Deathrite Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Deathrite Shaman’s versatility in grave manipulation offers pivotal card advantages and disrupted opponent plays.
  2. Enhanced game plans emerge from its unique instant-speed, flexible mana acceleration capabilities.
  3. Despite requiring specific graveyard and mana conditions, its multifaceted nature validates its collection worthiness.

Text of card

: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. , : Exile target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. Each opponent loses 2 life. , : Exile target creature card from a graveyard. You gain 2 life.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The versatility of Deathrite Shaman in handling different types of cards from graveyards – be it land, instant, sorcery, or creature – allows for strategic plays that can either disrupt the opponent’s gameplay or enhance your own, effectively translating into a form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Through its first ability, Deathrite Shaman can turn any land card in a graveyard into a mana source, ensuring a steady flow of additional resources which can accelerate your game plan significantly.

Instant Speed: Offering its activated abilities at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s moves during their turn or make last-minute decisions that can affect the course of the game, maximizing your tactical possibilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Deathrite Shaman requires a graveyard setup to harness its full potential. This could be challenging when facing a game without sufficient graveyard fodder, hindering its ability to act as a mana dork or a damage dealer.

Specific Mana Cost: Deathrite Shaman’s activated abilities demand specific mana types. This restricts seamless integration in decks that aren’t fine-tuned to these mana requirements, potentially making it a less versatile choice among players who favor multicolored or less focused manabases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it’s a one-mana creature, the reliance on additional mana for its activated abilities can be taxing. In competitive play, where mana efficiency is key, some players might find that there are more cost-effective alternatives for mana acceleration or direct damage.


Reasons to Include Deathrite Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Deathrite Shaman is a card that spans multiple roles in a deck. With its ability to manipulate graveyards, ramp mana, and deal damage, it can fit seamlessly into a variety of archetypes from control to midrange and even some aggressive builds.

Combo Potential: Known for its capability to accelerate certain combos, Deathrite Shaman works exceptionally well with cards that rely on graveyard synergy. It’s a perfect add-on to strategies that require either creature or land cards in graveyards for activation.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts, Deathrite Shaman remains a staple in formats where it’s legal. Its skillset is highly valuable in metas dominated by graveyard-centric decks, giving it an evergreen presence in players’ collections.


How to Beat Deathrite Shaman

Deathrite Shaman, a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering, stands out with its ability to impact the graveyard. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to limit its fuel, the graveyard. Strategies include using cards that exile graveyards, such as Scavenging Ooze or Relic of Progenitus, effectively neutralizing the Shaman’s power source. Additionally, instant speed removal spells can be key as they can disrupt the opponent’s plan by removing the Shaman before it can be used. Taking advantage of its one-toughness can be achieved through low-cost damage spells like Shock or Fatal Push, ensuring it doesn’t become a long-term threat.

Ideally, preventing the Shaman from resolving in the first place will always be a surefire methodology. Utilize counterspells or hand disruption techniques to keep Deathrite Shaman from entering the battlefield. Moreover, being mindful of your own graveyard and not over-filling it will make the Shaman less impactful if it does come into play. By considering these approaches, you can diminish the impact of Deathrite Shaman and navigate towards a victorious game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up, the charm of Deathrite Shaman lies in its flexibility and the strategic depth it brings to the table. Its unique skill set can pivot the momentum of a game, serving as a resource accelerator, a disruptor, or even a threat in its own right. For those crafting decks and seeking an edge in game play, there’s much to explore with this one card. We encourage you to dive deeper into the stratagems that Deathrite Shaman unlocks and blend its prowess into your deck-building ventures. Curious about sharpening your tactics or expanding your MTG knowledge? Swing by and let’s delve into the tactics and strategies that can elevate your game.


Cards like Deathrite Shaman

Deathrite Shaman is a versatile card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a multifunctional mana dork with grave-tampering abilities. In terms of similarity, Elves of Deep Shadow also taps for mana, specifically black, but lacks the flexibility to produce green mana or interact with graveyards. Comparatively, Birds of Paradise grants access to all colors of mana without tapping into graveyard mechanics.

Bloodrite Invoker is another card that engages with life totals, yet it’s primarily used as a mana sink in the late game, diverging from Deathrite Shaman’s early game pacing and resource denial. Scavenging Ooze also has graveyard interaction, providing a method for exiling cards while growing in power, yet it doesn’t offer the same direct mana acceleration.

When evaluating these counterparts, Deathrite Shaman’s unique blend of mana acceleration, life drain, and graveyard disruption provides a distinct advantage in deck strategies, permitting its place as a notable and multifaceted choice for players aiming to finesse the game to their benefit.

Elves of Deep Shadow - MTG Card versions
Birds of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Bloodrite Invoker - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Elves of Deep Shadow - The Dark (DRK)
Birds of Paradise - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Bloodrite Invoker - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Scavenging Ooze - Commander 2011 (CMD)

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

Elves of Deep Shadow - MTG Card versions
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root - MTG Card versions
Odious Trow - MTG Card versions
Slitherhead - MTG Card versions
Gnarlroot Trapper - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Squirrel - MTG Card versions
Elves of Deep Shadow - The List (PLST)
Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Odious Trow - Eventide (EVE)
Slitherhead - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Gnarlroot Trapper - Magic Origins (ORI)
Ravenous Squirrel - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deathrite Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica 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 Deathrite Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deathrite Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2132003normalblackSteve Argyle
22016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 2152015normalblackSteve Argyle
32018-11-02GRN Guild KitGK1 592015normalblackSteve Argyle
42022-11-02Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown KitSLC 20122015normalborderlessMark Riddick
52024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 363z2015normalblackSteve Argyle
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3631997normalblackSteve Argyle
72024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1752015normalblackSteve Argyle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deathrite Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyBanned
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernBanned
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-06-08 Because the first ability requires a target, it is not a mana ability. It uses the stack and can be responded to.
2016-06-08 If the target of any of Deathrite Shaman’s three abilities is an illegal target when that ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t add mana to your mana pool, no opponent will lose life, or you won’t gain life, as appropriate.

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