Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm MTG Card

Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm - Jumpstart 2022

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Legendary Creature — Rat Warlock
Abilities	Mill
Released	2022-12-02
Set symbol
Set name	Jumpstart 2022
Set code	J22
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	19
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christina Kraus

Key Takeaways

Ashcoat aids combos with its creature-summoning upon entering or attacking, boosting card advantage.
Its ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield can lead to earlier threats and efficient resource management.
While not instant, it synergizes with such spells, heightening mana flexibility and strategic options.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart 2022, 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 Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Whenever Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm attacks or blocks, other Rats you control get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of Rats you control. At the beginning of your end step, you may mill four cards. If you do, return up to two Rat creature cards from your graveyard to your hand. (To mill a card, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm offers a unique benefit that aligns perfectly with the strategies that prioritize card advantage. Upon entering the battlefield or attacking, it lets you coax out key creatures from your deck, making it easier to assemble combos or maintain pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This powerful card provides a significant boost to your resource acceleration. With its ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield, you bypass traditional mana costs, allowing you to deploy threats earlier than usual and manage your resources more efficiently.

Instant Speed: The abilities of Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm may not be at instant speed, but it synergizes well with cards that are. This allows you to maintain mana flexibility and keep your opponents guessing, potentially playing other instant-speed interactions while preparing to swing in with a swarm on your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm demands a sacrifice; players must discard a card to utilize its abilities. This could backfire by stripping valuable cards from your hand when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Crafting strategies around this card requires precise mana alignment, including both black and green sources. This can be challenging in a deck that isn’t fine-tuned to this combination, possibly restricting its integration into multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm comes with a mana cost that’s on the higher side, potentially slowing down your game if rapid deployment is the cornerstone of your strategy. In terms of efficiency, there might be alternatives that provide similar effects for less investment, keeping the tempo of the match in your favor.

Reasons to Include Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm in Your Collection

Versatility: Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm brings a flexible approach to deck building. Its ability to affect multiple facets of the game can support varying strategies, making it a wise choice for decks that thrive on adaptability and that benefit from having a commander that can influence various aspects of the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique interaction with creature tokens and swarm tactics opens up numerous combo possibilities. Its potential to synergize with cards that generate or benefit from large numbers of creatures can lead to explosive turns and overwhelming advantages.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tokens and creature-based strategies are prevalent, Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm may prove to be particularly potent. Its ability to mesh with these strategies and potentially disrupt opponents solidifies its relevance and can make it a valuable asset in competitive play.

How to Beat Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm

Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm presents a unique challenge to Magic: The Gathering players due to its elusive and synergistic nature. The key to overcoming this card lies in its vulnerability to removal spells that can bypass its protections. Targeted removal such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade can be ineffective if Ashcoat’s ability is activated. Therefore, utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God or Shatter the Sky can be more successful strategies, effectively dealing with Ashcoat without the need for targeting.

Moreover, graveyard disruption tools are particularly powerful against Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm. Since the card relies on creature decks and graveyard synergy, including cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void in your deck can stifle your opponent’s plans. This prevents the reanimation of creatures and significantly hinders the card’s impact on the game. Controlling the board and keeping Ashcoat from reaching a critical mass of creatures will greatly increase your chances of victory.

Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm, players who employ strategic removal and graveyard disruption will find themselves well-equipped to handle this shadowy threat, maintaining control of the game and driving towards a win against decks that incorporate this potent card.

BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the capabilities and strategies surrounding Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm can enrich your MTG gameplay and expand your arsenal. Whether you consider its card advantage, instant speed potential, or its synergy with swarm strategies, this card could be a valuable addition to your deck. Keep in mind its resource acceleration aspects and how it could fit within the meta, especially in decks focused on adaptability. Analyzing both its advantages and considerations for integration is key. Curious to see how this card might change your game? Dive deeper with us and discover the full potential of Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm in your deck.

Cards like Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm

Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm is an innovative card that players find intriguing for its multifaceted role in decks. Peer into the MTG realm, and it’s observed sharing the stage with Whispering Specter. Both cards have an affinity for affecting opponents’ hands, but Ashcoat, with its subtle power, nudges ahead by offering a choice of discard at a potentially massive scale. Unlike Whispering Specter, which requires infect damage to force a discard, Ashcoat achieves this through sheer numbers on the attack.

Another contender in this shadowy corner is the Sadistic Hypnotist. Similar in the realm of discard, the Hypnotist garners attention with its sacrifice to disrupt contender. While it lacks the swarming nature of Ashcoat, it shines with reliability in targeted discard. Moreover, in decks synergizing with sacrifice mechanics, the Hypnotist can be a linchpin. Comparing mana costs and board impact, Ashcoat often hums a more subtle tune that crescendos over time, aligning with slower, more strategic assaults.

Delving into the unending richness of deck-building options, Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm has quietly carved out its niche. Where others command with louder presence, Ashcoat orchestrates a symphony of choices, leaving a trail of empty hands in its wake, offering MTG enthusiasts a compelling blend of strategy and stealth.