Ichor Shade MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Shade |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 112 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Nicholas Gregory |
Text of card
At the beginning of your end step, if an artifact or creature was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Ichor Shade.
As oil seeped into their funeral shrouds, Tolvada's dead rose to join the invaders' ranks.
Cards like Ichor Shade
Ichor Shade is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card that shares characteristics with other spells but stands out with its own unique twist. Just as Shade creatures often provide flexibility in power through the ability to increase it temporarily, Ichor Shade allows players to pump up power at an exponential rate with the mana investment, much like its kin Nantuko Shade. However, unlike Nantuko Shade, which boosts itself for each black mana, Ichor Shade asks for a higher cost initially but gives the potential for a more significant increase in power.
Another relative in the shade family is the Dread Shade. Dread Shade also offers power enhancement abilities, but it confines itself to only the swamps you control. This provides a natural limitation compared to Ichor Shade, which can exceed power levels based on the broader mana base. Meanwhile, Looming Shade has a similar ability to Ichor Shade, allowing incremental power boosts, but it’s more mana-efficient for smaller increments, making it a better option for early game strategies.
Overall, Ichor Shade takes a familiar mechanic and adds a layer that can potentially lead to overwhelming power levels in the late game, positioning it as an exciting choice for those looking to leverage a significant mana reserve in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Ichor Shade by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ichor Shade can contribute to card advantage by granting you the opportunity to put pressure on your opponent while forcing them to deal with it. Its ability to grow in power lets it become a formidable threat that can demand answers, potentially causing your opponents to expend valuable resources on it.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your mana pool, Ichor Shade’s capability to utilize any unused mana at the end of your opponent’s turn can effectively turn spare mana into an increased threat. This can change the tempo of the game in your favor and make it a dangerous card if left unchecked on the battlefield.
Instant Speed: Ichor Shade’s key attribute is using its pump ability at instant speed. This enables you to wait until the last possible moment to enhance its power, keeping your opponent on their toes and unable to accurately predict the level of threat the Shade will pose on their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ichor Shade obliges players to discard a card to activate its mana ability. In gameplay, this can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you at a disadvantage should the match stretch into the later stages where options are crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Ichor Shade’s activation cost demands black mana. This specificity can restrict deck-building flexibility, especially for those who prefer a multi-colored mana base or run decks that do not prioritize black mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a base cost of four mana and additional costs for its abilities, Ichor Shade can be quite the mana sink. There are alternative creatures and cards that might provide superior utility or board presence for a similar or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Ichor Shade in Your Collection
Versatility: Ichor Shade offers flexibility in black-focused decks. Its mana-intensive ability to pump itself can turn it into a formidable threat at any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: In decks built around counters or sacrificing creatures for benefits, Ichor Shade can serve as both a mana sink and a synergistic piece, making it potent when combined with the right cards.
Meta-Relevance: Ichor Shade’s ability to grow quickly and apply pressure fits nicely into metas where games tend to go longer and board presence is crucial. Its adaptability can surprise opponents not prepared for an escalating threat.
How to beat
Ichor Shade embodies an intriguing challenge in the realm of MTG due to its scalability in power. A unique feature of Ichor Shade is its ability to grow stronger whenever mana is invested into it. This can seem daunting, but there are effective strategies to handle creatures that possess the potential for unlimited growth. Creature removal spells that don’t depend on a creature’s power, such as Path to Exile or Terminate, can bypass Ichor Shade’s scaling threat by removing it from the game entirely or sending it to the graveyard before it gets a chance to become a dominant force on the board.
An alternative approach is to use spells that prevent the Shade from being targeted by its own ability. Cards with hexproof can prevent Ichor Shade from targeting itself, thus nullifying its power-boosting capability. Another method is to counteract the investment strategy by using your resources to control the pace of the game. Tools like counterspells or mana denial can limit the opponent’s ability to pump Ichor Shade, effectively keeping it in check.
Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s plan to invest in Ichor Shade is key to suppressing this potential threat. Timely disruption of their mana usage or preemptive removal can ensure that Ichor Shade never reaches its menacing potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ichor Shade MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Ichor Shade 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ichor Shade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ichor Shade card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Ichor Shade’s ability will check as your end step begins if an artifact or creature was put into a graveyard from the battlefield this turn. If none have, the ability won’t trigger at all. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a nontoken artifact or creature is put into a graveyard, it doesn’t matter what happens to the card afterward. Ichor Shade’s ability will count it even if the card has left the graveyard by the time the ability resolves. |
| 2023-04-14 | The ability will count any artifact or creature that was put into a graveyard, including tokens. |