Spirit of the Labyrinth: Cross format answer for control
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Jan. 21, 2014, 5:36 a.m. by aeonstoremyliver
Saw this. I'm calling a possible sideboard card at least if not mainboard for Modern and Legacy tempo decks that run white. It's a decent body, albeit a crappy toughness, with the CMC to fit alongside Gaddock Teeg and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben . It does compete for the 2 CMC slot though...
Without further adeu:
http://mythicspoiler.com/bng/cards/spiritofthelabyrinth.html
I'm not sure because every deck loves its card advantage.
January 21, 2014 6:23 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #5
Haha, indeed! But HateBears has very little card advantage. Junk/Jund gets around it with Dark Confidant ...
January 21, 2014 6:26 a.m.
Hatebears and Death & Taxes will certainly have testing to do. I want to get my hands on a set come prere.
January 21, 2014 7:29 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #7
Yessir. If the price is right, I'll be looking into a playset or two.
January 21, 2014 7:32 a.m.
AEther Vial in response to Brainstorm , they dont draw but still have to put cards back. its a funny little interaction.
January 21, 2014 7:54 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver scg opened out 4.99 then sold out of that, then sold out at 7,99, now at 9.99. Just an FYI.
January 21, 2014 9:47 a.m.
See my argument on this in a recent thread:
With the Legacy format currently being as cantrip-oriented as it is due to the influx of Stoneblade and Delver strategies from the addition of True-Name Nemesis , this card absolutely shuts this strategy down. I can see this card replacing main-deck Phyrexian Revoker s, with the Revokers going to side-board to deal with problematic cards like Liliana of the Veil , Deathrite Shaman , the occasional Sensei's Divining Top , etc.
If you look at all the creatures in D&T, they each have a very specific control-based element to them:
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - 2/1 First Strike (Trades favorably with DRS, Stoneforge Mystic , Lingering Souls tokens, Dark Confidant ; shuts down combo; delays control-based strategies.
Aven Mindcensor - One-Sided, flash answer to Fetchlands, Stoneforge Mystic , etc.
Serra Avenger - 3/3 beater that can be cheated in early via AEther Vial
Mother of Runes - No explanation needed.
Stoneforge Mystic - Once again, no explanation needed, just amazing value.
Mangara of Corondor - Not seen nearly as often anymore, but alongside Karakas , repeatable exile removal.
Flickerwisp - Combos with the afore-mentioned Mangara, but also utilized to remove silver-bullet threats such as stalling-type cards like Solitary Confinement and troublesome blockers. Overall, ability-based removal.
Phyrexian Revoker - 2/1, stops activated abilities (as stated above).
With the common side-board cards including things like Rest in Piece (Shuts down Deathrite Shaman ), Wilt-Leaf Liege (Shutting down Liliana of the Veil ), I see Phyrexian Revoker as less and less of a main-board card and truly feel that this card may be able to sneak into its place. The additional point of damage lowers the turn-clock considerably.
** As a bonus after sideboard, Wilt-Leaf Liege , if needed, will boost him. The same cannot be said of Phyrexian Revoker .
January 21, 2014 9:52 a.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #11
Hard to say. It can slow down control decks for a turn, maybe. But in Modern we have things like Electrolyze . It'll definitely be useful in Standard I think.
January 21, 2014 9:55 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #12
Apparently I'm not the only one who sees value in this...
Dude who's name didn't show up:
I don't think this card will replace Phyrexian Revoker per se, but it's a good alternative if the deck runs white. Revoker being an artifact has less mana intensity.
January 21, 2014 6:36 p.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #13
Count me as a skeptic, at least for Standard.
The best card advantage Planeswalkers in Standard all get around it- Garruk, Caller of Beasts , Jace, Architect of Thought , Chandra, Pyromaster , and Domri Rade won't care that it's out.
The only decks that will be concerned about it are those running Supreme Verdict , and control decks have lots of ways to deal with it. If this kind of ability on a creature was valuable, Notion Thief would see some play since it can be Flashed in response, even tho I will say this is a better option due to its mono color.
January 22, 2014 3:33 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #14
Count me as a skeptic, at least for Standard.
The best card advantage Planeswalkers in Standard all get around it- Garruk, Caller of Beasts , Jace, Architect of Thought , Chandra, Pyromaster , and Domri Rade won't care that it's out.
The only decks that will be concerned about it are those running Supreme Verdict , and control decks have lots of ways to deal with it. If this kind of ability on a creature was valuable, Notion Thief would see some play since it can be Flashed in response, even tho I will say this is a better option due to its mono color.
January 22, 2014 3:33 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #15
Woops sorry for the double post, and I meant Sphinx's Revelation , not Supreme Verdict
January 22, 2014 3:35 a.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #16
I don't think it will have the same impact on Standard as it will in Eternal formats, as I lead with the original post.
January 22, 2014 6:41 p.m.
There might be a way to take advantage of this using effects during upkeep that exile Spirit of the Labyrinth until end of turn, so that it only affects opponents during their turns. Could be a tricky thing to do in EDH.
January 23, 2014 11:34 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #18
This card also screws storm, which relies on tons of cantrips to fuel its spell count.
smackjack says... #2
I like it, probably my favourite card spoiled so far
January 21, 2014 5:42 a.m.