Shrike Harpy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Harpy
Abilities	Flying,Tribute
Released	2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set name	Born of the Gods
Set code	BNG
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	83
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Forces sacrifices, generating card advantage in decks built around creature deaths.
Shrike Harpy’s black mana cost can limit its inclusion in multicolor decks.
Has potential as a tactical element in creature-centric metagames.

Text of card

Flying Tribute 2 (As this creature enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice may place two +1/+1 counters on it.) When Shrike Harpy enters the battlefield, if tribute wasn't paid, target opponent sacrifices a creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shrike Harpy’s ability to force each player to sacrifice a creature can lead to a direct gain in the number of in-play resources you control versus your opponent. Manipulating sacrifice while having creatures with death triggers or less valuable creatures turns this into an asymmetric advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: Its potency lies not in traditional mana acceleration but in the potential to remove blockers or crucial creatures that your opponent controls, effectively accelerating your game plan by indirectly disrupting theirs.

Instant Speed: While Shrike Harpy itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the ability to play around it does. Designs that involve sacrificing creatures can greatly benefit from instant-speed interaction, allowing you to respond to threats or utilize triggers at the most opportune times.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Shrike Harpy often requires sacrificing a portion of your hand, which can be a steep price when trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of this creature is locked into black mana, making it less versatile for multicolored decks and potentially a tricky fit outside of mono-black or heavily black-focused strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that demands a sizeable investment of your resources, Shrike Harpy may compete with other powerful cards at the same cost point, sometimes resulting in less effective board development early on.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shrike Harpy offers multifaceted applications, thriving in environments where sacrificing creatures is beneficial. Its ability to manipulate the board makes it a versatile choice for decks focusing on attrition strategies or reanimator themes.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to force each player to sacrifice a creature can be tactically paired with cards that reap benefits from creature deaths or enemy board diminishment, setting the stage for powerful synergies and devastating plays.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based tactics commonly found across various formats, Shrike Harpy can emerge as a pivotal answer to creatures that are otherwise difficult to remove, giving it a place in sideboards or even main decks, depending on the shifting tides of competitive play.

How to Beat Shrike Harpy

Shrike Harpy poses a unique challenge with its tribute mechanic, allowing opponents to choose between giving it +1/+1 counters or sacrificing a creature. It can swing the tide in a game if not addressed promptly. To get the upper hand, it’s beneficial to have creature removal cards at the ready. Instant speed spells like Doom Blade or Murder are effective, as they can be cast in response to the Harpy’s tribute trigger, ensuring that its controller doesn’t reap the benefits.

Another strategy is to maintain a board presence with expendable creatures. Token generators, such as Raise the Alarm, can provide fodder to sacrifice without sacrificing your board state’s quality. On the flip side, if allowing Shrike Harpy to get the counters, ensure you have creatures that can outclass it in combat or use enchantments like Pacifism to neutralize the threat without engaging in combat. By anticipating your opponent’s moves and keeping versatile answers in hand, Shrike Harpy can be managed effectively.

At the end of the day, understanding the flow of the game and knowing what resources you have available to counter Shrike Harpy will be vital. Planning ahead and using your spells and creatures strategically can prevent this creature from overrunning the battlefield.

Cards like Shrike Harpy

Shrike Harpy emerges as a captivating component in the graveyard synergy strategy of Magic: The Gathering. It draws a parallel to cards like Liliana’s Specter, which also causes opponents to sacrifice a creature upon entering the battlefield. Shrike Harpy, however, has the advantage of the Tribute mechanic, offering opponents a dubious choice between empowering the creature or suffering the consequences of losing a creature. While Liliana’s Specter has a certain consistency, Shrike Harpy introduces a strategic complexity with its Tribute.

Another card that resonates with Shrike Harpy’s theme is Fleshbag Marauder. This creature mandates a sacrifice from all players when it hits the battlefield. Although it lacks the Tribute mechanic, its unprejudiced demand for sacrifice can be both a boon and a bane, depending on board state. But Shrike Harpy allows for more tactical maneuvering, potentially leading to more advantageous outcomes depending on your opponent’s choices.

Through analyzing the trade-offs of using Shrike Harpy against its counterparts, we see that its value in MTG lies in its ability to present opponents with challenging decisions and in its synergy with decks that flourish upon the creatures’ demise or through controlling the battlefield with strategic sacrifices.

—Note: The above content follows the user’s instructions, using comparisons with similar cards without specifying detailed card abilities beyond the comparison, as the word limit does not allow for extensive detail.

Cards similar to Shrike Harpy by color, type and mana cost

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Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shrike Harpy MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Shrike Harpy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shrike Harpy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2014-02-01	If the opponent pays tribute, the creature will enter the battlefield with the specified number of +1/+1 counters on it. It won’t enter the battlefield and then have the +1/+1 counters placed on it.
2014-02-01	If the triggered ability has a target, that target will not be known while the creature spell with tribute is on the stack.
2014-02-01	Players can’t respond to the tribute decision before the creature enters the battlefield. That is, if the opponent doesn’t pay tribute, the triggered ability will trigger before any player has a chance to remove the creature.
2014-02-01	The choice of whether to pay tribute is made as the creature with tribute is entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late to respond to the creature spell. For example, in a multiplayer game, opponents won’t know whether tribute will be paid or which opponent will be chosen to pay tribute or not when deciding whether to counter the creature spell.
2014-02-01	The opponent you target with the triggered ability doesn’t have to be the same opponent you chose to pay tribute or not.
2014-02-01	The triggered ability will resolve even if the creature with tribute isn’t on the battlefield at that time.
2017-04-18	For effects that check which player put counters on the entering creature, the player chosen to pay tribute puts those counters on it, not the creature’s controller.