Sparkmage's Gambit
Sorcery
Sparkmage's Gambit deals 1 damage to each of up to two target creatures. Those creatures can't block this turn.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Double Masters 2022
- Price
- $0.02
- EDHREC rank
- #22813
Sparkmage's Gambit deals 1 damage to each of up to two targets and replaces itself — all for one red mana at sorcery speed. It's a cantrip with marginal reach, not a removal spell, and that framing determines exactly when it earns a slot.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Sparkmage's Gambit occupies a narrow niche: it picks off mana dorks, clears utility creatures with 1 toughness, and replaces itself, which is the minimum bar for a one-mana red spell in a 100-card format. The cantrip clause is doing all the heavy lifting — without it, this card never sees play. In Pauper, where common-legal burn and cantrips compete fiercely, it struggles to displace more efficient options. Legacy and Vintage have no interest in it whatsoever. Sparkmage's Gambit is a Commander-specific role-player, and even there it only belongs in decks that specifically benefit from the damage trigger — ping synergies, aristocrats-adjacent strategies, or Kicker-matters builds.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.02 bulk tier
At $0.02, Sparkmage's Gambit is deep bulk — you'll find copies in any common box or draft chaff pile without spending meaningful money. Bulk commons don't appreciate, so there's no financial calculus here: if the card fits your deck, pick it up for a penny; if it doesn't, it costs nothing to ignore.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.