Homarid Shaman MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Homarid Shaman |
| Released | 1994-11-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Fallen Empires |
| Set code | FEM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 20 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Amy Weber |
Text of card
oo U Tap a target green creature.
"The ground grew swampy; hooves and claws sank into the marshy earth. Snarls of rage and bleats of despair echoed through the trees as the waters grew higher and higher." —Kyliki of Havenwood, "Havenwood Remembered"
Cards like Homarid Shaman
The Homarid Shaman from Magic: The Gathering presents itself as a unique card in the cohort of blue creature cards. When evaluating its comparatives, one might look at Sorcerer’s Spyglass for the shared theme of preemptively disrupting opponents’ strategies. Both cards probe into the mechanics your opponent might deploy, yet the Shaman does so with a focus on activated abilities and with the advantage of being a creature.
Merfolk Trickster echoes similarities, with the ability to nullify abilities — yet, it does so temporarily and impacts creatures specifically. Homarid Shaman not only offers persistent disruption but also has the potential to become a recurring threat if left unchecked on the board. While the Trickster can instantly surprise opponents, the Shaman demands careful tactical setup for prolonged control.
Peering through the lens of similar MTG cards, the Homarid Shaman stands out with its blend of control and creature benefits. It serves as a more permanent fixture on the battlefield, compared to the fleeting impact of its counterparts, reinforcing its value in decks that emphasize lasting control over immediate effects.
Cards similar to Homarid Shaman by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Homarid Shaman provides the unique ability to manipulate the flow of the game by granting access to top-deck control. This can result in significant card quality advantage by setting up your draws, ensuring that you have the right tools at the right time against opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or tokens, Homarid Shaman’s ability to tap or untap permanents without any cost can be leveraged to maximize the use of mana-producing artifacts or creatures, effectively serving as a pseudo resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: The Shaman’s abilities can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility in disrupting opponent’s strategies during their turn or unexpectedly freeing up your own resources for a surprise play, thus maintaining the element of surprise and strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Homarid Shaman demands the discarding of a card which might not always be beneficial, particularly when your hand is already depleted or the cards held are too valuable to forgo.
Specific Mana Cost: This card necessitates a blue mana in its casting cost, making it slightly restrictive as it narrows down deck integration options, primarily confining it to blue-centric or dual-deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s somewhat lofty for its abilities, Homarid Shaman may be suboptimal compared to other creatures or spells in the same mana range, potentially leading players to choose more cost-effective cards for their decks.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Homarid Shaman offers unique gameplay options across various formats. Its ability to disrupt opponent’s strategies by targeting individual lands can make it a flexible sideboard option or a mainboard card in metas with a heavy reliance on nonbasic lands.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that control land types or offer benefits based on land targeting, the Homarid Shaman’s abilities can be leveraged beyond its surface utility. This potential for synergy makes it a tantalizing choice for brewers and combo enthusiasts.
Meta-Relevance: With fluctuations in deck types and strategies, a card like Homarid Shaman can swing in value. In an environment where lands play a critical role, having access to this shaman could provide a decisive advantage against land-centric decks.
How to beat
Harnessing the mystic energies of the deep, Homarid Shaman can pose a unique challenge in MTG. This creature’s ability to manipulate the flow of spells makes it a tricky opponent; it can turn the tide of battle by disrupting the magical synergies you rely on. To triumph against a Homarid Shaman, you’d want a strategy that minimizes its impact on your spells and abilities.
Removal spells are your frontline defense; dispatching the Shaman before it can establish control is key. Opt for instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile to avoid disruption during your own turn. Another considerable strategy is to outpace the Shaman with low-cost creatures and spells, thereby reducing the window of opportunity for your opponent to exploit the Shaman’s abilities. It’s also effective to employ non-targeted board wipes like Wrath of God to bypass the Shaman’s influence altogether.
Remember, while Homarid Shaman brings a strategic depth to the game, it thrives on complexity and a slower pace. Speed up your play, focus on direct removal, and prioritize pressing threats, and you’ll neutralize the advantage this card represents.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Homarid Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires, 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 Homarid Shaman and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Homarid Shaman has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |