Cabal Shrine MTG Card


Cabal Shrine excels in granting sustained card advantage, key in winning longer duels. Its ability to accelerate mana resources can shift game momentum in your favor. Instant speed activation provides adaptability and surprise against opponents.
Cabal Shrine - Odyssey
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameOdyssey
Set codeODY
Number121
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBen Thompson

Text of card

Whenever a player plays a spell, that player discards X cards from his or her hand, where X is the number of cards in all graveyards with the same name as that spell.


Exploring the Depths of Cabal Shrine

The allure of Cabal Shrine in the world of Magic: The Gathering lies in its similarity to other cards that manipulate players’ graveyards. A functional counterpart to the Shrine, Crypt of Agadeem, also thrives by capitalizing on a well-stocked graveyard to generate a surge of black mana. While Crypt of Agadeem counts on a horde of creatures in the graveyard, Cabal Shrine relies on the diversity of card types to fuel its power.

Cards like Cabal Shrine

Cabal Shrine shares a kinship with versatile mana generation like Black Market, which garners charge counters whenever creatures perish, later transforming death into an abundance of black mana. Unlike the Shrine, Black Market amasses power across multiple turns. Moreover, there’s an echo of Cabal Shrine in Magus of the Coffers, which demands a payment for each swamp you control to fill your mana pool, not unlike how the Shrine thrives on the variety in the graveyard.

Analyses show that while Cabal Shrine integrates seamlessly with strategies that involve a variety of spells, its cousins, Black Market and Magus of the Coffers, prefer a battlefield crowded with creatures or lands. The Shrine’s unique ability to turn a well-rounded graveyard into a robust resource sets it apart in decks designed to exploit every facet of grave-based play.

Crypt of Agadeem - MTG Card versions
Black Market - MTG Card versions
Magus of the Coffers - MTG Card versions
Crypt of Agadeem - MTG Card versions
Black Market - MTG Card versions
Magus of the Coffers - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cabal Shrine by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a powerful engine, Cabal Shrine offers sustained card advantage, allowing players to access a greater pool of options and maintain a hand full of resources throughout the duel. This advantage is especially crucial during longer games where drawing the right card could tip the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Furnishing users with additional mana, Cabal Shrine can significantly accelerate players’ resource generation. This gives you the flexibility to cast high-cost spells sooner than expected, putting you in a commanding position to dictate the pace of the match.

Instant Speed: The ability to utilize Cabal Shrine at instant speed grants players exceptional versatility, enabling them to react to their opponents’ moves. This strategic dimension allows for on-the-fly adaptation to the developing game state, often catching opponents off-guard and yielding a considerable tactical edge.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness the power of Cabal Shrine, players must first satisfy a discard requirement. This can be problematic, especially when your hand is already sparse. Letting go of valuable cards might impede your game plan, making it a double-edged sword where you could sacrifice potential plays for uncertain benefits.

Specific Mana Cost: Cabal Shrine demands a precise arrangement of mana colors to be cast. This attribute makes it challenging for decks that aren’t tailored to support the necessary mana base, potentially restricting its inclusion to specific archetype builds that can accommodate its rigid cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the shrine boasts alluring effects, its casting cost is on the higher side when compared to other cards of similar functionality. This can affect the tempo of your game, as allocating such a considerable portion of your mana resources might prevent you from executing other actions within the same turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Shrine is a card that seamlessly integrates into various deck types, its ability to amplify the power of spells making it a favored choice for spell-heavy or control decks.

Combo Potential: The Shrine enhances combos by potentially reducing spell costs, allowing for more effective turns and synergy with cards that thrive on casting multiple spells in quick succession.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current competitive scene, which often prioritizes spellcasting speed and resource management, Cabal Shrine can provide the necessary edge to stay ahead in matches.


How to Beat Cabal Shrine

Cabal Shrine is a unique piece of the intricate puzzle that makes up Magic: The Gathering’s pool of enchantments. Its ability to grow stronger as you cast more black spells can quickly become a daunting threat if left unchecked. To efficiently handle this card, it is vital to interrupt the pattern that fuels its power. Removing Cabal Shrine before it can accumulate counters is essential. Cards that directly destroy or exile enchantments, such as Disenchant or Mortify, are premier choices for dismantling the Shrine before it becomes insurmountable.

Another strategy is to limit the amount of black spells the opponent can play. Tools like counter magic, thought disruption, or taxing effects put a damper on the Shrine’s potential. Be mindful of the Shrine’s state; the more black spells cast, the stronger it becomes. Acting swiftly to remove it or constrict the opponent’s ability to cast spells can effectively neutralize its threat. Thus, understanding the tempo and controlling the flow of the game is just as critical as having the right answers to beat Cabal Shrine.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Shrine MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Cabal Shrine and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cabal Shrine has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal