Deadbridge Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Gaining card advantage through opponent discard can disrupt their plan, leveraging crucial momentum.
  2. Combos effectively with graveyard synergies, enhancing deck strategies focused on reanimation or delve.
  3. Instant speed sacrifice adds a layer of unpredictability, enabling strategic plays against opponents.

Text of card

When Deadbridge Shaman dies, target opponent discards a card.

Ending her life won't end the infestation.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Deadbridge Shaman leaves the battlefield, an opponent discards a card, effectively reducing their hand and potentially disrupting their strategy. This can often lead to gaining an edge in card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While Deadbridge Shaman itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its graveyard synergy can enhance other aspects of your deck that focus on delving or reanimation, indirectly boosting your resource potential.

Instant Speed: The ability of Deadbridge Shaman to force an opponent to discard at any moment of sacrifice—not just on your turn—adds a layer of flexibility and surprise. This instant-speed interaction allows strategic planning, disrupting opponents precisely when it’s most disadvantageous for them.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When Deadbridge Shaman leaves the battlefield, a player must discard a card, which can be a setback if you’re already behind in card advantage or if your strategy relies on a full hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Deadbridge Shaman requires one black mana, making it exclusive to black or multicolored decks and reducing its versatility in decks without black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a three-mana creature, the effect of forcing a discard upon death is not always impactful, especially considering other cards in the mana range may provide a more immediate and substantial effect on the game state.


Reasons to Include Deadbridge Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadbridge Shaman offers flexibility for decks that are looking to gain an edge in the resource exchange game. This three mana cost creature is not only a respectable presence on the board but also facilitates advantageous discard strategies upon leaving the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to make an opponent discard when it dies makes it an intriguing option for triggering effects that benefit from opponents discarding cards or from your own creatures dying, folding nicely into sacrifice or graveyard-based synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where hand disruption is key to destabilizing opponents, Deadbridge Shaman proves to be a valuable tactical asset. It fits well in metas where controlling the opponent’s hand size can disrupt their game plan, making it a useful tool in your arsenal.


How to beat

The Deadbridge Shaman presents a unique strategic hurdle in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that causes an opponent to discard when it dies, handling it without losing card advantage is crucial. A smart strategy is employing removals that exiles instead of sending the card to the graveyard, such as Path to Exile or Leyline of the Void, to neutralize its effect. This approach circumvents the Shaman’s last laugh, keeping your hand intact.

Playing around Deadbridge Shaman also involves timing. You might opt to wait on using removal until your hand can afford to lose a card, or when you have no cards at all. Sacrificing empty-handed removes the downside entirely. Alternatively, instant-speed removal allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions, potentially forcing them to make unfavorable plays or discard themselves during their own turn.

Considering these tactics, while the Deadbridge Shaman can be a thorn in one’s side, understanding and exploiting the timing of its ability allows you to mitigate the impact it has on your game plan. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll find this Shaman far less daunting to face across the battlefield.


Cards like Deadbridge Shaman

Deadbridge Shaman is a versatile creature in the world of MTG, offering both board presence and a touch of hand disruption. When looking for parallels, Mesmeric Fiend stands out, both creatures delve into the concept of forcing an opponent to discard. Yet, Deadbridge Shaman hinges on its death to activate the discard, which can be more unpredictable than the immediate effect of Mesmeric Fiend.

Burglar Rat is another creature that shares similarities with our shaman, with its ability to enter the battlefield and prompt an opponent’s discard. The main difference lies in the Rat’s guaranteed discard upon entry versus the Shaman which requires a death trigger. Meanwhile, Liliana’s Specter adds flying to the mix, upping the ante with a more evasive body while providing the same discard effect on entry, offering a distinct blend of utility and aggression.

Deciding to include Deadbridge Shaman in your deck over these counterparts depends on your strategy and preference for interaction. Its death-triggered discard can be more disruptive in scenarios where sacrificing creatures is part of your game plan, making it a noteworthy inclusion in decks that benefit from creature death.

Mesmeric Fiend - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Specter - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Fiend - Torment (TOR)
Burglar Rat - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Liliana's Specter - Magic 2011 Promos (PM11)

Cards similar to Deadbridge Shaman by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadbridge Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Eternal 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 Deadbridge Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deadbridge Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 912015normalblackNils Hamm
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 852015normalblackNils Hamm
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6142015normalblackNils Hamm
42020-09-26The ListPLST EMA-852015normalblackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadbridge Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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