Spire Patrol MTG Card


Detaining creatures grants significant tactical advantage, disrupting opponents’ strategies effectively. Indirect resource conservation through control helps cast more impactful spells earlier. Psychological play affects opponents, making Spire Patrol a strategic asset.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flying When Spire Patrol enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.

"After I examine your cargo and check your papers, you can be on your way."


Cards like Spire Patrol

Spire Patrol serves as a unique blend of control and aggression in the creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering. When evaluating its strength, you could see some resemblance to cards like Lyev Skyknight. Both creatures offer the flying ability and detain an opposing creature upon entering the battlefield. Spire Patrol, however, stands out by being accessible to a broader range of deck types due to its multicolor nature, expanding its use beyond just Azorius decks where Lyev Skyknight is typically found.

Another card to consider in the same genre is Fairgrounds Warden. It’s not a flyer, but the warden exiles an enemy creature until it leaves the battlefield. This potentially provides a more extended disruption compared to Spire Patrol’s temporary detain effect. Additionally, Fairgrounds Warden can fit into any deck with white mana, unlike Spire Patrol with its specific color requirement.

To sum up, while Spire Patrol may not be the first card chosen for all strategies, its detain mechanic coupled with evasion from its flying ability helps to establish board dominance and gives it a place in decks seeking to balance offensive capabilities with tactical creature control.

Lyev Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Fairgrounds Warden - MTG Card versions
Lyev Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Fairgrounds Warden - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spire Patrol by color, type and mana cost

Ayesha Tanaka - MTG Card versions
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Harbor Guardian - MTG Card versions
Kangee, Aerie Keeper - MTG Card versions
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Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV - MTG Card versions
Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker - MTG Card versions
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Thistledown Liege - MTG Card versions
Swans of Bryn Argoll - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Cragtreads - MTG Card versions
Skymark Roc - MTG Card versions
Hussar Patrol - MTG Card versions
Ascended Lawmage - MTG Card versions
Coastline Chimera - MTG Card versions
Thunderclap Wyvern - MTG Card versions
Ayesha Tanaka - MTG Card versions
Hazerider Drake - MTG Card versions
Harbor Guardian - MTG Card versions
Kangee, Aerie Keeper - MTG Card versions
Benalish Heralds - MTG Card versions
Glimmering Angel - MTG Card versions
Sawtooth Loon - MTG Card versions
Mirror Wall - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV - MTG Card versions
Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker - MTG Card versions
Meddling Kids - MTG Card versions
Thistledown Liege - MTG Card versions
Swans of Bryn Argoll - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Cragtreads - MTG Card versions
Skymark Roc - MTG Card versions
Hussar Patrol - MTG Card versions
Ascended Lawmage - MTG Card versions
Coastline Chimera - MTG Card versions
Thunderclap Wyvern - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you deploy Spire Patrol, securing a temporary but pivotal upper hand becomes a reality. This card not only adds to your army on the battlefield but also changes the tides by incapacitating an opponent’s creature upon entry, preventing them from untapping during the next untap step. This strategic move can stifle an opponent’s plans and give you a significant leverage in terms of available resources during the match.

Resource Acceleration: While Spire Patrol does not directly ramp up your mana like some green cards, the tactical advantage it provides can be equated to resource acceleration. By locking down a potential blocker or attacker the enemy is relying on, Spire Patrol effectively saves the mana and resources which might have been spent on removing or bypassing that threat. This indirect resource conservation can be crucial in affording you the ability to cast more impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: Though Spire Patrol itself is not an instant, controlling the skies can force opponents to play around your open mana, as their best creatures become vulnerable to being detained. This can lead to the opponent playing more cautiously, or not playing spells at all to avoid your untapped lands, much like the psychological impact of an actual instant speed threat. This hidden advantage can sometimes prove as beneficial as actual instant speed interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other flyers, Spire Patrol doesn’t demand you to discard cards upon playing, thus avoiding a potential drawback for hand management.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding both white and blue mana, Spire Patrol requires a commitment to a two-color deck, which could affect the deck’s consistency compared to single-colored options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including specific colors, Spire Patrol may compete with other four-drops that provide immediate board impact or have lower color requirements.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spire Patrol can be a flexible addition to decks that focus on tempo and control. Its ability to detain target creatures helps keep opponents’ strategies in check, fitting well into Azorius decks or any blue-white combination looking to dictate the pace of the game.

Combo Potential: This card pairs wonderfully with flicker or bounce effects to repeatedly exploit its enter-the-battlefield ability. Interactions with cards like Deadeye Navigator or Ephemerate enable you to lock down potentially multiple creatures over the course of a game, disrupting your opponent’s board presence significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies dominate, Spire Patrol shines by delaying key creatures from attacking or blocking. Its relevance grows in environments where tempo plays can turn the tides of a match, underscoring its utility in specific competitive formats.


How to beat Spire Patrol

When facing the Spire Patrol in Magic: The Gathering, it’s vital to understand how this card operates in deck strategies. Key to its power is the ability to detain target creatures your opponents control, which can be tactically crippling. Yet, its effectiveness hinges on its specific application – only upon entering the battlefield does this functionality trigger. The initial tactic to counter Spire Patrol is to prevent it from entering the battlefield altogether. Cards with counterspell abilities serve this purpose well, negating the Patrol’s effect before it starts.

Once on the field, manipulating creature abilities becomes a chief strategy. Employ removal spells to dispatch Spire Patrol before its detain effect becomes an issue. Also, consider using flicker or bounce mechanics on your own detained creatures, thereby negating the Patrol’s impact and freeing your creatures to be used in your next combat or strategy phase. Lastly, remember that Spire Patrol’s detain ability is only temporary. Adapting your gameplay to weather out the turns affected can turn the tide back in your favor, making Spire Patrol less daunting to overcome. Reading the game and a well-timed counter move are keys to victory against this card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spire Patrol MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Patrol and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spire Patrol Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 1362015NormalBlackDan Scott
22020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 2082015NormalBlackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spire Patrol has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-02-09 Spire Patrol’s ability can target a creature that’s already tapped. That creature won’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.