What are people's opinions on Spirit of the Labyrinth (competitive)
Standard forum
Posted on March 26, 2014, 1:51 p.m. by Apoptosis
What are people's opinions on Spirit of the Labyrinth for competitive play in Standard?
I'm looking for a creature that is white, black, red, or a combination of any of these two in the 2 drop that can be good to trade against fast aggro decks but can also hold up against control decks. I've been thinking about it and Spirit of the Labyrinth crossed my mind as filling that criteria: at 3 power it can force a trade, early on it can pressure control, and mid-late it can force a response from control.
I realize that this thread isn't meant for deck-help, but I feel like it's necessary to put my question into context (since Spirit of the Labyrinth
may be appropriate in some builds but not others). It's for this particular build: Hark the Herald . Thanks for looking and please share your opinions.
-Apop.
blackmarker90 says... #3
It isn't a bad card, to be honest, but without an easy way to flash it in as a response makes it a little worse. The largest benefit is vs Sphinx's Revelation stopping the card draw to one a turn, but aside from that it is a nice body that can trade well and apply decent pressure early.
March 26, 2014 2:14 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #4
I've been doing some tinkering with it an I found that it works well when paired with Ethereal Armor . A 5/3 with first strike on turn 3 attacking can get pretty bonkers.
March 26, 2014 2:29 p.m.
i dont see it having a ton of relevant standard impact other than perhaps in white beatdown type deck.
i think it'll be much more relevant in legacy death and taxes and modern hate bears where it could be popped in with AEther Vial .
March 26, 2014 2:46 p.m.
word up to xzavierx, Spirit seems really good in hate bears. I think it will be one of the few cards from BNG that may see play outside of standard.
As far as its utility in standard, I havent seen it in many lists, but it seems pretty good, shuts down sphinx's rev and any other draw spells, and is a 3/1 body for 2 mana, so I wont complain about it.
March 26, 2014 3:14 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #8
In standard, it's kinda outclassed by playing Notion Thief . Instead of just saying no, you can say no AND win the game on the spot. At instant speed.
March 26, 2014 3:47 p.m.
I'm just going to say now that I think it's a sleeper card. I've seen this happen with so many cards in the past where everyone seems to be in agreement that the card isn't "enough" and then as soon as someone actually uses it and gets a GP top 8 or win, etc. it'll shoot up in price and everyone will be clamoring about how awesome it is in all sideboards and so on.
I could see it being best off in a white weenie shell. I could be wrong, but I'm sticking to my guns on this one.
March 26, 2014 3:49 p.m.
it can shut off the card draw from Brainstorm to Jace, the Mind Sculptor or even a Sphinx's Revelation but really like Lydia said, Notion Thief has way more upside, assuming you don't mind paying U/B as opposed to W.
March 26, 2014 4:16 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #11
Of course, if you're playing a white deck in standard that cares about enchantments, then Spirit of the Labyrinth is a sweet card. Suiting it up with Ethereal Armor , it hits like a truck.
Apoptosis says... #2
"hold up against control" = be something that control must deal with (be it counter or kill).
March 26, 2014 1:52 p.m.