Ire Shaman MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 141
2015-03-28 - Number 141s
2018-03-16 - Number 137
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Orc Shaman |
| Abilities | Megamorph,Menace |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Megamorph feature of Ire Shaman grants card advantage and can alter game dynamics for players.
- Being red mana-specific, Ire Shaman is best suited for mono-red or red-centric MTG decks.
- Versatility and combo potential make Ire Shaman a valid inclusion in aggressive red MTG deck builds.
Text of card
Ire Shaman can't be blocked except by two or more creatures. Megamorph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When Ire Shaman is turned face up, exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ire Shaman boasts an ability known as megamorph, allowing you to turn it face up and gain card advantage. When flipped for its megamorph cost, Ire Shaman grants you access to an additional card, potentially swinging the game in your favor through superior options.
Resource Acceleration: While Ire Shaman itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the form of mana, it does facilitate faster gameplay. By exerting pressure early on and offering card advantage, it can lead to a quicker route in deploying more threats or answers onto the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Although Ire Shaman is a creature card rather than an instant, its megamorph feature introduces a layer of unpredictability similar to playing spells at instant speed. You can strategically choose the right moment to turn Ire Shaman face up, catching opponents off guard and ideally when they’re least prepared to deal with it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players must note that activating Ire Shaman’s prowess of revealing the top card of your library and transforming it comes with the caveat of discarding. This means that engaging ire Shaman’s potential requires a sacrifice, something that may not always align with your hand management strategy, particularly when your hand is nearly empty.
Specific Mana Cost: Ire Shaman’s casting cost is locked behind red mana, making it an exclusive choice for decks that are heavy in red or have a reliable mana fixing mechanism. If you’re running a deck with a diverse color scheme, it might be challenging to ensure a consistent presence of red mana to cast Ire Shaman on time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Looking at the efficiency of mana investment, Ire Shaman’s Megamorph cost may appear steep when evaluating what you get in return. The overall mana commitment, combining both its casting and Megamorph cost, can be seen as high when compared to other creatures or spells in your arsenal that might present better value or more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Ire Shaman in Your Collection
Versatility: Ire Shaman offers flexibility in deck construction with its ability to transform from a creature to a card advantage tool via megamorph, allowing adaptation to the game’s flow.
Combo Potential: When this card is flipped, it not only becomes more powerful but also grants you card draw, facilitating combos with strategies that benefit from either direct damage or red spells synergy.
Meta-Relevance: As games shift and decks require efficient creatures that can also refill your hand, Ire Shaman can be especially potent against control decks that seek to deplete your resources.
How to beat Ire Shaman
Ire Shaman stands out in MTG as a unique creature with the prowess to alter the flow of gameplay. It brings versatility to the battlefield, particularly through its morph ability. When turned face up, Ire Shaman lets you exile the top card of your library, granting you the option to play that card until the end of your turn. This feature illuminates its potential for card advantage in the mid-game.
To effectively counteract Ire Shaman, the key lies in timing. Pounce before it morphs; remove or counter it while it’s still a face-down 2/2 creature. Instants such as Fatal Push or Counterspell serve as your best bet to eliminate the threat without triggering its effect. Alternatively, sustained board control through sweepers like Wrath of God or Doomskar can clean up in the aftermath, efficiently handling Ire Shaman and other concurrent threats.
Dealing with an Ire Shaman requires foresight and strategy. Recognizing the opportune moment to strike, keeping removal ready, and maintaining a robust defense can subdue the card’s advantage and keep you in command of the game. By adopting a proactive approach to the Ire Shaman’s abilities, players can ensure it never fully realizes its potential on the battlefield.
Cards like Ire Shaman
Ire Shaman stands out in the realm of red creature cards with its unique set of abilities. It has a kinship with Goblin Heelcutter for its role in disrupting the opponent’s defense. However, despite having a similar mana cost, Ire Shaman brings an added edge with its Megamorph ability, allowing it not only to turn face up for a surprise but also to draw a card once flipped, providing value beyond its initial appearance.
Another card worth mentioning alongside Ire Shaman is Ashmouth Hound. While boasting a lower mana cost, it doesn’t offer the same level of utility. Ire Shaman eclipses it with the potential for increased power and the advantageous card draw. Then we have Ember Hauler, which also shares the same mana cost but delivers instantaneous damage rather than a card advantage, pushing towards a different strategic approach.
All in all, Ire Shaman’s versatility ensures it a spot within aggressive red decks, where the balance of attack strength and strategic depth through card advantage can turn the tides of play in the popular card game of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Ire Shaman by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ire Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Dragons of Tarkir Promos, 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 Ire Shaman and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Ire Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by Jack Wang.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jack Wang | |
| 2 | 2015-03-28 | Dragons of Tarkir Promos | PDTK | 141s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jack Wang | |
| 3 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jack Wang |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ire Shaman has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ire Shaman 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 | If a face-down Ire Shaman attacks and is blocked by one creature, turning it face up won’t cause it to become unblocked. |
| 2015-02-25 | If a face-down creature with megamorph is turned face up some other way (for example, if you manifest a card with megamorph and then pay its mana cost to turn it face up), you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on it. |
| 2015-02-25 | If you don’t play the card, it will remain exiled. |
| 2015-02-25 | Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. You can find more information on morph on cards with morph from the Khans of Tarkir set. |
| 2015-02-25 | Playing the card exiled with Ire Shaman’s last ability follows the normal rules for playing the card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if the card is a creature card, you can cast that card only during your main phase while the stack is empty. |
| 2015-02-25 | The card exiled with Ire Shaman’s last ability is exiled face up. |
| 2015-02-25 | Turning a face-down creature with megamorph face up and putting a +1/+1 counter on it is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. |
| 2015-02-25 | Under normal circumstances, you can play a land card exiled with Ire Shaman only if you haven’t played a land yet that turn. |
