Dance of Shadows MTG Card
2004-10-01 - Number 108
2005-08-22 - Number F50
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery — Arcane |
Text of card
Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain fear until end of turn.
"Only one man survived, barely sane. He got out two words before collapsing: shadows' shadows."
Cards like Dance of Shadows
Dance of Shadows ventures into the realm of evasive creature strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Bearing semblance to cards like Cover of Darkness, Dance of Shadows confers Fear on your creatures, allowing them to become unblockable except by artifact and/or black creatures. Cover of Darkness also offers a fear advantage, but it’s more selective, granting it to a creature type of your choice.
Another card that shares similar characteristics is Skulk. Skulk is a mechanic that restricts blocking to creatures with greater power. While not identical, it stands parallel to Dance of Shadows in contributing to combat evasion. Dance of Shadows, however, encompasses all your creatures during a single turn, providing a temporary but more comprehensive cloak of evasiveness.
Lastly, we look at Intimidate, a mechanic that, like Fear, limits the possibility of being blocked. Cards with Intimidate can only be blocked by creatures that share their color or are artifact creatures. Although Dance of Shadows offers this unblockability en masse, creatures with Intimidate maintain their evasion capability indefinitely. Considering the temporary boost that Dance of Shadows gives, it still holds a crucial spot in strategies hinging on that syncopated dance of combat where timing is everything.
Cards similar to Dance of Shadows by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dance of Shadows can potentially shift the tide of a game by offering card advantage. By enabling creatures to deal damage while remaining unblocked, it allows players to connect with effects that trigger on combat damage, drawing cards or causing additional beneficial effects that are crucial for maintaining momentum.
Resource Acceleration: Dance of Shadows may not directly create resources, but when used effectively, the card puts opponents on the defensive, indirectly accelerating your resource advantage. By allowing creatures to get through for damage unhindered, it can expedite victory, lessening the need for extended resource accumulation.
Instant Speed: One of the greatest utilities of Dance of Shadows is its ability to be cast at instant speed. This feature grants significant tactical flexibility, permitting surprise offensive maneuvers during combat that can overwhelm an opponent’s carefully planned defenses or disrupt crucial blocks. Instant speed plays are pivotal to outpacing opponents, turning the rhythm of the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Dance of Shadows card requires players to discard another card to cast it. This can present a notable drawback during gameplay, particularly if you find your hand dwindling and need to maintain a variety of options for strategic flexibility.
Specific Mana Cost: Dance of Shadows demands a specific mana composition to be played, which could potentially restrict its integration into multicolored decks that do not focus on its mana type. This specificity might necessitate a more dedicated deck structure to optimize its potential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher casting cost than some alternatives, Dance of Shadows may not be the most mana-efficient choice for all strategies. There are other cards in the same mana range that could provide a more impactful presence on the battlefield or offer more immediate value to your gameplay ambitions.
Reasons to Include Dance of Shadows in Your Collection
Versatility: Dance of Shadows can be a key card for decks that focus on leveraging the power of shadow creatures. Its ability to give creatures shadow until end of turn can turn the tides unexpectedly in your favor.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies aiming to evade blockers or with mechanics that benefit from creatures dealing combat damage to a player. It can function as a powerful enabler for offensive combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prominent, Dance of Shadows allows you to slip past defenses, potentially making it a useful surprise play against unsuspecting opponents.
How to Beat Dance of Shadows
Dance of Shadows is an intriguing card that can turn the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering. It grants shadow to your creatures, making them virtually unblockable except by creatures with the same ability. Although this card can lead to a surprise finish, there are ways to nullify its effect. Strategies to overcome it include utilising removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, which can clear the field of shadow creatures indiscriminately. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation are excellent choices.
Another effective strategy is countering Dance of Shadows before it has an effect. Counterspells like Negate or Mystical Dispute can ensure that it never resolves, keeping your opponent’s creatures blockable. Additionally, playing cards that grant your creatures reach or using spells that can deal damage regardless of creature abilities are useful. Finally, remember that shadow creatures can only block other shadow creatures. Altering your tactical approach, focusing on defense until you can execute one of these strategies, can serve to mitigate the advantage bestowed by Dance of Shadows.
Understanding the mechanics and having a versatile deck with the right counters ensures that Dance of Shadows doesn’t dance away with your chance of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dance of Shadows MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa and Salvat 2005, 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 Dance of Shadows and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Dance of Shadows Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-10-01 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Chippy.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-10-01 | Champions of Kamigawa | CHK | 108 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chippy | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | F50 | 2003 | Normal | White | Chippy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dance of Shadows has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |