Shaman of Forgotten Ways MTG Card


Shaman of Forgotten Ways - Dragons of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Abilities Formidable
Released2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set nameDragons of Tarkir
Set codeDTK
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number204
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTyler Jacobson

Key Takeaways

  1. Shaman of Forgotten Ways provides card advantage and accelerates in-game resources, essential for game-winning plays.
  2. Despite its benefits, the Shaman’s high casting cost and specific mana requirement can hamper deck flexibility.
  3. It’s a versatile card with combo potential, able to shift game dynamics significantly when conditions are met.

Text of card

: Add two mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells. Formidable — , : Each player's life total becomes the number of creatures he or she controls. Activate this ability only if creatures you control have total power 8 or greater.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shaman of Forgotten Ways not only serves as an efficient creature on the board, but its formidable ability can decisively alter the landscape of a game, offering a unique form of advantage by setting up potential game-winning scenarios.

Resource Acceleration: As a formidable mana dork, Shaman of Forgotten Ways excels at ramping up your resources, providing the mana acceleration needed to deploy your heavy hitters ahead of schedule, which is invaluable in any deck looking to outpace the opponent.

Instant Speed: While Shaman of Forgotten Ways operates at sorcery speed, its presence pressures opponents to respond instantly. Failure to do so can lead to swift ends, as the formidable ability can activate during upkeep before the opponent’s draw, thereby circumventing traditional instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shaman of Forgotten Ways necessitates that you expend valuable creatures to activate its formidable ability. This requirement can deplete your board presence, leaving you vulnerable to opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: The Shaman demands a mix of generic and green mana to cast, which can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks that rely heavily on other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two green, its initial impact on the game might not be as swift as other lower-costed mana dorks, potentially slowing down your overall game plan.


Reasons to Include Shaman of Forgotten Ways in Your Collection

Versatility: Shaman of Forgotten Ways is extremely adaptable, fitting seamlessly into creature-based decks and those revolving around mana acceleration. Its ability to produce mana of any color for creature spells makes it an integral part of many multicolored decks.

Combo Potential: The card’s formidable activated ability can decimate opponents, especially when combined with other cards that protect your board or manipulate life totals. When the time is right, Shaman of Forgotten Ways can turn the tide of the game with its game-ending potential.

Meta-Relevance: In schemas where creature strategies are prevalent, this card offers a critical edge. Not only does it ramp up your mana, but it also poses a latent threat that must be answered by opponents, thereby shaping the pace and outcome of matches.


How to beat

Shaman of Forgotten Ways is a dynamic creature card that can be a game-changer in Magic: The Gathering due to its mana-generating ability and formidable Formidable skill that can set an opponent’s life total to a mere 1. To counter this card, one must consider removals or counterspells effectively. A straightforward strategy is to use instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile before the formidable ability is activated, ensuring the Shaman never paves the way for potentially devastating plays.

Control decks can keep an eye on the Shaman with counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak to prevent it from hitting the board in the first place. Cards that strip abilities from creatures, like Turn to Frog, can also neutralize the Shaman, rendering its formidable ability moot. In formats where board sweepers are prevalent, cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar come in handy to reset the board and remove the Shaman regardless of its summoning sickness or protective measures.

Lastly, keep pressure on your opponent’s mana resources. Without sufficient mana, the Shaman’s abilities become much harder to activate, leaving your opponent with less room to maneuver and ultimately securing your position in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embracing the tactical depth of MTG, Shaman of Forgotten Ways exemplifies resourcefulness and adaptability on the battlefield. This card beckons those who recognize the finesse required to skillfully integrate its strengths and navigate its complexities within a game. Whether you’re ramping up for a powerful onslaught or seeking that pivotal moment to swing a match in your favor, integrating this shaman into your collection could be your next strategic milestone. If unlocking the full potential of Shaman of Forgotten Ways intrigues you, connect with us to discover strategies that optimize its use and enhance your MTG repertoire.


Cards like Shaman of Forgotten Ways

Shaman of Forgotten Ways is not just a creature but also a facilitator of powerful plays in Magic: The Gathering. Its functionality is closely mirrored by another formidable mana dork, Birds of Paradise. Both contribute to mana acceleration yet Birds of Paradise is noteworthy for its one-mana casting cost and ability to produce mana of any color. However, Shaman of Forgotten Ways comes with a higher power and toughness alongside its unique ‘Formidable’ ability to set a player’s life total to a perilous brink.

Rattleclaw Mystic stands as a comparison too. This creature can morph and upon flipping, adds a burst of mana much like Shaman but without the game-ending ability. Selvala, Heart of the Wilds is worth mentioning as it provides a similar ramp benefit, scaling with the creatures played, while also granting card draw. But, none of these cards match Shaman’s dual nature of ramping into big creatures and having a built-in win condition.

Thus, while there are other cards that ramp and add resources, Shaman of Forgotten Ways distinguishes itself with the capacity to drastically change the landscape of a game—potentially winning on the spot when the ‘Formidable’ condition is met.

Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Rattleclaw Mystic - MTG Card versions
Selvala, Heart of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Rattleclaw Mystic - MTG Card versions
Selvala, Heart of the Wilds - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shaman of Forgotten Ways MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Shaman of Forgotten Ways and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shaman of Forgotten Ways has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shaman of Forgotten Ways card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-02-25 Count the number of creatures each player controls when the last ability resolves to determine what number each player’s life total will become.
2015-02-25 For a player’s life total to become a specific number, the player gains or loses the appropriate amount of life. For example, if a player’s life total is 12 and that player controls three creatures as the ability resolves, they will lose 9 life. Other effects that interact with life gain or loss will interact with this effect accordingly.
2015-02-25 If a player controls no creatures as the last ability resolves, their life total will become 0, causing that player to lose the game. If all players’ life totals become 0 this way, the game will be a draw.
2015-02-25 If you control a creature with power less than 0, use its actual power when calculating the total power of creatures you control. For example, if you control three creatures with powers 4, 5, and -2, the total power of creatures you control is 7.
2015-02-25 Other formidable abilities are triggered abilities with an “intervening ‘if’” clause. Such abilities check the total power of creatures you control twice: once at the appropriate time to see if the ability will trigger, and again as the ability tries to resolve. If, at that time, the total power of creatures you control is no longer 8 or greater, the ability will have no effect.
2015-02-25 Some formidable abilities are activated abilities that require creatures you control to have total power 8 or greater. Once you activate these abilities, it doesn’t matter what happens to the total power of creatures you control.
2015-02-25 The first ability of Shaman of Forgotten Ways is a mana ability. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.
2015-02-25 The mana produced by Shaman of Forgotten Ways can be used to cast face-down creature spells with morph or megamorph.

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