Spire Phantasm MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Gargoyle Illusion |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2016-08-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conspiracy: Take the Crown |
| Set code | CN2 |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 37 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Evan Shipard |
Text of card
Reveal Spire Phantasm as you draft it. The next time a player drafts a card from this booster pack, guess that card's name. Then that player reveals the drafted card. Flying When Spire Phantasm enters the battlefield, if you guessed correctly for a card named Spire Phantasm, draw a card.
Cards like Spire Phantasm
Spire Phantasm takes its place in the realm of creature cards with conditional advantages in MTG. In the family of creatures that scrutinize an opponent’s hand, such as Telepathy or Glasses of Urza, Spire Phantasm offers a unique twist. It grants you a glimpse into your opponent’s hand, provided you have the city’s blessing — a status achieved by controlling ten or more permanents. While Telepathy is continuous and Glasses of Urza is an artifact that can be used repeatedly, Spire Phantasm has the added benefit of being a flying creature, capable of dealing damage and providing board presence.
Looking at other creatures with flying, for comparison, we have Stormchaser Mage, which has prowess and can potentially grow stronger with each noncreature spell cast. Spire Phantasm, without the city’s blessing, is similar in stats but lacks the ability to become more formidable during the course of the game. Another comparison could be made with Augury Owl, which provides a scrying component upon entry. While Augury Owl shapes future draws, Spire Phantasm offers immediate information, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategies.
Ultimately, Spire Phantasm’s unique offering of reconnaissance paired with a flying body makes it an interesting choice for deck building. Its ability to influence both the intellectual and physical aspects of the game establishes it as a notable option compared to similar MTG cards.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spire Phantasm grants a peek at an opponent’s hand upon entering the battlefield, offering valuable information and allowing for strategic planning that can lead to card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a resource accelerator, knowing your opponent’s hand enables better use of your resources, allowing for more efficient plays and the potential for disruption.
Instant Speed: While Spire Phantasm itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells and effects, enabling you to respond with more information and control over the game state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spire Phantasm comes with a conditional requirement that may prove to be a setback. To fully utilize its ability, you’ll need to discard a card, which could be problematic when your hand is already stretched thin. This discard element means you are essentially trading two cards for the possibility of a glimpse at an opponent’s hand, a bargain that might not always work in your favor.
Specific Mana Cost: The Spire Phantasm demands a precise mana arrangement to cast. Requiring both blue and any other two mana types, it necessitates a dedicated mana base which might not be readily available in all deck types. This requirement can hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks that may struggle to achieve the necessary mana fixity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, players might find the cost-performance ratio of Spire Phantasm less appealing compared to other options in the game. For a similar mana investment, there are alternative creatures or spells that could provide immediate board impact or greater versatility, making this enchanting illusion potentially less cost-effective in competitive play.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spire Phantasm offers flexibility across various formats. It serves as both a reliable scout at a low mana cost and can fit seamlessly into illusion or control decks. Its ability to gain information about your opponent’s hand is universally useful, regardless of the archetype you’re playing.
Combo Potential: Spire Phantasm has synergy with effects that care about the top card of your opponent’s library or that reveal their cards. It can work well with setups that manipulate or benefit from those reveals, adding a layer of strategy to your gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowledge is power, Spire Phantasm becomes a tactical asset. Being able to play around your opponent’s plans is invaluable, making it a clever addition to your arsenal if the current meta leans towards surprise tactics and informed decision-making.
How to beat
Confronting a Spire Phantasm on the battlefield can be a puzzling scenario for MTG enthusiasts. This cleverly designed card becomes more formidable when an opponent’s library holds a particular card. When delving into strategy, it is crucial to embrace an adaptable mindset and employ foresight. Adequate knowledge about your deck and a precise assessment of the state of play are imperative to counter the envisioned threat.
One approach is to deploy spells that limit your opponent’s library manipulation, ensuring the conditions that empower Spire Phantasm remain unfulfilled. Keeping their library free from the specified cards disrupts the synergy they’re counting on. Moreover, leveraging instant-speed removal spells can efficiently dispatch Spire Phantasm before it exerts its influence on the game. Board wipes are also highly effective, clearing out the phantasms without the need to target them directly.
All things considered, having a versatile plan of action is key to navigating around challenges posed by Spire Phantasm. By maintaining control over the flow of cards and reacting swiftly to threats, players can diminish its impact and maintain the upper hand across the multiverse’s diverse play environments.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spire Phantasm MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Spire Phantasm 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spire Phantasm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spire Phantasm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-08-23 | If Spire Phantasm is the last card drafted from a booster pack, no guessing game will be played. |
| 2016-08-23 | Typically, the next player will set aside the card they intend to draft, you’ll make your guess, then the card will be revealed. You can make your guess before the player drafts a card to make things weird more interesting. |