Labyrinth Guardian MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 8
2017-04-28 - Number 60
2019-11-07 - Number 416
2020-08-13 - Number 67
2020-09-26 - Number AKH-60
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Type | Token Creature — Zombie Illusion Warrior |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Labyrinth Guardian becomes the target of a spell, sacrifice it.
Cards like Labyrinth Guardian
Labyrinth Guardian stands out among two-mana creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It serves as a resilient and versatile creature, much like the esteemed Spellskite which also offers protection with its ability to redirect targeting spells or abilities at a cost. However, Labyrinth Guardian has an ephemeral edge due to its embalm mechanic, allowing it to return from the graveyard as a token, essentially giving you two creatures for the price of one.
Comparing it to other cards, Adaptive Automaton comes to mind as another two-mana creature that fits into any tribal deck, boosting others of its chosen type. Unlike Labyrinth Guardian, it doesn’t provide a second lease on life but instead strengthens existing board presence. Then there’s Phantasmal Bear, a creature similarly fragile upon targeting but lacking the Guardian’s ability to return and make an impact a second time around.
When looking at the bigger picture, Labyrinth Guardian offers a strategic advantage of staying power and versatility, positioning it as a card with unique value in MTG gameplay where resilience can be just as important as raw strength.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Labyrinth Guardian offers a unique form of resilience against removal which can translate to card advantage. When it becomes the target of a spell, it gets sacrificed, which can deter opponents from using single-target removal, effectively saving your more valuable creatures.
Resource Acceleration: While Labyrinth Guardian itself does not directly provide mana acceleration, its modest casting cost makes it an efficient play that allows you to maintain mana for other spells. This can indirectly contribute to a more effective and accelerated game plan.
Instant Speed: The ability to embalm Labyrinth Guardian at instant speed gives you the flexibility to bring it back during your opponent’s end step, ensuring that you have a blocker on your turn. This utility allows you to better manage your resources while keeping up the pressure or defense.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Labyrinth Guardian demands caution when casting spells or abilities, as any targeted action results in immediate sacrifice, possibly leaving you without a creature at crucial times.
Specific Mana Cost: As a creature that requires both blue mana and generic mana, integrating Labyrinth Guardian into a deck demands a stable mana base, potentially restricting deck-building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating two mana for a 2/3 creature with a self-sacrificing drawback might not be the most mana-efficient play, especially considering other creatures in the two-mana slot can provide greater resilience or utility.
Reasons to Include Labyrinth Guardian in Your Collection
Versatility: Labyrinth Guardian’s ability to swiftly enter the battlefield as a 2/3 creature for a low mana cost makes it a suitable fit for a wide array of blue and multi-color decks. Its capability to dissuade targeted spells or abilities before regenerating adds a layer of strategy in both offense and defense.
Combo Potential: This creature’s inherent protection makes it ideal for combos with cards that target your own creatures, ensuring that you can safely execute your game plan while setting up a persistent defense. Its synergy with flicker and blink effects can also be exploited to repeatedly utilize enter-the-battlefield abilities throughout the game.
Meta-Relevance: In an ever-shifting MTG meta where control decks are prevalent, Labyrinth Guardian stands out as a resilient early blocker against aggressive strategies and an excellent tool for maintaining board presence. Its ability to dodge removal and come back for more makes it a worthwhile addition against decks that rely heavily on spot-removal.
How to beat Labyrinth Guardian
Labyrinth Guardian is an intriguing creature card with a unique ability that allows it to elude certain spells or abilities that target it by simply sacrificing itself. This self-preservation mechanism isn’t found in many MTG cards, and it provides a certain level of resilience against removal spells.
Defeating Labyrinth Guardian requires strategy. Players could opt for cards that affect the board without specifically targeting, such as sweepers or global effects—think along the lines of cards like “Day of Judgment” or “Pyroclasm”. These types of cards remove creatures en masse, sidestepping the Guardian’s ability to sacrifice itself. Another tactic is to use spells that require the opponent to choose a creature to sacrifice—this way, the choice is out of your hands and in theirs, possibly leading them to sacrifice their own Guardian.
Overall, patience and smart deck-building choices make the difference. While Labyrinth Guardian can be annoying to deal with if targeted directly, strategizing around its strengths can turn this guardian into a mere stepping stone on your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Labyrinth Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Amonkhet, 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 Guardian 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
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Printings
The Labyrinth Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 8 | 2015 | Token | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 2 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 416 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 4 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 67 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | AKH-60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han |