancor or the immediate impact of Obsidian Battle-Axe, its substantial buff to a creature makes it a potent tool in the right deck composition.

Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Brute Force - MTG Card versions
Rancor - MTG Card versions
Obsidian Battle-Axe - MTG Card versions
Giant Strength - MTG Card versions
Brute Force - MTG Card versions
Rancor - MTG Card versions
Obsidian Battle-Axe - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spinal Graft by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Oversold Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Lingering Death - MTG Card versions
Cover of Darkness - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Brain Maggot - MTG Card versions
Aphemia, the Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Oversold Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Lingering Death - MTG Card versions
Cover of Darkness - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spinal Graft potentially turns the creature it’s enchanting into a significant threat, making it a powerful tool for gaining momentum in the game. The advantage comes not just from the +3/+3 boost but also from the strategic implications of forcing your opponent to deal with the enhanced creature.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, Spinal Graft’s low cost of just two mana allows you to deploy other threats or keep mana open for responses. This efficiency can lead to a faster development of your board, outpacing your opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: While Spinal Graft itself isn’t an instant, its impact is immediate upon hitting the battlefield. This allows you to surprise your opponent with a sudden power increase during your turn or right before your creature attacks, capitalizing on unprepared defenses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spinal Graft’s casting demands that you pitch another card, presenting a noticeable setback when your hand is nearly empty or when every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a specific mana requirement, Spinal Graft fits primarily in black-themed decks, potentially clashing with multi-colored deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Demanding two black mana and one of any color, its cost is substantial for the boost it offers – a detail that savvy players weigh when building efficient decks.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spinal Graft doesn’t just provide a single burst of power; it’s an enchantment that can considerably amplify any creature’s offensive capabilities. This card can seamlessly adapt to aggressive decks that aim to end games quickly or to those that require a sudden enhancement to turn the tides in your favor.

Combo Potential: With Spinal Graft, the potential to combo with other cards is significant. It pairs well with cards that benefit from creatures having high power or with strategies that capitalize on sending powerful creatures to the graveyard for various effects, ensuring that every point of power is utilized.

Meta-Relevance: The current MTG playing field often fluctuates with various build types and strategies. Spinal Graft holds relevance as a means to unexpectedly bolster creatures, which can be crucial in close battles where that extra power can be the deciding factor for victory.


How to beat

Spinal Graft is a unique aura that enhances a creature’s power at the risk of tremendous vulnerability in MTG. It provides a significant boost, granting +3/+3 to the enchanted creature, but with the steep penalty of being buried if the creature ever becomes a target of a spell. This presents a specific strategy for opponents to dismantle a creature that’s been beefed up by Spinal Graft. The key is to be prepared with instant-speed removal or bounce spells, ensuring that once the creature is targeted, it’s immediately sent to the graveyard, taking the Spinal Graft down with it.

Leveraging spells like Unsummon or Path to Exile can effectively neutralize the threat, turning the opponent’s advantage into a liability. Moreover, maintaining a strong board presence and denying the opponent the opportunity to get value out of their Spinal Graft-enhanced creature is essential. Being aware of the possibility of removal will also deter an opponent from investing in a creature that could easily turn into a significant loss. Each play against a creature enchanted with Spinal Graft must be calculated to not only combat the threat but to turn it into an opportunity to gain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spinal Graft MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Vintage Masters, 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 Spinal Graft and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Spinal Graft Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 1591997NormalBlackRon Spencer
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1412015NormalBlackRon Spencer
32015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 1192015NormalBlackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spinal Graft has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal