Shah of Naar Isle MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Efreet |
| Abilities | Echo,Trample |
| Released | 2007-05-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Future Sight |
| Set code | FUT |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 119 |
| Frame | future |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jon Foster |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage gained from Shah of Naar Isle can be pivotal for refreshing hands and shifting gameplay dynamics.
- Evoke mechanic provides early game advantage and surprise tactical flexibility when timing is optimal.
- Despite its power, discarding your hand and specific mana requirements are significant considerations for play.
Text of card
Trample Echo (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.) When Shah of Naar Isle's echo cost is paid, each opponent may draw up to three cards.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Shah of Naar Isle enters the battlefield, you’re given the chance to discard your hand, which might seem daunting. However, it allows you to draw three cards later on. This cycling of your hand can be pivotal to refresh your resources, providing a significant shift in card advantage especially when timed right.
Resource Acceleration: As a formidable 6/6 creature with trample, Shah of Naar Isle can be cast theoretically for as little as three mana thanks to its Evoke cost. This gives you the opportunity to allocate resources elsewhere or even cast this titan early in the game for a potential tactical surge.
Instant Speed: While the Shah itself isn’t an instant, its Evoke mechanic allows you to use it as a surprise factor during your turn. This could potentially offer instant-speed-like advantages if used cleverly in conjunction with cards that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Shah of Naar Isle card includes an element that might be seen as a setback for many players, as it compels you to discard your entire hand the moment it is put onto the battlefield. For many, the cost of relinquishing all their current options is too steep a price for a single creature, regardless of its power level.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for decks that can utilize red mana, Shah of Naar Isle demands a very specific mana cost. This requirement can be restrictive and may not fit smoothly into the strategy of multicolored decks that are not heavily red-oriented.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires a significant amount of mana, Shah of Naar Isle can be a challenging play, especially in the early game. Considering this, players might find that other cards could provide equal or greater value at a lower mana cost, granting them more flexibility and efficiency in managing their resources throughout the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shah of Naar Isle boasts a flexible nature, capable of sliding into various red-based decks. Its Echo cost can lead to an immediate impact on the board, making it a powerful option for decks geared towards quick, formidable plays.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focused on utilizing discarded cards or drawing additional cards. With its unique ability to allow a seven-card redraw, savvy players can exploit this to synergize with other elements of their strategy effectively.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where decks capitalize on high-value plays or punishing opponents’ low hand sizes, Shah of Naar Isle can become an unexpected game-changer. Its place in the meta can shift with the rise and fall of various deck styles, ensuring that it maintains a level of continual relevance.
How to beat
Shah of Naar Isle presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. This red creature card offers a temporary but mighty show of force with its echo cost mechanic, allowing players to swing with a considerable 6/6 trampler early in the game. However, it also gives opponents a significant advantage by granting them three cards when the echo cost isn’t paid. This characteristic can be a double-edged sword.
To counteract Shah of Naar Isle effectively, consider playing instant-speed removal spells right after the echo cost trigger resolves to prevent your opponent from benefiting from the card draw. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can be highly effective against it. Another strategy is to allow the card draw and then capitalize on the increased hand size with discard effects or cards that punish opponents for drawing, such as Underworld Dreams. Ultimately, overcoming Shah of Naar Isle requires a combination of timing your removal and leveraging the opponent’s temporary card advantage against them.
While the Shah may initially seem intimidating, with strategic planning and a solid understanding of the card’s mechanics, players can navigate this potent threat and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Shah of Naar Isle
Shah of Naar Isle is a unique offering in the red creature landscape of Magic: The Gathering. It’s a behemoth in size when compared to other cards such as Ball Lightning. While both creatures offer substantial power for their mana cost, Shah of Naar Isle provides a longer-term presence on the battlefield with a respectable 6/6 stat line. Indeed, Ball Lightning packs a punch with haste but it sacrifices itself after striking, whereas Shah of Naar Isle threatens opponents over multiple turns unless they have an answer.
Among its peers, we also find Furnace Whelp, another red creature with fire in its blood. While Furnace Whelp can become much larger over time due to its fire-breathing ability, it doesn’t have the same immediate board impact as a freshly cast Shah of Naar Isle. The Shah also has the unique echo ability, asking for a steep cost or a penalty of rewarding your opponent with cards. This introduces an interesting trade-off, as the card pushes the boundaries of risk versus reward.
All considered, Shah of Naar Isle may not be the most straightforward powerhouse. But its ability to shape games with its dominant presence and strategic depth ensures that it holds a special place among red’s notable creatures.
Cards similar to Shah of Naar Isle by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shah of Naar Isle MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight, 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 Shah of Naar Isle 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shah of Naar Isle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shah of Naar Isle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | If you have multiple opponents, each one in turn order chooses whether or not to draw cards, and if so, how many to draw (from zero to three). |
| 2007-05-01 | If you use Thick-Skinned Goblin’s ability to pay instead of Shah of Naar Isle’s echo cost, the Shah’s last ability will trigger. |
| 2007-05-01 | When the echo ability resolves, you may pay or choose not pay. The first option means Shah of Naar Isle stays on the battlefield and its last ability triggers. The second option means Shah of Naar Isle is sacrificed. |
