Silverback Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ape Shaman
Abilities Trample
Power 5
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Draws cards upon death, maintaining hand resources and giving players a strategic edge in the game.
  2. Demands specific mana cost, potentially limiting its inclusion in versatile or multi-colored decks.
  3. Offers a solid 5/4 creature for green strategies, enhancing both board presence and deck cycle efficiency.

Text of card

Trample (This creature can deal excess combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.) When Silverback Shaman dies, draw a card.

The apes of Yavimaya draw strength from the spirits of their ancestors.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Silverback Shaman ensures you stay ahead in resources by providing a draw upon its departure. This keeps your hand replenished, giving you more options and answers in evolving game scenarios.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card does not directly accelerate resources like land or mana production, its presence on the battlefield can deter opponents, preserving your mana-base and life total for more critical plays down the line.

Instant Speed: While Silverback Shaman operates at sorcery speed, its inherent abilities optimize your turns. The threat of this creature alone can affect your opponent’s actions, potentially allowing you to capitalize on their hesitance at instant speed with other cards in your deck.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect that may deter players is the absence of a discard effect. While Silverback Shaman offers no requirement to discard, this also means a lost opportunity for decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies or reanimation tactics.

Specific Mana Cost: Silverback Shaman demands a precise blend of mana to cast—three green mana in its cost, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or flexible mana bases. Decks that don’t support a heavy green commitment might struggle to utilize the Shaman effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The five mana required to cast Silverback Shaman is considerable, particularly since the card faces stiff competition from other creatures in the same mana range that may offer more immediate board presence or game-altering effects upon entry.


Reasons to Include Silverback Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Silverback Shaman offers great flexibility for a variety of green decks. Its solid stats as a 5/4 creature ensure it’s a substantial presence on the board. Additionally, the Shaman’s ability to draw a card when it dies adds value, ensuring that its impact extends beyond its time on the field.

Combo Potential: In decks that focus on graveyard recursion or sacrificing creatures for benefits, Silverback Shaman shines. It can be combined with effects that return it from the graveyard to your hand or the battlefield, leveraging both its combat potential and card draw repeatedly.

Meta-Relevance: Green decks that focus on creature-based strategies can highly benefit from the Shaman. At a time when board presence and card advantage are crucial, the additional draw from Silverback Shaman ensures you maintain momentum against control decks and outpace other midrange competitors.


How to Beat Silverback Shaman

Silverback Shaman is a creature that can be quite a presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to draw a card upon death, it offers the controlling player a bit of resilience and card advantage. However, there are strategies to mitigate its impact.

One effective method is to utilize cards that exile rather than destroy. By doing so, you prevent the Shaman’s death trigger from activating, circumventing its card draw ability. Another approach is to avoid engaging it in combat if possible. Instead, using spells or abilities that reduce its toughness to zero can remove the Shaman without affording its controller the extra card. Additionally, employing counterspells to prevent Silverback Shaman from hitting the field in the first place can save you from having to deal with its death-triggered advantage.

When facing a Silverback Shaman, it’s also wise to consider the tempo of the game. Timing your removal spells for maximum effect, perhaps when your opponent is least prepared to capitalize on drawing a card, can dampen the impact of losing a creature. In essence, knowing when to tackle this formidable ape can be as important as how you do it.


BurnMana Recommendations

Navigating MTG’s evolving landscapes calls for strategic deck construction, and Silverback Shaman is a card that merits consideration. With its inherent card draw ability, it sustains your momentum even when it leaves the battlefield. While it doesn’t cater to all types of decks, it’s a powerhouse in green-centric strategies. Knowing its strengths and potential combos can give you the edge in creature-heavy matchups. Interested in optimizing your deck’s potential with Silverback Shaman? Dive deeper with us to understand how to wield this card’s power effectively and enrich your gameplay experience.


Understanding Silverback Shaman

Delving into the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, the Silverback Shaman stands as a commendable creature card for any green deck. This formidable ape shaman leaps into play with a significant 5/4 body. Upon meeting its end, whether in battle or due to other card effects, it allows its owner to draw a card, bringing a genuine sense of resilience and resource regeneration.

Cards like Silverback Shaman

Silverback Shaman belongs to a lineage of creature cards with built-in card advantages. It’s similar to other green creatures like Elvish Visionary, which also draws a card upon entering the battlefield. But Silverback Shaman boasts a larger frame, making it a more durable threat on the field. Comparatively, Wall of Blossoms gives you a card upon its arrival while providing a formidable defensive barrier, but it does not compare in offensive capabilities to the Shaman.

Another adherent of the green magic’s core of creatures with a card-draw ability is Elvish Rejuvenator. While this elf doesn’t match the shaman’s might, it melds mana acceleration with card advantage by fetching lands directly into play. The balance between ramp and card acquisition is a sought-after trait in any green strategy. However, neither the rejuvenator’s effect nor the Visionary’s match the raw power provided by the Silverback Shaman’s presence on the board.

Undoubtedly, Silverback Shaman claims its space in MTG as a commanding force that combines aggression with card draw. This seamless integration of two compelling aspects defines it as a staple for players aiming to maintain substantial board presence while cycling through their deck.

Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Wall of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Elvish Rejuvenator - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Wall of Blossoms - Stronghold (STH)
Elvish Rejuvenator - Core Set 2019 Promos (PM19)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silverback Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Commander Legends, 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 Silverback Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Silverback Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 1952015normalblackMathias Kollros
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2552015normalblackMathias Kollros
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 7282015normalblackMathias Kollros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silverback Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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