Thundercloud Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Giant Shaman
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Its board-clearing ability offers a major advantage in Giant-themed strategies.
  2. Indirectly accelerates resources by removing smaller blockers for Giants.
  3. Pressure on opponents can lead to advantageous board states.

Text of card

When Thundercloud Shaman comes into play, it deals damage equal to the number of Giants you control to each non-Giant creature.

He cares not for the disasters his storm brings as long as his path ahead is clear.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Thundercloud Shaman shines in decks centered around Giants, as when it enters the battlefield, its triggered ability has the potential to clear multiple creatures from the board. This can lead to significant card advantage by dealing with several of an opponent’s threats with just one card.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resource acceleration, Thundercloud Shaman’s ability to act as a board sweeper can indirectly accelerate your resources. By eliminating smaller creatures, it clears the path for your heavier hitters to attack and control the board, thereby requiring less defensive resource allocation and freeing up mana for other spells.

Instant Speed: Although Thundercloud Shaman itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its presence puts pressure on opponents to play around its devastating effect. This can lead them to play more cautiously or reserve instant-speed removals for it, indirectly giving you the tempo advantage as you smoothly deploy your threats on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thundercloud Shaman doesn’t directly demand you discard cards, but as a Giant spell, it might require certain build-around or make you discard to meet Giant-related mechanics of other cards in your deck, which can be less than ideal when your hand is already thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Thundercloud Shaman’s casting cost demands three specific mana colors, including a double red, which can be a challenge to amass early or consistently in a multi-color deck, ultimately restricting it to decks that can reliably produce red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Thundercloud Shaman sits at a higher mana bracket which might be too slow against fast-paced decks. Other creatures or removal spells at this cost could potentially provide immediate impact or broader utility.


Reasons to Include Thundercloud Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Thundercloud Shaman serves as a key player in decks that capitalize on the Giant tribe. Due to its ability to deal damage to all non-Giant creatures equal to the number of Giants you control, it can function as a board sweeper in the right deck, offering significant tactical flexibility.

Combo Potential: Pairing Thundercloud Shaman with cards that increase the number of Giants you control or that clone creatures can exponentially increase the damage dealt during its entry to the battlefield, turning it into a game-changing play.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, Thundercloud Shaman can be a valuable asset. Its potential to disrupt opponents’ strategies by clearing multiple creatures at once keeps it relevant, particularly in multiplayer formats where board states can become very crowded.


Understanding Thundercloud Shaman

Thundercloud Shaman serves as a powerful force in Magic: The Gathering, especially within Giant tribal decks. It carries the potential to deal a sweeping blow to your opponents’ creatures, dependent on the number of Giants you control. This formidable card can swiftly shift the board state in your favor when played strategically in a deck replete with Giants, as it provides both a sizable creature and a mass removal aspect.

How to beat

To effectively counter Thundercloud Shaman, players must focus on minimizing the card’s impact. Restraining the number of Giants on the battlefield is a smart approach, directly limiting the damage Thundercloud Shaman can inflict upon arrival. Employing instant speed removal to address the Shaman before its ability triggers or utilizing counterspells to prevent it from hitting the board altogether proves to be effective strategies. Additionally, cards that offer protection from red can safeguard your creatures from its ability, ensuring the Shaman’s entrance is less devastating. By staying alert and employing these tactics, players can maintain control against a Thundercloud Shaman centric offense.


Cards like Thundercloud Shaman

In the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, Thundercloud Shaman stands out as a potent force in Giant tribal decks. It’s often measured against other Giant cohorts like Sunrise Sovereign, who similarly buffs fellow Giants and imparts trample. What sets Thundercloud Shaman apart is its entry effect, damaging all non-Giant creatures based on the number of Giants under your control, a potent board sweep in the right deck. Sunrise Sovereign, while it doesn’t offer the board clearing utility, does continue to make your Giant creatures more formidable over time.

Another related card is the equally disruptive Blind-Spot Giant. This card is less expensive to cast but is contingent on the presence of another Giant to be used—a limitation Thundercloud Shaman doesn’t share. While not offering direct damage, Blind-Spot Giant can provide early-game pressure. Conversely, Thundercloud Shaman’s impact is felt more significantly in the mid to late game, where it can turn the tides by clearing multiple threats at once.

Ultimately, Thundercloud Shaman carves a unique niche in MTG, presenting a valuable combination of tribal synergy and crowd control, undoubtedly making it a card worth considering in any Giant-focused strategy.

Sunrise Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Sunrise Sovereign - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Thundercloud Shaman by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
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Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
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Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Ravaging Horde - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Thundering Giant - Tenth Edition (10E)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Savage Firecat - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thundercloud Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Modern Masters, 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 Thundercloud Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thundercloud Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-10-12LorwynLRW 1952003normalblackGreg Staples
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1352003normalblackGreg Staples
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1682015normalblackGreg Staples
42018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1232015normalblackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thundercloud Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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