A-Shessra, Death's Whisper MTG Card


A-Shessra excels in library control, refining draws to potentially turn the tide of matchups. The card’s mana acceleration effect allows for swift play, giving players an edge. A-Shessra’s instant speed offers flexible play, suited for diverse tactical approaches.
A-Shessra, Death's Whisper - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Elf Warlock
Released2021-07-23
Set symbol
Set nameAdventures in the Forgotten Realms
Set codeAFR
Power 1
Toughness 4
NumberA-231
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMarie Magny

Text of card

Bewitching Whispers — When Shessra, Death's Whisper enters the battlefield, target creature blocks this turn if able. Whispers of the Grave — At the beginning of your end step, if a creature died this turn, you may pay 2 life. If you do, draw a card.


Cards like A-Shessra, Death's Whisper

A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper adds another layer of strategic depth to the arsenal of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. When delving into cards with parallels, Whispering Specter cements itself as kin, also bringing disruption to an opponent’s hand while leveraging the poison counter mechanic. However, A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper goes beyond by providing an additional benefit of returning creature cards from graveyard to hand, a boon for decks that thrive on creature recursion.

Evaluating Sheoldred, Whispering One demonstrates a strong relationship in reclaiming creatures from the graveyard. This formidable card boasts a similar reanimation effect, yet with a heavier mana cost. Conversely, A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper’s unique offering lies in its cheaper casting cost and its ability to selectively disrupt via discard. Meanwhile, another analog, Burglar Rat, offers the discard effect at a very low mana cost but lacks further versatility or the recursion trait that emphasizes A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper’s utility in gameplay.

With these comparisons in view, the finesse of A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper becomes clear, blending elements of control and graveyard interaction to ally with MTG decks that capitalize on both strategies, granting it a distinctive role in gameplay dynamics.

Whispering Specter - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Whispering Specter - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to A-Shessra, Death's Whisper by color, type and mana cost

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Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager - MTG Card versions
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - MTG Card versions
Shambling Shell - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Dryad - MTG Card versions
Stalker Hag - MTG Card versions
Hag Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Quillspike - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Stonefare Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Quagmire Druid - MTG Card versions
Catacomb Sifter - MTG Card versions
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Mournwillow - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Charnel Troll - MTG Card versions
Pitiless Gorgon - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: With A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper, players benefit from the ability to manipulate their library, thus optimizing the quality of their draws, which can decisively influence the course of the match. This advantage through selective graveyard filling adds depth to your strategy and increases your chances of accessing key cards when needed.

Resource Acceleration: A-Shessra supports your mana curve by potentially lowering the casting cost of your spells. In games where timing is crucial, being able to cast spells ahead of schedule can disrupt the opponent’s plans and give you a commanding lead. The card’s ability to provide additional value when casting spells from your graveyard keeps the momentum in your favor.

Instant Speed: A-Shessra can be cast at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves or end-of-turn decisions. This attribute maximizes your tactical decisions and keeps your adversaries guessing about your next move. The adaptability of instant speed casting complements various playstyles, whether you’re aiming to maintain board control or set up for a significant swing in the next phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper comes with the caveat of necessitating a card discard in addition to its mana cost. For players who are already at a card disadvantage, this can further deplete precious hand resources, making it a potentially costly play.

Specific Mana Cost: A key thing to note about A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper is its specific mana cost demands. The inclusion of black mana in its cost means it’s tailored for decks heavily invested in black mana sources, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a five-mana creature, players may weigh its abilities against its costs. In the competitive landscape where mana efficiency is paramount, some might find other creatures or spells that provide more value or impact the board sooner.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper offers a unique blend of disruptive and control elements that can be utilized across a diverse array of deck types. Its ability to selectively remove creatures from play while offering card draw makes it a flexible choice for players seeking to balance offense with strategy.

Combo Potential: With its life loss mechanism, this card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on life total manipulation. It can be a key component in decks that trigger effects based on life loss or gain, enabling powerful combinations that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: As the game meta continually evolves, staying abreast of effective control components is crucial. A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper holds potential in metas where creature-based strategies predominate, granting an edge by consistently removing key threats and maintaining card advantage.


How to beat A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper

A-Shessra, Death’s Whisper presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its lifegain and creature resurrection abilities. To counter this card effectively, a strategy centered around graveyard disruption is your best bet. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile your opponent’s graveyard, negating the resurrection power A-Shessra brings to the table. The key is to limit the resources your opponent can capitalize on, making A-Shessra less of a threat.

Another avenue is to utilize removal spells that can handle indestructible creatures, like exile effects or board wipes that don’t destroy. Since A-Shessra can protect itself by becoming indestructible, traditional destruction spells won’t cut it. Instead, consider using something like Path to Exile or Wrath of God to navigate around its defenses.

Adjusting your playstyle can also help. Being aggressive early on to pressure your opponent’s life total before they stabilize with A-Shessra’s lifegain is an effective tactic. Alternatively, stock up on counterspells like Dovin’s Veto or Essence Scatter to prevent A-Shessra from hitting the field in the first place. By taking these approaches, you can neutralize A-Shessra’s impact and maintain the tempo of the game to your advantage.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Shessra, Death's Whisper MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 A-Shessra, Death's Whisper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where A-Shessra, Death's Whisper has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal