Spiraling Duelist MTG Card


Card advantage gained by Spiraling Duelist’s ability to handle multiple creatures during combat phases. Indirect resource benefits include maintaining board control, leading to effective tempo gains. Flexibility in decks, especially with artifact synergies, makes Spiraling Duelist a versatile card.
Spiraling Duelist - Mirrodin Besieged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Berserker
Abilities Metalcraft
Released2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin Besieged
Set codeMBS
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number76
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKarl Kopinski

Text of card

Metalcraft — Spiraling Duelist has double strike as long as you control three or more artifacts.

"I never move the same way twice. Those rotters can't grasp chaos."


Cards like Spiraling Duelist

The battlefield of Magic: The Gathering is replete with combatants eager to engage, and Spiraling Duelist is no exception. This creature is comparable to War-Name Aspirant, which shares the aggressive nature of the Duelist. War-Name Aspirant benefits from Raid, rewarding you if you’ve attacked with a creature on the same turn, granting it a potential power boost.

Another comparable card is Bloodcrazed Neonate, a vampiric contender focused on aggressive tactics. Like Spiraling Duelist, the Neonate grows stronger with each successful combat, incentivizing an offensive playstyle. However, the Duelist has the added bonus of gaining double strike when metalcraft is achieved – that’s control of three or more artifacts, a condition that can markedly amplify its threat on the battlefield.

Key to the comparison is the metalcraft ability, setting the Duelist apart from aforementioned cards. While War-Name Aspirant and Bloodcrazed Neonate are formidable, the additional condition of metalcraft with Spiraling Duelist can transform it into a powerhouse, if the condition is met. Thus, for players running artifact-heavy decks, Spiraling Duelist may well be the gladiator of choice for an on-the-offensive strategy.

War-Name Aspirant - MTG Card versions
Bloodcrazed Neonate - MTG Card versions
War-Name Aspirant - MTG Card versions
Bloodcrazed Neonate - MTG Card versions

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Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spiraling Duelist has the potential to clear multiple creatures from the board, indirectly leading to card advantage. When facing decks with numerous smaller creatures, each successful combat phase can result in favorable exchanges, whittling down an opponent’s resources while retaining your own powerful creature.

Resource Acceleration: While Spiraling Duelist itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, its ability to maintain board control can lead to indirect economic gains. Ensuring your creatures stay on the board longer than your opponents’ can represent a form of tempo and resource advantage, as you effectively reduce the need to cast additional creatures.

Instant Speed: Even though Spiraling Duelist operates at sorcery speed, it synergizes well with cards that can be played at instant speed. By holding back instant-speed removal or combat tricks, you can effectively dictate the pace of the combat phase, leading to more profitable encounters for Spiraling Duelist and furthering your advantage on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spiraling Duelist doesn’t present a direct discard requirement, but in formats where pitching cards is a common strategy for advantage, lacking this feature might put it a step behind.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a distinct mana arrangement, with a notable dominance of red. This may restrict its integration into decks that aren’t heavily invested in red mana or multicolor friendly strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Possessing a casting cost that could be deemed on the higher side, Spiraling Duelist competes with other four-mana creatures and spells which might offer either more immediate or impactful board presence.


Reasons to Include Spiraling Duelist in Your Collection

Versatility: Spiraling Duelist is flexible enough to be a key player in a variety of deck builds. As a creature that benefits from having Metalcraft, it can easily slide into artifact-heavy decklists or those looking to take advantage of red’s aggressive playstyle.

Combo Potential: When you have three or more artifacts, Spiraling Duelist gains first strike, making it an interesting component in combos that revolve around combat trickery and battlefield control. It becomes not only a solid attacker but also a formidable blocker.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where small creatures rule the board, Spiraling Duelist can shine. Its ability to deal damage without receiving any in return when the Metalcraft condition is met, makes it a valuable asset in matchups against other creature-focused decks.


How to beat

Spiraling Duelist is a creature card that can create significant challenges on the battlefield thanks to its impressive Metalcraft ability. Once Metalcraft is activated, the Duelist gains double strike, enabling it to deal a hefty amount of damage. The key to countering this powerful red creature lies in preventing the Metalcraft ability from triggering by managing the number of artifacts your opponent controls. Artifact removal spells or strategies to control the board effectively can mitigate the Duelist’s advantage.

Moreover, it’s crucial to remember that the Duelist is vulnerable to removal spells and can be dealt with directly. Utilizing instant-speed removal when the opponent is tapped out or waiting for the Duelist to attack and then responding with a kill spell ensures you don’t face the brunt of its double strike ability. In essence, your strategy should involve keeping the artifacts on the battlefield in check and having an answer ready for when the Spiraling Duelist enters combat. Efficient play and smart removal can turn the tide against this formidable card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spiraling Duelist MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Spiraling Duelist and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spiraling Duelist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spiraling Duelist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-06-01 If Spiraling Duelist has double strike as the combat damage step begins, there will be a second combat damage step. As that second combat damage step begins, if Spiraling Duelist no longer has double strike (perhaps because an artifact creature you controlled was destroyed), Spiraling Duelist will not assign combat damage a second time.