Disrupting Shoal MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 33
2018-12-07 - Number 51
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant — Arcane |
Text of card
You may remove a blue card with converted mana cost X in your hand from the game rather than pay Disrupting Shoal's mana cost. Counter target spell if its converted mana cost is X.
Cards like Disrupting Shoal
Disrupting Shoal is a unique force in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, joining the arsenal of counterspell options available to players. Comparable to the well-known card Force of Will, Disrupting Shoal offers a similar allure by allowing players to counter spells without paying mana by exiling a blue card from their hand with the same converted mana cost as the spell being countered. While Force of Will requires one life and any blue card, Disrupting Shoal’s requirement for a matching mana cost can be both a limitation and a strategic advantage.
Looking at Spell Pierce, another crucial counter in the game, we see a simpler and more flexible card. It requires only a single blue mana to counter noncreature spells unless the opponent pays two more. Spell Pierce is more accessible in the early game, yet it lacks the late-game surprise factor that Disrupting Shoal offers with its mana-free alternative. Another peer in this category is Pact of Negation, a zero-cost counter that allows a last-ditch effort to thwart an opponent’s plans but comes with the steep price of needing to pay five mana on the next turn or lose the game.
When considering the range of counter-magic cards in Magic: The Gathering, Disrupting Shoal holds a unique position, offering versatility and strategic depth especially well-suited for blue-based control decks aiming for tempo advantage.
Cards similar to Disrupting Shoal by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Disrupting Shoal. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selective Oracle | Modern | Selective Oracle | Modern League 2023-12-11 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Disrupting Shoal provides a unique way to gain card advantage by countering an opponent’s spell without spending mana, effectively putting you a card ahead if the conditions are right. This advantage can be crucial in keeping the upper hand in the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card can serve as a powerful tool for resource acceleration. By utilizing the alternate casting cost, you’re able to save mana for other spells in your hand, thereby accelerating your overall resource usage and maintaining a lead in board state development.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Disrupting Shoal at instant speed gives you significant flexibility. You can disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn, protect your board, or counter key spells when it’s most advantageous, all while maintaining the surprise element that comes with instant speed interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Disrupting Shoal necessitates discarding a blue card with the exact mana cost as the spell you’re aiming to counter. This can be disadvantageous especially when your hand doesn’t align with the spells your opponent is playing, thereby limiting its effectiveness.
Specific Mana Cost: The usefulness of Disrupting Shoal is hinged on having blue cards in hand, making it restrictive in multicolored decks that may not have a blue card readily available to match your opponent’s spell mana cost.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Casting Disrupting Shoal without its alternate cost requires paying an expensive five mana, which includes two blue. Other counter spells demand less mana, providing more efficient means to protect your game state or disrupt an opponent’s strategy.
Reasons to Include Disrupting Shoal in Your Collection
Versatility: Disrupting Shoal is a unique card that can adapt to various game scenarios. As a free counter spell when you exile a blue card from your hand with the same mana cost as the target spell, it can be slotted into blue-focused decks that prioritize keeping mana open for other plays or maintaining a certain tempo.
Combo Potential: This card can unexpectedly disrupt an opponent’s key play without spending mana, which can be crucial when setting up or protecting your own combo. It pairs well with decks that run a range of blue spells, ensuring that you have the flexibility to counter strategically.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on low-to-mid-cost spells, Disrupting Shoal shines by providing a way to counter without falling behind on board presence. Especially against aggressive or combo-oriented decks, being able to counter a vital spell without using mana can swing the game in your favor.
How to Beat Disrupting Shoal
Disrupting Shoal is a unique card in the realm of counter spells. Its key feature allows players to exile a blue card with the same mana value instead of paying its mana cost, which can be a surprising twist during gameplay. This ability mirrors that of Force of Will, a well-known card for its no-mana counter ability, yet Disrupting Shoal offers a different angle with its mana value matching strategy.
To effectively counteract Disrupting Shoal’s potential, understanding the mana curve of your deck is essential. Consider diversifying the mana values of your spells to minimize the risk of getting caught by the Shoal’s free counter effect. Additionally, baiting out the counter with less critical spells can exhaust your opponent’s resources and clear a path for your more potent threats. Moreover, cards like Cavern of Souls can render your key creatures uncounterable, effectively bypassing Disrupting Shoal’s disruption.
Ultimately, while Disrupting Shoal can provide strategic advantages, it’s a card that requires some predictability of an opponent’s plays. By keeping your strategies flexible and unpredictable, you can diminish the Shoal’s impact and maintain control over the course of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Disrupting Shoal MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Ultimate 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 Disrupting Shoal and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Disrupting Shoal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 33 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 51 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott M. Fischer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Disrupting Shoal has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Disrupting Shoal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-02-01 | Disrupting Shoal can target any spell, but does nothing unless that spell’s converted mana cost is X. |
| 2018-12-07 | If a card in your hand has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |
| 2018-12-07 | If a spell has in its mana cost, include the value chosen for that X when determining the converted mana cost of that spell, even if it was cast for an alternative cost and no mana was spent on X. |