Fungal Shambler MTG Card

Fungal Shambler provides card advantage, drawing creature cards upon dealing combat damage to players. It accelerates resources by allowing more efficient game plan execution, drawing without mana costs. Despite its high mana cost and specific requirements, its versatility makes it a valuable addition.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Fungus Beast
Abilities Trample
Power 6
Toughness 4

Text of card

Trample Whenever Fungal Shambler deals damage to an opponent, you draw a card and that opponent discards a card.

Cards like Fungal Shambler

Fungal Shambler joins the ranks of Magic: The Gathering cards that manipulate both player’s hands and decks. At a glance, the Shambler is reminiscent of cards like Ravenous Rats, which, while costing less mana, also imposes a hand disadvantage on your opponent by forcing a card discard. Fungal Shambler adds to that functionality by allowing you to peek at the top card of your opponent’s library, a rare ability that can offer strategic insight akin to the Oracle’s ability from cards like Coiling Oracle which also allows for library manipulation but with a focus on the controller’s deck, not the opponent’s.

Balancing power and versatility, creatures like Goblin Spy and Lantern of Insight offer similar top-deck insights, but neither provides the body nor the hand disruption that Fungal Shambler boasts. Furthermore, the Shambler’s trample ability gives it an edge in combat over these utility-focused creatures. However, the higher mana cost and slower deck manipulation do require a more patient strategy compared to the other quicker, but less impactful options.

When stacked against its peers, Fungal Shambler’s unique blend of offensive power, hand disruption, and top-deck surveillance make it a multifaceted choice for players who value strategic depth and control within their game, despite its higher cost.

Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Spy - MTG Card versions
Lantern of Insight - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Spy - MTG Card versions
Lantern of Insight - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Fungal Shambler offers a unique mechanic that allows you to peek at the top card of your library whenever it deals combat damage to a player. If it’s a creature card, you can put it into your hand, thus providing potential card advantage by directly drawing from your deck.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly create mana, the ability to consistently draw into more creatures can lead to a more efficient use of your resources. Every creature card drawn is a resource that you don’t have to spend mana to search for, effectively accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Fungal Shambler doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, its trample ability ensures that it has the potential to deal combat damage more often, setting you up to utilize your instant speed spells more effectively with any new cards drawn during the combat phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Fungal Shambler often means you’ll have to let go of a card from your hand. For players seeking to maintain a full grip, this requirement could be a potential stumbling block, especially during crucial moments where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Donning a tri-color identity, the Fungal Shambler demands a very particular mana base to cast. This can be tricky for multi-colored decks that might not always have the right mana available at the necessary time, thus affecting the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that veers on the higher end of the spectrum, the investment to bring Fungal Shambler onto the battlefield is notable. In games where tempo plays a pivotal role, its cost can be a detriment compared to other creatures that hit the ground running faster or offer more immediate board presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fungal Shambler offers a unique blend of abilities that allow it to adapt to multiple roles on the battlefield. Its trample ability breaks through ground stalls, and card advantage in the form of card draw upon dealing combat damage to a player enriches any deck that thrives on a steady flow of resources.

Combo Potential: This creature’s capability to draw you a card when it hits an opponent can be amplified in decks that enhance attack opportunities or utilize card draw triggers. Fungal Shambler can be a cog in engines that thrive on card advantage or interact with creature-based strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that rewards long-term value, Fungal Shambler shines by providing both a sizable body and the potential for incremental advantage over the course of a match. Its presence in a deck ensures that you remain a step ahead in resources against grindy or attrition-based match-ups.

How to beat

Fungal Shambler presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature from Magic: The Gathering blends stealthy card advantage with a sturdy presence. Facing this tricolor card, opponents need a sharp strategy to bypass its advantages. The trick lies in minimizing the Shambler’s card draw ability. Keeping your hand stocked could dilute the impact of its triggered ability whenever it deals combat damage to a player.

Direct removal spells can cleanly handle the Shambler before it has a chance to attack. Instant-speed options can disrupt it on the stack or when your opponent declares it as an attacker, curbing any potential card advantage. Additionally, consider employing flying or reach creatures to block, avoiding the card draw effect. Control decks are particularly adept at this strategy as they are equipped with numerous removal and counter spells that keep the board manageable.

Ultimately, understanding the matchup and deploying precise removal at the right moment is the key to outmaneuvering Fungal Shambler. It’s a dance of timing and card selection that, when executed correctly, keeps this potent adversary in check.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fungal Shambler MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse Promos and Apocalypse, 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 Fungal Shambler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fungal Shambler Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2001-06-04. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-06-04Apocalypse PromosPAPC 1001997NormalBlackJim Nelson
22001-06-04ApocalypseAPC 1001997NormalBlackJim Nelson
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 362361997NormalBlackJim Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fungal Shambler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal