Drogskol Captain | Illustration by Peter Mohrbacher
As an unapologetic and long-time fan of tempo decks, especially in blue and white, I have a deep connection with spirit decks, both in Pioneer when the stars align, and in Commander.
Plus, it’s spooky.
A key piece of any good spirit deck are spirit lords, and a ranked list of them is just the thing to build a deck. Especially if you happen to read this during autumn, when brisker winds toss fallen leaves into the evenings of shortening days.
I’m trying really hard not to link to a video with the old cheerleader chant, “We’ve got spirit, yes we do….” But I’m ready to go, how ‘bout you?
What Are Spirit Lords in MTG?
Shacklegeist | Illustration by Igor Kieryluk
A “lord” in MTG parlance is a creature that gives a boon or a buff to creatures of a specific type. Often it’s a member of that typal creature class, but sometimes it isn’t. Given how much fun it is thematically to build typal decks from a flavor perspective, lords are a key part of the reward for that.
Spirit is a creature type that pushes the edges of this definition, though. There are a lot of creatures that give an effect when a spirit is cast or enters, like Mausoleum Wanderer or Loam Dweller, that don’t really count here but probably feel like they should. And spirits have a higher number of cards that grant almost Alchemy-like effects or abilities to other spirits.
We’re going to count all of the cards that work continuously due to the effect of the lord on the battlefield, not the ones that grant a temporary entering boon or effect.
Honorable Mention: Angel of Flight Alabaster
Like Mausoleum Wanderer, Angel of Flight Alabaster doesn’t really count as a spirit lord, technically. But in effect, this grants spirit creatures in your graveyard the ability to hop back into your hand. That kind of feels like a buff? Either way, this doesn’t quite feel like a playable card at this rate.
#13. Gallows Warden + Battleground Geist
Gallows Warden is probably a worse card than the angel above, but it least it counts as a legit lord. It would be a tough call for a Commander spirits deck at even 2 less mana. The Warden’s buddy Battleground Geist is at least in blue. I tend to want more blue effects in Azorius () spirit Commander decks, but again, these 5-drops definitely aren’t where it’s at.
Why are these cards sandwiched together? Yeah, they’re similar, but I just needed to cap my list at 13 spirits. I just did, okay!
#12. Lorehold Apprentice
The anchor of the classical underwhelming red white color pair in Strixhaven Draft, I’d look for this card to get better after Secrets of Strixhaven drops, since I can’t imagine WOTC not buffing these colors for that set. Lorehold Apprentice isn’t terrible in Kykar, Wind's Fury decks, although it seems more meme than dream to tap all those spirits for lethal. You’ve got better things to do in the 2-drop slot for that EDH deck.
#11. Blood Age General
A little easier to cast than the Apprentice, Blood Age General still doesn’t quite have it.
Right now, you’re wondering if there are any good spirit lords. Hold on a sec! These clunkers are here for completion’s sake. You never know what might emerge with Commander possibilities!
#10. Quintorius, Field Historian
About the only reason to go into these colors in Strixhaven Draft, Quintorius, Field Historian is good enough to be a try-hard commander, but it’s more comfortable in Boros () or Jeskai () spirits decks helmed by Kykar.
#9. King of the Oathbreakers
This seems like it would be busted, and it was in Lord of the Rings Draft, but King of the Oathbreakers‘ ability to slide your cards away from targeted removal doesn’t really matter in most Constructed formats. It’s a fun but not good tokens commander. And there are a lot of lore-specific ways to play this if you’re in an LOTR thematic mood, like Andúril, Flame of the West and even close enough stuff like Intangible Virtue and Haunted Library.
#8. Hofri Ghostforge
Talk about a spirit lord! Hofri Ghostforge is the sort of regular set mythic that immediately gives you that impulse to build a whole EDH deck around it just to see. And pairing this with cards like Goblin Bombardment, Karmic Guide, Ashnod's Altar, and Selfless Spirit is quite the engine if you can keep Hofri alive. Fanatical Devotion, Martyr's Cause, and other cards with solid Boomer cred help there. You can stack the creature slots with all sorts of obnoxious things to recur and still use the spirit engine, like Coercive Recruiter, Skyclave Apparition, Magus of the Wheel, and even Dualcaster Mage nonsense.
Does all this add up to a good deck? Well, not exactly. I’ve found it super annoying in Duel Commander games, though. And I imagine Hofri is gonna get a lot more tools in that next Strixhaven set.
#7. Millicent, Restless Revenant
A precon face commander that’s still the most played spirit typal general, Millicent, Restless Revenant is a great beginner deck. You can often reduce its cost enough by spirits on board that commander removal doesn’t hurt quite as much, which is great for a new player. Board wipes are trouble for this deck, but the blue lets you pack a few counterspells, unlike Hofri.
Again, it’s not quite a good deck. Yet!
#6. Patrician Geist
Now we’re talking! This is a good spirit lord, yes, and it’s a must-sleeve in EDH spirits decks that are in blue. But this is also just a fine card for any deck that wants to do messed up stuff from the graveyard, like Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer, Muldrotha, the Gravetide, and Neerdiv, Devious Diver.
#5. Drogskol Reinforcements
Two good abilities that grant spirits melee and protect them from burn spells adds up to a decent card. The burn is less relevant, but you can see how Drogskol Reinforcements would help pop off in a Millicent or Kykar deck.
#4. Drogskol Captain
A classic piece of the Azorius Spirits Pioneer deck, Drogskol Captain is a still a good card for Commander, but it suffers from how Pioneer is a lot faster now than in its heyday. But if you are a spirits player, you “know” that the meta is perpetually one card away from letting spirits back in. One card. For sure. Yep. Totally.
#3. Shacklegeist
This used to be a key way to grab the win in Pioneer Spirits, especially flashing it out with Rattlechains on opponent end steps to tap down their board. But alas, even undeath doesn’t guarantee forever for Shacklegeist. Creature decks tend to have red things already turning sideways in Pioneer these days, so the utility here is now lacking.
I don’t think that’s forever, as the Pioneer meta is a bit nuts at the moment, but I still think this is a good card in a spirits go-wide deck in Commander.
#2. Rattlechains
This feels like the most important card in any Pioneer Spirits deck given the way I play that deck, and it’s still a four-of in decks that are trying to compete right now. If you gave up on that deck long ago, newish tech for it includes Enduring Curiosity and the ever-annoying-in-Standard Sheltered by Ghosts. The protection and flash are classic tempo deck staples.
Still waiting on that one more card, I think. Until then, I’ll glory in the sick art by Lius Lasahido!
#1. Supreme Phantom
Of course. A lovely buff at a good rate with evasion and a super pesky 3 toughness. The ability to flash this puppy out after a Rattlechains to tip combat is what Azorius tempo dreams are made from. A decent card for Commander, as well.
Plus, I’ve always loved the head-scratching but still metal art from Robbie Trevino!
Wrap Up
Blood Age General | Illustration by Johan Grenier
Spirits decks, especially tempo decks, are well loved by folks like me and hated by many other players. I’d really like to see spirits return to glory in Pioneer and for the whole type to get something more competitive to do in Commander. I am haunted by this hope.
Okay, well, it’s time to see myself out anyway! Spirits fans, please drop some love in the comments or on Discord. Until then, I’ll leave you with the earworm from Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride, one of my faves as a kid, and one that never stopped haunting my brain.
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