Spikeshot Elder is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
: This creature deals damage equal to its power to any target.
Complete guide
Spikeshot Elder is a versatile Goblin Shaman that turns your excess mana into direct damage. By utilizing its activated ability, you can pick off small creatures or finish off opponents regardless of combat restrictions. Understanding how its power is calculated at the moment of resolution is key to mastering this card.
Unpacking the Ability
For the cost of two red and one generic mana, Spikeshot Elder deals damage equal to its current power to any target. This is an activated ability that can be used at instant speed, allowing you to react to your opponent's moves during their turn or in the middle of combat. Because it targets 'any target', you can aim this at a player, a planeswalker, or a creature.
The Resolution Process
When you activate the ability, you pay the cost and choose a target. The damage is not dealt immediately; instead, the ability goes on the stack. The game checks Spikeshot Elder's power only when the ability actually resolves. If Spikeshot Elder leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, the game uses 'last known information' to determine how much damage is dealt based on its power just before it exited.
Timing and Strategy
A common mistake is forgetting that power-buffing spells or effects can be responded to. If you pump Spikeshot Elder's power, wait for those effects to resolve before activating the ability to ensure maximum damage. Conversely, if an opponent reduces its power in response to the activation, the damage dealt will be lower when the ability finally resolves.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseYour opponent controls an Ornithopter of Paradise. You spend three mana to activate Spikeshot Elder's ability, targeting the artifact creature. Since Spikeshot Elder has a base power of 1, and the Ornithopter has 2 toughness, the 1 damage isn't enough to destroy it immediately. However, if you have six mana available, you can activate the ability twice to deal a total of 2 damage and clear the flyer.
Ragavan, Nimble PilfererAn opponent casts Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer for its dash cost and moves to combat. Before they can declare attackers, you activate Spikeshot Elder targeting the Monkey Pirate. As the ability resolves, it checks the Elder's power (1) and deals 1 damage to Ragavan. Since Ragavan has 1 toughness, it is destroyed before it can ever deal combat damage or create a Treasure token.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Spikeshot Elder
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
How much damage Spikeshot Elder deals as a result of its ability is determined by its power as that ability resolves. If Spikeshot Elder is no longer on the battlefield at that time, its last existence on the battlefield is checked to determine its power.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Mairsil, the Pretender + Spikeshot Elder + Tree of Perdition
- 1Activate Mairsil using Tree of Perdition's ability by tapping it, exchanging target opponent's life total with Mairsil's toughness.
- 2Activate Mairsil using Spikeshot Elder's ability by paying
, dealing damage equal to Mairsil's power to the opponent. - 3The opponent loses the game due to having zero or less life.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Spikeshot Elder
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.