Battle-Rattle Shaman MTG Card

Boosts combat power each turn, enabling advantageous beats and synergistic plays with creature-focused decks. Presents resource management benefits but requires mindful handling due to its specific cost and activation timing. Viable in varied MTG scenes, Battle-Rattle Shaman complements aggressive strategies and combo potentials.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may have target creature get +2/+0 until end of turn.

The shaman rattles not to inspire a battle fury but to drown out the shrieks of those fleeing the Eldrazi.

Cards like Battle-Rattle Shaman

Battle-Rattle Shaman carves out its niche in the realm of creature support within Magic: The Gathering. This particular shaman shares similarities with cards that boost creatures’ attack power, akin to Goblin Wardrummer and Fervent Champion. Like Battle-Rattle Shaman, these cards enhance the offensive capabilities of other creatures, though each has its unique flair. Goblin Wardrummer, for instance, empowers another creature with the menace ability, demanding opponents to block with two or more creatures. This effect is slightly different from the Battle-Rattle Shaman’s approach, which grants a pure attack bonus.

Exploring this further, Ogre Battledriver is another card that resonates with the theme, offering a more significant attack boost and haste to newly summoned creatures. This creates an immediate impact on the battlefield, while Battle-Rattle Shaman requires a pre-existing board presence to be effective. Additionally, the Battledriver’s effect is broader, targeting all creatures that enter the battlefield under your control, versus the Shaman’s once-per-turn limit.

While all these cards are valued for their ability to turn the tide of combat, Battle-Rattle Shaman presents a more controlled and repetitive effect, making it a reliable choice for players aiming to consistently pressure their opponent’s defenses each turn.

Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions
Ogre Battledriver - MTG Card versions
Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions
Ogre Battledriver - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Battle-Rattle Shaman. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul GoblinsPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Battle-Rattle Shaman doesn’t directly draw you cards, but it influences the battlefield each turn. By giving a creature you control an extra power boost each combat, it helps you press the advantage and can potentially lead to drawing more cards through combat-related triggers or abilities. Ensuring your creatures are more potent can indirectly contribute to maintaining pressure and card advantage over your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of ramp, Battle-Rattle Shaman’s ability to enhance other creatures can accelerate your game plan. By making your creatures better threats, it forces your opponent to deal with them more quickly or face the consequences, which, in turn, can preserve your resources and give you the upper hand in resource management.

Instant Speed: Although Battle-Rattle Shaman’s ability isn’t at instant speed, it is essential to note that it triggers during the pre-combat main phase. This timing allows you to tactically choose which creature to enhance right before attacking, which can catch an opponent off guard if they do not anticipate the increase in combat strength. This strategic element can be just as valuable as having an instant speed ability in certain gameplay scenarios.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its ability to boost attacking creatures, Battle-Rattle Shaman doesn’t come without its detriments, particularly the trade-off you must make. To activate its effect, you might need to pitch another card, forcing you to deplete other potential plays or strategies. It’s a tough call when your hand is already running lean.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a particular blend of mana, including red, to be summoned to the field, Battle-Rattle Shaman might find itself stranded in your hand when playing a multicolored deck that is mana-scarce. This limitation can impede its deployment, undermining your deck’s overall tempo and synergy especially when you’re up against fast-paced opponents.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana may cause a tempo hiccup, as the Shaman’s ability to amp up your attack phase might not always justify the mana investment, particularly when you factor in the availability of lower-cost creatures or spells that offer similar or better enhancements.

Reasons to Include Battle-Rattle Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Battle-Rattle Shaman fits seamlessly into a variety of decks, particularly those that rely on creature aggression. Its ability to grant a substantial attack boost each turn makes it a versatile choice for red-based aggro and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: This Shaman excels at enabling combo plays. By targeting creatures that have tap effects or those that benefit from increased power, it sets the stage for explosive turns. It’s great for combining with cards like Temur Battle Rage for a sudden finisher or piling on the damage in multiplayer games.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that’s frequently about tempo, Battle-Rattle Shaman helps maintain and assert board presence. As metas shift towards creature-centric play, its ability to constantly buff attackers each turn ensures its relevance, giving players the edge in tight combat scenarios.

How to beat

Battle-Rattle Shaman is an intriguing Red creature card in Magic: The Gathering, renowned for its ability to boost other creatures’ power during combat. Despite its potential to tilt the battlefield in your favor, there are effective strategies to neutralize its advantages. A key tactic is to prioritize the removal of Battle-Rattle Shaman from the game as swiftly as possible, before combat tricks can be executed. Removal spells that can swiftly dispatch creatures at a low cost, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are excellent for handling the threat this Shaman poses.

Paying attention to your opponent’s mana can also be advantageous. Battle-Rattle Shaman requires a specific window during the pre-combat main phase to activate its ability. Counterspells or instant-speed removal can be timed to interfere with these plans, thereby maintaining the parity of creature power. It’s also beneficial to keep board wipes or damage-based sweepers on hand, ready to clear multiple creatures buffed by the Shaman’s ability all at once.

Understanding the Shaman’s role within the wider Red deck strategies can prepare you for not only this card but also similar threats. By employing removals efficiently and timing your counters properly, you can mitigate the Battle-Rattle Shaman’s impact and maintain control over the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Battle-Rattle Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Battle-Rattle Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Battle-Rattle Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Warren Mahy.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1362003NormalBlackWarren Mahy
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 892015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
32017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 402015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
42017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1172015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
52018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1662015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
62019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 8512015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
72020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1302015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1162015NormalBlackWarren Mahy
92020-09-26The ListPLST E01-402015NormalBlackWarren Mahy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Battle-Rattle Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Battle-Rattle Shaman card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2017-03-14 Battle-Rattle Shaman's ability triggers when the beginning of combat step starts during each of your turns. It resolves before you declare attackers.
2017-03-14 If a spell or ability causes your turn to have multiple combat phases, Battle Rattle Shaman's ability triggers during each of them.