Labyrinth Champion MTG Card
2013-09-27 - Number 126
2022-07-08 - Number 115
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Heroic |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Labyrinth Champion, Labyrinth Champion deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
"It used to be a lair. Now it's just a tunnel."
Cards like Labyrinth Champion
Labyrinth Champion is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels with other damage-dealing heroes of the arena. Its ability to deal damage to a target creature or player whenever you cast a spell that targets it distinguishes Labyrinth Champion from simple combatants. In this zone, we look at other characters like Wojek Embermage, whose ability triggers when you cast a red spell, dealing one damage to each opponent creature.
Then there’s Satyr Firedancer, a card that synergizes splendidly with burn spells. Similarly to Labyrinth Champion, when you land a spell that deals damage to an opponent, the Firedancer redirects damage to an opponent creature. It’s less about targeting and more about spell synergy, yet it keeps the opponent on edge. Additionally, we have cards like Firebrand Archer, not targeting-based but able to ping opponents whenever you cast a noncreature spell.
These comparisons reveal how Labyrinth Champion offers a robust, targeted-trigger advantage that, when combined with the right spell arsenal, can dominate the board. It’s this potential for control and continuous damage output that places the Champion in its unique strategic position.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Labyrinth Champion has the potential to shape the battlefield by targeting creatures your opponents control. Each time you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you can ping any creature or player. This not only paves your way to victory but also tips the scales of card advantage by eliminating key threats one by one.
Resource Acceleration: While Labyrinth Champion itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, it indirectly promotes a deck build that allows for quick mana generation. By encouraging the inclusion of spells that can trigger its ability, it harmonizes well with cards that ramp up your mana pool, thus accelerating your resources and enabling more spell casting each turn.
Instant Speed: The true power of Labyrinth Champion comes in its reactive capabilities at instant speed. While the creature itself must be on the battlefield, its triggered ability works whenever you cast an instant, giving you the advantage of deciding the fate of the board during the most opportune times, such as in the middle of combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Labyrinth Champion’s activation needs you to discard a card, potentially depleting important hand resources crucial for your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s ability requires a strict combination of mana, including a red, which might not be easily splashed into decks without a firm commitment to that color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four mana necessary to cast Labyrinth Champion can be taxing, especially considering the competitive options available at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Labyrinth Champion offers adaptability to various gameplay styles. It thrives in decks emphasizing targeted removal or direct damage, allowing players to maintain a presence both on the board and in hand manipulation.
Combo Potential: With a considerable combo potential, this card becomes a linchpin in decks that revolve around instants and sorceries. Playing spells that target not only paves the way for board control but also turns each cast into a potential creature elimination.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that showcases creature-heavy decks or relies on key creatures for strategy execution, Labyrinth Champion has the ability to consistently disrupt your opponent’s plans while contributing to your win conditions.
How to Beat Labyrinth Champion
Labyrinth Champion has made its mark in MTG as a powerful creature card, armed with the ability to target creatures or players each time you cast a spell that targets it. This makes face-to-face confrontations on the battlefield rather tricky. However, its Achilles’ heel lies in its dependency on spells to trigger the ability.
One of the most straightforward strategies to overpower a Labyrinth Champion is through removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Doomskar. These spells avoid triggering the Champion’s retaliatory ability while clearing the board. Another tactic is to utilize counterspells, like Negate or Dovin’s Veto, to prevent spells that combinations with the Champion from resolving in the first place. It’s also beneficial to apply pressure early in the game. Since Labyrinth Champion requires four mana to cast, you can take advantage of the turns before it comes into play by developing a dominant board presence that the opponent must address rather than setting up their Champion synergy.
Understanding the mechanics and timing of your plays can effectively neutralize the Champion’s impact, and with a touch of deck fine-tuning, you can ensure your matches against this potent adversary turn in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Labyrinth Champion MTG card by a specific set like Theros and Double Masters 2022, 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 Labyrinth Champion and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Labyrinth Champion Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-09-27 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Chase Stone.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-09-27 | Theros | THS | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 2 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Labyrinth Champion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Labyrinth Champion card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger. |
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times. |
| 2013-09-15 | Heroic abilities won't trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell's targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability. |