Spirit of the Night MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 146
1998-08-12 - Number bs146
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 9 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Demon Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste,Protection,Trample |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying, trample, protection from black First strike when attacking Spirit of the Night is unaffected by summoning sickness.
Cards like Spirit of the Night
Exploring the enigmatic realm of powerful creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Spirit of the Night stands as an imposing figure. A creature card that hearkens back to the earlier sets, it offers a unique blend of abilities. In comparing it to other creatures, one might consider Lord of the Void, which also brings a formidable presence with a similar heavy mana cost. However, while both cards have the ability to essentially remove opposing creatures from play, Spirit of the Night offers the immediate impact of haste, allowing it to swing for damage as soon as it enters the battlefield.
Another card that resonates with Spirit of the Night’s menacing playstyle is Sheoldred, Whispering One. Both are part of the Praetor cycle and share a swampy, reanimation theme. Sheoldred, however, leans more on the control aspect of the game with its reoccurring creature revival and opponent creature sacrifice abilities. Spirit of the Night, while lacking these controlling elements, compensates with its protection from black, ensuring it remains unchallenged by many removal spells.
Gauging the unique aspects these cards bring to the game, Spirit of the Night holds its ground as an iconic powerhouse, notable for its swift and protected assault capabilities in the right deck configuration.
Cards similar to Spirit of the Night by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Spirit of the Night. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Burning Oath | Free form | Middle School World Championships |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Spirit of the Night offers a dominating presence on the battlefield that can put you firmly ahead in card value. If it stays unchecked, it has the potential to end the game in quick succession, forcing your opponent to answer it and often at the cost of depleting their own resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Spirit of the Night itself does not directly offer resource acceleration, its sheer power level can allow you to shift resources away from defense to finish the game quickly. This inherent pressure can indirectly accelerate your victory.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the key characteristic of the Spirit of the Night is its haste ability, which enables an immediate impact on your turn reminiscent of instant-speed plays. This can turn the tide by allowing a devastating attack right when it enters the battlefield, catching opponents off-guard.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks of the Spirit of the Night card involves the prerequisite of having a creature card named Feral Shadow, Breathstealer, or Urborg Panther on the battlefield and then sacrificing them. This specific discard requirement might prove costly as it demands particular cards in play, which could be used otherwise or could be difficult to assemble.
Specific Mana Cost: Spirit of the Night comes with a hefty mana cost of six black mana and three of any type. This specific demand for mana not only pigeonholes it into mono-black or heavily black-weighted decks but also makes it a challenging card to play in multiccolor decks that might struggle to produce the necessary black mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of nine mana, Spirit of the Night is considered to have a high mana cost relative to other creatures and spells that can be played much earlier in the game. While its abilities are powerful, this high mana investment can be detrimental in faster-paced games where lower-cost creatures and spells can overwhelm the player before they amass enough resources to cast it.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Spirit of the Night stands as a powerful fixture in any black deck with its formidable presence on the battlefield. Its ability to provide an immediate impact with haste, paired with protection from black and flying, makes it adaptable to various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with graveyard mechanics, as it becomes significantly more potent with a setup that includes cards like Entomb or Buried Alive to bring it into play unexpectedly. The combination of its evasion abilities can turn the tide in any match.
Meta-Relevance: Given its immunity to black spells and abilities alongside flying, Spirit of the Night can be a vital trump card in a meta filled with black control decks or those relying on ground creatures. Its ability to close games quickly makes it a relevant choice for any player looking to dominate with a heavy-hitter.
How to beat
Spirit of the Night stands as a legendary powerhouse within Magic: The Gathering, a demon spirit that commands respect on the battlefield. Soaring into play, this intimidating card is defined by its trifecta of abilities: flying, trample, and haste, a combination that can quickly tilt the scales in favor of its controller. Its protective “protection from black” trait further cements its resilience against a subset of conventional removal spells.
To outmaneuver this nocturnal threat, consider colorless or non-black removal options such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, which can dispatch it without being hindered by protection. Board wipes like Wrath of God also bypass individual protections, leveling the playing field regardless of Spirit of the Night’s imposing presence. Moreover, as a creature heavily reliant on combat prowess, strategies that focus on locking down opponents’ lands with cards like Winter Orb can cripple the mana resources necessary to summon this behemoth, providing a tactical pathway to victory against its high casting cost.
Tackling the challenge posed by Spirit of the Night requires strategic planning and a diverse arsenal of answers. When you’ve effectively neutralized this nocturnal nemesis, the tide of battle can swiftly turn in your favor, illustrating the dynamic complexity of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spirit of the Night MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Spirit of the Night 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 Spirit of the Night Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1998-08-12. Illustrated by Cliff Nielsen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 146 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Cliff Nielsen | |
| 2 | 1998-08-12 | World Championship Decks 1998 | WC98 | bs146 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Cliff Nielsen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spirit of the Night has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |