Shuko MTG Card


Shuko - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Number159
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTim Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

  1. Shuko bolsters decks with its instant speed equip, enabling reactive and flexible combat tactics.
  2. Enhances creature strategies and combo potential, despite its equip cost and mana requisites.
  3. Strategically align artifact removal and creature control to mitigate Shuko’s battlefield impact.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+0. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

"One scratch on a wall meant safe passage, two that the target had already been raided, and three warned of a trap." —*Weaponry of Kamigawa*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Shuko itself doesn’t draw cards directly, it can be a key component in engines that generate card advantage through recurring creatures such as those with the evoke mechanic or creatures that generate effects when they enter or leave the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Shuko’s low equip cost allows for rapid deployment and easy shifting between creatures. This flexibility helps maintain resource acceleration as you can effectively distribute combat capabilities across your creatures without significant mana investment.

Instant Speed: Shuko can be equipped at instant speed, giving you the ability to adapt to changing board states and surprise your opponents with unexpected combat adjustments. This instant speed interaction can be especially beneficial in response to removal spells or during combat to alter the outcome of a battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Shuko card compels you to discard other cards, which might strain your hand and leave you at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: While Shuko requires only one colorless mana to cast, its equip ability commands specific colored mana, which may not always align with your deck’s mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its initial cast cost is low, the recurring expense to utilize its equip feature can add up, especially if you’re constantly moving it between creatures. This can be inefficient when compared to other equipment cards that offer greater benefits for a similar or lower investment.


Reasons to Include Shuko in Your Collection

Versatility: Shuko is a card that easily slots into a variety of deck types, particularly those that capitalize on creature-based strategies. Because it can equip a creature for zero mana, it’s an excellent tool for consistently boosting your creatures’ abilities.

Combo Potential: With its cheap cost and ability to equip at no mana cost, Shuko works well in combo decks, enabling infinite loops with creatures like “Nomads en-Kor” to trigger abilities or power up other synergistic interactions within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: As meta shifts, the adaptable nature of Shuko remains a constant boon. In metagames where quick and recurring creature enhancements are key, Shuko provides a low-cost and persistent option for enhancing your game plan.


How to beat

Shuko is a unique equipment card in Magic: The Gathering, prized for its zero equip cost, making it quite resilient against traditional removal strategies. This advantageous trait allows players to quickly re-equip Shuko to another creature in response to removal attempts, maintaining a constant state of threat on the battlefield. However, like all MTG cards, it’s not without its vulnerabilities. To effectively counter Shuko, one strategy is to limit the number of creatures your opponent has in play. This hampers the card’s capacity to hop between creatures, diminishing its impact. Another effective approach is making use of artifact destruction spells that can remove Shuko from the game before it becomes a nuisance. Cards such as Naturalize or Return to Nature are low-cost solutions that target and eliminate the equipment, thereby disrupting your opponent’s strategic setup.

Additionally, considering the combo potential of Shuko with cards that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or dying, it’s wise to have instant-speed interaction at the ready. By prioritizing removal of key combo pieces over Shuko itself, you ensure that the equipment loses its potency, offering a more enduring solution to the Shuko challenge.


Cards like Shuko

Shuko is a unique equipment card presenting players with strategic versatility in their Magic: The Gathering deck construction. When we compare Shuko to other equipment cards like Bonesplitter, both offer an affordable boost to creature strength. Shuko provides the benefit of attaching to a creature without any mana cost, allowing for fluid and unpredictable plays during a game. Bonesplitter, however, endows a higher power increase but misses the free equip feature that Shuko exploits so well.

Moving to another counterpart, Leonin Scimitar shares some similarity with Shuko coming in at a low mana cost. Both cards enhance creature capabilities albeit with slightly different benefits. Leonin Scimitar provides a permanent buff at a one-time equip cost, contrasting with Shuko’s focus on flexibility and surprise-factor during combat.

Considering the broader scope of equipment cards, Shuko remains distinctive with its budget-friendly cast and equip costs along with rapid re-equip ability that can be tactically advantageous in response to certain gameplay situations. It’s an affordable option for decks that revolve around creatures and combat tricks, epitomizing efficiency within the equipment card niche.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Leonin Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Leonin Scimitar - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Shuko by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Candelabra of Tawnos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Phyrexian Dreadnought - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shuko MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Shuko and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shuko has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 You may activate this card’s equip ability targeting the creature that it is currently attached to, even if it’s the only creature you control. Since the equip ability costs zero, you can do this as many times as you like during your main phases, though it generally won’t do anything.

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