Chilling Shade MTG Card


Chilling Shade - Coldsnap
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSnow Creature — Shade
Abilities Flying
Released2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set nameColdsnap
Set codeCSP
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number53
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJeff Nentrup

Key Takeaways

  1. Grows in power with snow mana, providing a scalable threat within the right deck configuration.
  2. Its instant speed pumping ability adds a layer of combat surprise and strategic flexibility.
  3. Demands a specific mana base and may cause card disadvantage with its discard requirement.

Text of card

Flying {S}: Chilling Shade gets +1/+1 until end of turn. ({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow permanent.)

Rimewind necromancers caught travelers in mystical blizzards then trapped their spirits in the mist of their final frozen breaths.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chilling Shade has the potential to grow in power with each snow mana you spend, continuously boosting its strength, which can put your opponent in a difficult position if not dealt with promptly.

Resource Acceleration: While Chilling Shade itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it perfectly complements decks that aim to maximize the use of snow mana, often available through various lands or mana rocks that tap for this special type of resource.

Instant Speed: The ability to pump Chilling Shade at instant speed offers strategic flexibility. This lets players wait until the last possible moment before committing mana to it, allowing for a sudden increase in power that can surprise opponents during combat or at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chilling Shade often falls short in decks that rely on retaining card advantage. This card urges players to discard another card to trigger its ability, which could be detrimental during late-game scenarios when your hand is sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: The strength of Chilling Shade is tethered to its snow mana dependency. Players who do not incorporate a mana base heavily focused on snow lands will find it challenging to consistently utilize Chilling Shade’s potential to its fullest.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the efficiency of mana to power, Chilling Shade requires a notable initial investment and further mana to improve its combat capabilities. This ongoing cost can set players back against opponents employing lower cost creatures with similar or greater impact.


Reasons to Include Chilling Shade in Your Collection

Versatility: Chilling Shade offers a unique flexibility to black-themed decks. Its ability to fly and get stronger with snow mana makes it a versatile choice for various strategies seeking evasive threats or snow synergies.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to become a powerhouse when combined with cards that generate ample snow mana. It can surprise opponents by scaling up in power during combat, capitalizing on underutilized mana.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures can dominate, Chilling Shade provides an answer to evasive threats while also being a formidable airborne force itself. Its snow mana-fueled growth can adapt to the pace of the game, making it relevant in various match-ups.


How to beat

Chilling Shade is a unique creature card that can slip through your defenses if you’re not adequately prepared in your MTG match. With its flying ability, Chilling Shade can often evade ground-based creatures, making it a persistent threat in the skies. Balancing the battlefield against this chilling adversary requires a strategic approach.

A direct way to counter Chilling Shade, or any creature with flying, is to incorporate cards that can deal with flying threats. Powering your deck with creatures that have reach or spells that can damage or destroy flying creatures is a wise move. Cards such as Plummet, which specifically target creatures with flying, are a good fit against Chilling Shade. Enchantments providing a larger strategy, like Spider Silk Net or Windstorm, also act as a deterrent, ensuring you’re not caught off guard. Moreover, instant-speed removal spells keep your opponent on their toes, ready to neutralize Chilling Shade before it becomes too powerful.

In summary, staying one step ahead of Chilling Shade requires a defense that’s as cold and calculated as the card itself. By fortifying your deck with purposeful anti-flying measures, you ensure Chilling Shade doesn’t chill your chances of victory.


Cards like Chilling Shade

Chilling Shade offers a unique take on creature flexibility in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature similar to the likes of Frozen Shade, Chilling Shade allows players to increase its power for each black mana invested. Unlike Frozen Shade, which has a slightly lower mana cost for activation, Chilling Shade benefits from the snow mechanic, gaining more power with snow lands specifically.

Another card worthy of comparison is the Drifting Shade, which, much like our focus card, can see its power grow with each black mana. The difference, however, lies in Chilling Shade’s snow synergy, emphasizing the importance of a deck’s mana base. Lastly, Nantuko Shade stands out with its potentially higher power ceiling due to its larger base power, but again it lacks the snow land interaction that can give Chilling Shade an edge in certain decks.

Evaluating Chilling Shade alongside similar creatures reveals how snow lands can add a strategic layer to the game, making Chilling Shade a compelling option for players looking to exploit this particular mechanic to its fullest potential within their MTG decks.

Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Drifting Shade - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Drifting Shade - Magic 2012 (M12)
Nantuko Shade - Torment (TOR)

Cards similar to Chilling Shade by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Spined Basher - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Bone - Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana (DDD)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Spined Basher - Onslaught (ONS)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chilling Shade MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Chilling Shade and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chilling Shade has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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