Shadow Rift MTG Card


Shadow Rift enables card drawing and strategic tempo with its modest mana cost and instant speed. While potent, it can constrain deck building and hand size due to specific mana and discard requirements. Its capacity for unblockability makes it a versatile tool in evasive tactics and reactive game plans.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Target creature gains shadow until end of turn. (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) Draw a card.


Cards like Shadow Rift

Shadow Rift, a staple in MTG pauper decks, emulates the power to grant creatures the elusive shadow ability. Its closest relatives include cards like Slip Through Space, which not only makes a creature unblockable this turn but also permits the drawing of a card. Both cards stand out for their ability to facilitate direct damage to opponents by sidestepping potential blockers.

Glaringly similar in intent, we observe Distortion Strike. This sorcery also allows creatures to become unblockable, but adds the feature of rebound, providing a strategic advantage over two turns. Despite this, Shadow Rift’s edge is its instant speed, letting players adapt swiftly during combat. On the flip side, Leap also grants creatures flying until end of turn in addition to drawing a card, thereby mimicking the evasion aspect, albeit in a different aerial fashion compared to Shadow Rift’s terrestrial stealth.

Ultimately, Shadow Rift holds its own within the category of evasion enablers in MTG. Its singular focus on shadow, combined with its low casting cost and instant status, makes it a uniquely efficient tool for swift and unanticipated offence within the game.

Slip Through Space - MTG Card versions
Distortion Strike - MTG Card versions
Leap - MTG Card versions
Slip Through Space - MTG Card versions
Distortion Strike - MTG Card versions
Leap - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shadow Rift by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Hydroblast - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Opt - MTG Card versions
Envelop - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Shadow Rift. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUGWUG PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-02-10
Caw-GatesCaw-Gates PauperCaw-GatesPauper Challenge 32 2024-05-03
Azorius TribeAzorius Tribe Pauper2° Tappa - Season 7 - Road to Paupergeddon Spring edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana
Azorius ComboAzorius Combo PauperLiga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 2
Dimir StiflenoughtDimir Stiflenought Premodern$1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:30 am

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shadow Rift provides a key edge by enabling you to draw a card, maintaining momentum in your deck’s flow and boosting your chances to respond to opponents’ moves.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does it keep your hand full, but Shadow Rift also aids in deploying your threats more rapidly by costing only a single blue mana – an efficient investment for the tempo it offers.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Shadow Rift allows for strategic flexibility, giving you the ability to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn or surprise them by creating an unblockable threat out of nowhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shadow Rift mandates that a player must discard a card, which can be a significant setback when hand size is crucial for maintaining control of the game or executing long-term strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mana combination to cast, which could potentially restrict its inclusion to specific decks, particularly those hinging on blue mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may be deemed steep for the effect it provides, players may find themselves deliberating whether the tempo loss is worth the potential tactical advantage Shadow Rift offers.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shadow Rift offers players the capacity to grant any creature shadow, allowing it to elude blockades and hit opponents where it counts. The card’s adaptability shines in different decks, from aggressive ones aiming to punch through defenses to strategic setups seeking to manipulate blocking patterns.

Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs excellently with cards that capitalize on dealing combat damage to a player. Whether it’s triggering “Sword of” effects or enabling cipher spells, Shadow Rift has the potential to create powerful synergies in the right decklist. It flips the script on board states, transforming unassuming creatures into significant threats.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting meta-games, the element of surprise can disrupt opponents’ plans. Shadow Rift, by turning any creature into an unpredictable vector for damage or other effects, remains relevant as it can adapt to bypass the most common defensive setups found in a given meta, ensuring your strategy stays one step ahead.


How to beat

Shadow Rift is a unique card in the MTG realm, known for its ability to grant a creature shadow until end of turn, hence making it unblockable by creatures without shadow. To effectively counteract Shadow Rift, the key is to apply strategies that don’t rely on blocking. Removal spells that can directly destroy or exile creatures, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, can deal with the problematic creature regardless of its shadow status. In addition, using instant-speed spells that can counter when Shadow Rift is cast, like Counterspell or Negate, will prevent it from impacting the game altogether.

Another tactic involves adjusting your own gameplay to outpace or undermine the advantage Shadow Rift provides. This might include enhancing your life total with cards like Lifelink creatures or employing flash creatures to surprise your opponent. Since Shadow Rift can also be a tool for evasion in a focused attack, having a versatile and adaptable strategy that can operate on multiple axes will help ensure that Shadow Rift doesn’t catch you off guard.

In essence, while Shadow Rift can temporarily give an opponent the upper hand by making a creature nearly unblockable, it’s not insurmountable. With careful planning and the right set of responses, the advantages it confers can be effectively neutralized.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gaining the upper hand in MTG often hinges on clever card choices that bolster your deck’s capability. Shadow Rift, with its unique attribute of granting shadow, certainly fits the bill by transforming any creature into a formidable, unblockable entity, even if just for a turn. The tempo it can inject into your game, plus the card draw that follows, make it worth considering for your collection. As you craft your strategy and seek to outmaneuver opponents, reflect on the dynamics Shadow Rift adds. Dive deeper into its uses and strategic applications with us and refine your edge in your next MTG showdown.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shadow Rift MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest 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 Shadow Rift and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shadow Rift Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Adam Rex.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 861997NormalBlackAdam Rex
22015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 662015NormalBlackAdam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shadow Rift has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal