Someone asked if Spirits were a tribe in Vintage now, what with the printing of City of Brass 5 - 8. That sounds like a fun deck building challenge, so I thought I'd start a thread on what Spirits are playable in Vintage. I went through the Gatherer and picked out each Spirit with an interesting or potentially Vintage-relevant effect, and here's what I came up with.
Akuta, Born of Ash
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74148This is potentially a Bloodghast in a spirit deck if it can discard the card. This isn't terrible, but it suggests you're stuck in a black deck because he needs swamps to sacrifice. Probably not good enough.
Angelic Curator
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=12354Possible anti-shop tech? Probably not, honestly, because it doesn't help to hold back a single Lodestone while they cast a second one. On the other hand, it does fly, so if your list is all about pumping spirits, then this might get you there.
Bloodghast
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Compliments Akuta in some ways, but if you're dedicated to losing to graveyard hate, why aren't you playing dredge?
Celestial Crusader
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=222748Probably too expensive for Vintage, but if you stick to White as your core color, this gives you a second lord for Spirits that also has Flash. Not a bad dork, but probably more at home in a format like Modern.
Celestial Kirin
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=84380Fascinating and very powerful effect. Some level of dis-synergy, since you will probably have many spirits clustered around 1 and 2 casting cost. This looks really interesting.
Chilling Apparition
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=25362This is a powerful effect, but the guy costs 3 mana and has no evasion. Probably not good enough. Would be awesome at B.
Chisei, Heart of Oceans
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74096I had a good deal of fun running this guy with the depletion lands from Ice Age. I don't think there's a good engine for him in Vintage, though. And even if there was, a 4/4 for 4 is nothing special. Probably not good enough until they print more cards with the Dark Depths mechanic that want you to remove counters quickly.
Crypt Gast
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=366452Lots of mana for mono-black, but costs 4, which means you don't need it. To Modern you go.
Demigod of Revenge
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=370463By himself, he's not super impressive. If you find a way get three in the yard, though, he swings for lethal. Maybe he goes into the same heavy black deck that Ghast and Akumi want, but he doesn't go in a Vintage fish deck, that's for sure.
Dimir Cutpurse
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=259269A very, VERY solid creature. Probably needs some support, either in the form of lots of removal or evasion, but if he starts connecting it's probably game over. This is like the Spirit's Cold-Eyed Selkie.
Dimir Infiltrator
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=271214A tutor at a good cost, if a bit expensive, that can also be a spirit if you need that. I guess you'd need to be pretty hard up for tutors to reach this fellow, though, and in a rainbow deck I can't imagine we are.
Diviner Spirit
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=376310The fact that it is symmetrical ruins it, in my eyes. Otherwise this would be a legitimate possibility for a curve-topper in a deck that pumps Spirits. Oh well.
Dominus of Fealty
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=247204This guy is fantastic, and does something very Vintage relevant. The casting cost is awfully high, though. Are you still in control mode if you're casting 5 drop monsters?
Drogskoll Captain
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=244773Seems at least as good as the Faerie lord, and one of the better lords out there. I feel like a deck with this guy probably wants Cap as the curve-topper though. Token strategies might do well here.
Drogskoll Reaver
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=262860Again, probably locks up the game if you land him and he connects, but dat casting cost! At least, unlike the Lorwyn deities, you can accelerate into reaver using almost anything since he's mostly colorless mana.
Drowned Ruskala
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=107687Seems like an affect you might be able to abuse in the proper build. Akmui and Bloodghast, for example. I can't imagine you'd want this one drop without wanting to abuse it, though.
Dungeon Geists
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=376317Sort of does a Sower of Temptation impression, and that card sees play from time to time. Locks down Blightsteel, but of course, it comes down so late that they probably just switch gears to Key anyway.
Eidolon of Countless Battles
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=378379I don't think this is where you want to be because you will probably finish a game of Vintage before he matters. If you were heavy token strategy, though, this might be a game-ending bonus to one of your Lingering Souls tokens.
Elvish Spirit Guide / Simian Spirit Guide
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If a Spirit deck can exist, I think these two are why. They're awesome; acceleration early game, and more spirit dorks late game. I don't think it even pushes you into GR necessarily, since almost every spirit has colorless in its cost.
Emissary of Despair
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=45469Oft-forgotten shop hate that also can do quite a number of people who deploy lots of restricted mana acceleration. In a powered metagame, this guy might actually be the real deal. If they have three artifacts, it's swinging in for five life a turn. That's very good.
Fettergeist
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=240080Probably just worse than Serendib Efreet, and he hasn't seen play in forever.
Frostling
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74621I think this guy makes the cut in a deck that wants to pump lots of spirits. It kills most of the creatures Grixis uses before they can get going, it kills Bridge from Below on command. If it can actually become a threat later, that's not bad at all.
Giest of Saint Traft
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This guy does what he does. I've never been a fan of him, though, since I like my finishers to be able to swing into enemy creatures. Still, no denying he's very powerful and ends games very quickly when the coast is clear.
Gloom Surgeon
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=240165He never dies... but it would be very odd that you need a blocker like this. Just delays the end against Shops, is flown over by most other creatures you care about.
Godhead of Awe
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=142019Potentially powerful in a token strategy deck as Humilities 5 - 8. However, since no one plays Humility in Vintage, this is probably more legacy tech than anything else.
Graveborn Muse
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=135256Very good effect. Is it priced too much for Vintage? Maybe? If 8 lands in your deck burn you, then the steady life loss from Muse is probably comparable to Bob. So ultimately, you probably just play Bob unless being a Spirit is really, REALLY worth it. I dunno, though.
Guiding Spirit
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=3738At 2/2, this would be an interesting way to recur your threats while also serving as an evasive beater. At 1/2, I don't like it. Maybe you chuck one into your Drogskoll Cap'n deck just for the random time it saves your butt?
Hearth Kami
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=77139Kills Moxen for 1R or Lodestone for 6R. Newp.
Horobi, Death's Wail
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=78854I've seen this ability put to use before in some decks. Potentially strong enough, but seems like it needs to be built around and then is only good against decks running creatures as the win condition. I'm skeptical, but I could see him in a sideboard if your deck naturally had reliable ways to target enemy creatures for free.
Horrible Hordes
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=3252I just wanted to point out that this is a Spirit.
Hunted Phantasm
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83573This is some serious beats. Three mana for 4 power in blue? Not bad at all. Of course, you need a way to deal with the goblin tokens it creates. I suppose that there are better 3 power finishers, but this one is certainly not the worst at this cost.
Infernal Kirin
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74377This ability is strong against control. In the late game, resolving 2 casting cost Spirits will remove many of the opponent's threats while giving you lots of information. The Kirin itself is expensive, though, so it can't function as early game disruption like you want your discard to do.
Kami of the Ancient Law
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=50349Hey, sometimes you need to kill Oath.
Kami of the Crescent Moon
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=84364I don't think howling mine is very good, but maybe in conjunction with some way of manipulating your opponent's top deck, it could be.
Karador, Ghost Chieftan
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=236468Now we're cooking with gas. This commander is a Spirit, and once your yard gets full in the late game he's a bargain-priced beater who gives you card advantage to boot. I'd seriously consider him if I was going whole-hog rainbow spirit aggro.
Karmic Guide
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=376387Probably too expensive unless you're using it as a combo piece. If you want recursion, Karador might be better suited for that purpose.
Kataki, War's Wage
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Clearly one of the nuts against Shops. Probably auto-include somewhere in the 75 if you're spirit tribal.
Keening Apparition
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=271100Yeah, you REALLY want to kill Oath.
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=370349Very nice protection for your dudes. Perhaps a good compliment to Drogskoll Cap'n if you're looking for that kind of effect.
Kodama of the North Tree
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=50488It's a difficult to remove beater that swings for huge amounts. Not absurdly priced for a finisher, either. Perhaps worth a 1-of slot in rainbow spirits?
Lifespinner
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74642This guy is kind of like a Forgemaster for Spirits. But what are you gonna get? Iname as One? ooooh, scary. Spirit tribe lacks a Grislebrand or Emrakul, so I don't know what you'd be building up for. Three cards and 4 mana is a pretty hefty price to get a mere utility dork.
Loam Dweller
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74584At 2 mana, this effect probably is only useful if you're drawing cards like a mother anyway. Seems marginal.
Martyred Ruskala
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=107696Perhaps a cheap way for token strategies to stop blightsteel?
Mindshrieker
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=229960I could see running this bird if you had topdeck manipulation. Potentially, she hits very hard if you flip something, like, I dunno, Kodoma of the North Tree. The milling aspect also messes up tutors, fuels your bloodghasts, and otherwise is cute.
Nether Shadow
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Style points for old school. Might work in the same deck as Akmui and Bloodghast. Spirit devotion, anyone?
Nether Traitor
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=116742Probably a better fit for an aggro deck. However, I suspect Bloodghast is just way better if you want a recurring dude, and it's not clear you'd want more than four of them.
Nibilis of the Breath
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=226724Another budget answer to blightsteel, and at 2/1 flying, helps the aggro strategy. Too expensive if you're using it for just that, though.
Nobilis of War
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=373336A pretty decent lord, in the same colors as Cap'n and Celestial. It costs 5, but it probably ends the game as soon as it drops because of the immediate damage boost. Maybe a curve-topper for monowhite?
Overbeing of Myth
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=151151Draws you cards but is going to be tiny in an aggro deck. Not good enough unless you're playing devotion (don't do that).
Oversoul of Dusk
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=146735I'm a big fan of this card. Against many decks, it's an unstoppable game ender. Grixis has very little to say about it. But, again, the casting cost is just so darn high!
Phantom Nomad
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=34890He's immortal once you get a lord out there, but he's terrible on his own. If you want immortality, Gloom Surgeon is a better choice since at least he holds off Blightsteel.
Plagued Ruskla
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=338396This isn't terrible in a deck with tokens or recursion. Probably likes Bloodghast.dec. Like Frostling, this can splash hate against Bridges from Below. Unlike Frostling, it costs BB to do it's thing, so it's probably too slow.
Restless Apparition
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=157291This is one of those creatures who is as big as you have mana. Unlike every shade ever printed, though, it flies and is decently large for its cost as-is. This only fits in a devotion list though, and you shouldn't play devotion, so...
Ruin Ghost
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=198378Gives you options with ETB lands and lets you abuse Glacial Chasm in the late game. A possibility.
Sandsower
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=370392Possibly good in Modern, as it does a halfway decent impression of Tradewind Rider. Three dorks to tap is a lot to ask Vintage, though, particularly at a cost of 4.
Scorched Ruskla
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=368504Probably worse than Plague Ruskla unless you think you'll get serious reach out of this gal to close out the game. Same splash damage against x/1s and dredge, though.
Shape Stealer
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=88823He blocks and becomes blocked really well. Trades with almost everything. But, he only hits for 1 and he dies to Blightsteel without taking it with him. Poop.
Shinen of Flight's Wings
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74088Surprisingly not horrible if your plan is to reanimate a bunch of spirits at once. That's not currently a very good plan, so this is probably not a good creature.
Shirei's Death's Caretaker
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=81987Costs five mana, and you can get a recursion effect for far less. No good.
Sky Spirit (aka Thunder Spirit)
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=284485If it did something other than flying and first strike, it might be a consideration. I think you need more out of a three drop, though.
Soilshaper
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=79177Fascinating ability in a deck full of spirits. It can target your opponent's lands, which might be useful to open them up to removal, and it basically adds 3 to your mid and late game attacks. Potential!
Spectral Bears
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=159224The cost and p/t is less than Tarmogoyf. I don't think even staying in spirit aggro makes it worth the downgrade, particularly since it swings every other turn.
Spirit en-dal
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=132221The Forecast ability is not too shabby if you control something like, say, Dimir Cutpurse. And it's 2 unblockable damage on its own, more with lords. May actually be worth a look as sideboard tech if you focus on cards that do things when they connect with the opponent's face.
Spirit of the Labyrinth
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Amazing equalizer if you can beat Ancestral Recall to the punch. Probably auto-include if you're playing a deck that doesn't abuse blue draw engines. Does not work at all with Graveborn Muse, btw.
Strangleroot Geist
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=262671Perhaps the best 2-drop aggro spirit. Only Bloodghast might compete with it. Probably auto-include if you are balls-to-the-wall aggro plan.
Sustaining Spirit
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=184744Cute effect, but most Vintage win conditions dodge it. No good.
Swans of Byron Agoll
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=146754These guys want a combo deck, of course, but if you have a lot of directed burn and the opponent does not, it's a very potent draw engine all on its own. I can imagine slotting a singleton Swans in if you're playing stuff like Lightning Bolt, Fire//Ice, or even Lava Dart.
Tallowisp
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=74412Very powerful effect but very dependent on what auras are printed. A toolbox at the moment might include Threads of Disloyalties for Bob and Goyf, Pacifism effects for Blightsteel, and maybe some kind of draw engine if you can swing it. The limitation here is that the selection of cheap, potent auras that are good on their own is pretty limited. Is there an aura that hoses dredge? Storm?
Tamanoa
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=121262Here's another Spirit that couldn't even be considered until City of Brass 2.0. It probably doesn't do enough unless he's paired with something that combos with it, like a cheap Sanguine Bond effect of some kind.
Tormented Soul
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=249668It's got sorta-shadow, but he just doesn't do enough. He'd be fine enabler if we had Prowl on spirits, but as is... meh.
Tradewind Rider
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4738He wins the game if he comes out while you have a bunch of dudes, so he might be a good choice in a token deck. Competes with Jace at the same mana, though, and if you're bouncing creatures that seems like a pretty big downgrade.
So, which Spirits get included in a Vintage list?
