Spitebellows 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
When this creature leaves the battlefield, it deals 6 damage to target creature. Evoke(You may cast this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it enters.)
Complete guide
Spitebellows is a powerful Elemental that packs a punch both entering and exiting the fray. Whether you play it as a sturdy creature or a quick-fire removal spell using its Evoke cost, its impact on the board is undeniable.
What It Does
Spitebellows features the Evoke keyword, which allows you to cast it for a reduced cost of {1}{R}{R} instead of its usual {5}{R}. The catch is that if you pay the Evoke cost, the creature is sacrificed immediately upon entering the battlefield. However, this sacrifice triggers its primary ability: dealing 6 damage to target creature whenever it leaves the battlefield.
How It Resolves Step by Step
When you cast Spitebellows for its Evoke cost, it enters the battlefield and a sacrifice trigger is put on the stack. Once that trigger resolves, Spitebellows is moved to the graveyard. This triggers its 'leaves the battlefield' ability. You then choose a target creature, and Spitebellows deals 6 damage to it. Note that if you cast it for its full cost, the sacrifice trigger never happens, and the 6 damage only occurs later if the creature is destroyed or exiled.
Common Mistakes
A common point of confusion is how Evoke interacts with 'free' spells. If an effect allows you to cast a spell 'without paying its mana cost,' you cannot choose to pay the Evoke cost instead. Additionally, remember that Spitebellows' damage ability is mandatory; if it leaves the battlefield and your opponent has no creatures, you must target one of your own if available.
When to Play It
Play Spitebellows for its Evoke cost when you need to remove a high-toughness threat early in the game for just three mana. Save its full cost for the late game when you need a 6/1 body that threatens to take down a second creature when it eventually dies.
Interaction examples
Goldspan DragonIf your opponent controls a Goldspan Dragon, you can cast Spitebellows for its Evoke cost. Spitebellows enters and is sacrificed. When its 'leaves the battlefield' ability triggers, you target Goldspan Dragon. The Dragon's ability will trigger, giving your opponent a Treasure, but then it will take 6 damage from Spitebellows, which is enough to destroy the 4-toughness Dragon.
Etali, Primal StormIf you attack with Etali, Primal Storm and exile Spitebellows, you may cast it without paying its mana cost. Because you are casting it 'without paying its mana cost,' you cannot choose to pay the Evoke cost. Spitebellows will enter the battlefield as a normal creature and will not be sacrificed immediately.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Spitebellows
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Evoke doesn't change the timing of when you can cast the creature that has it. If you could cast that creature spell only when you could cast a sorcery, the same is true for cast it with evoke.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature spell cast with evoke changes controllers before it enters, it will still be sacrificed when it enters. Similarly, if a creature cast with evoke changes controllers after it enters but before its sacrifice ability resolves, it will still be sacrificed. In both cases, the controller of the creature at the time it left the battlefield will control its leaves-the-battlefield ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
When you cast a spell by paying its evoke cost, its mana cost doesn't change. You just pay the evoke cost instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Effects that cause you to pay more or less to cast a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its evoke cost, too. That's because they affect the total cost of the spell, not its mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Whether evoke's sacrifice ability triggers when the creature enters depends on whether the spell's controller chose to pay the evoke cost, not whether they actually paid it (if it was reduced or otherwise altered by another ability, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If you're casting a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't use its evoke ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Spitebellows
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