Ihsan's Shade MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 53
1996-05-02 - Number gb53sb
1996-05-02 - Number gb53
2002-07-01 - Number 2
2008-09-22 - Number 95
2018-03-16 - Number 94
2020-09-26 - Number A25-94
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Shade Knight |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Protection from white
"Ihsan, the weak. Ihsan, the fallen. Ihsan, the betrayer. He has brought shame to the Serra Paladins where none existed before. May his suffering equal his betrayal." —Baris, Serra Inquisitor
Cards like Ihsan's Shade
Ihsan’s Shade stands out in the realm of resilient creatures. The card boasts protection from white, firmly situating it as a formidable presence against white decks. One notable comparison is with Knight of Infamy, which also carries protection from white and exalted; however, the Shade’s larger body makes it more challenging to remove from the battlefield.
Another parallel can be drawn with the Specter’s Shroud-enchanted creatures. While the Shroud provides a sense of security against targeting spells or abilities, it lacks the inherent protection Ihsan’s Shade possesses. Additionally, the Shade’s heftier mana cost reflects its substantial presence compared to other protection-oriented options that may have less impact on the game.
Lastly, consider comparing it to Black Knight. Both share the advantage of protection from white, but Ihsan’s Shade trumps with higher toughness and power. Despite this, the Black Knight’s lower casting cost can be a strategic benefit in faster-paced decks.
As players scrutinize protective creatures, Ihsan’s Shade’s unique blend of muscle and resilience against a particular color grants it a noteworthy spot within MTG’s rich tapestry of strategic options.
Cards similar to Ihsan's Shade by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ihsan's Shade. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 2 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ihsan’s Shade boasts a resilience against one of the most common forms of card advantage removal in MTG: targeted removal spells. With protection from white, this card often remains on the board, providing you with a reliable creature presence and denying your opponents the card advantage they would gain from removing your threats.
Resource Acceleration: While Ihsan’s Shade itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its hefty body for its cost means that you maintain a strong board presence. This power allows you to potentially forego deploying more creatures and allocate resources towards furthering your game strategy or disrupting opponents.
Instant Speed: While Ihsan’s Shade is a creature and doesn’t have an instant speed ability, its mere presence can impact your opponents’ actions at instant speed. With its protection from white, it may cause opponents to think twice about playing spells or attacking unless they can deal with it efficiently, thus indirectly influencing the pace of the game.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Ihsan’s Shade requires a very specific mana arrangement to cast—three black mana symbols. This makes it less flexible, as players must have a deck heavily skewed towards black mana sources to play the card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having to pay four mana including three black is a notable investment in the early to mid-game. There are other creatures at a similar cost bracket that may offer more utility or powerful effects, potentially overshadowing Ihsan’s Shade in a competitive environment.
Discard Requirement: While Ihsan’s Shade itself doesn’t mandate discarding cards, the fact that it belongs to the mono-black archetype may require you to include other cards with discard effects in your deck to synergize. This could inadvertently pressure your hand, especially if you’re struggling to maintain card advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ihsan’s Shade boasts an immunity to all white spells, making it a resilient choice in many game formats. Its universal attributes allow it to be a stalwart defensive option while also serving as a substantial threat on offense.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with equipment and auras that increase its combat capabilities, as it’s already protected from a common removal color. Additionally, because of its unique protections, it can serve as a foundation in decks focused on exploiting such traits.
Meta-Relevance: Given its resistance to one of the more prevalent colors in the game, Ihsan’s Shade has a place in metas where white-based control or creature decks are common. It can effectively bypass many obstacles that other creatures can’t, anchoring its strategic value firmly within such environments.
How to beat
Ihsan’s Shade stands as a notable presence on the battlefield with its immunity to white spells, positioning it uniquely within the myriad of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. The Shade brings to the table a robust defense against a color renowned for its ability to manage threats through targeted removal and debilitating enchantments. Comparing Ihsan’s Shade to other creatures that offer protection from a single color, we appreciate the strategic advantage it provides in specific matchups.
To effectively counter Ihsan’s Shade, players should consider utilizing spells from other colors or those that don’t target, such as board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation. Another strategy might involve employing creatures with high toughness to withstand Ihsan’s Shade’s attacks or using cards that force a player to sacrifice a creature, thereby bypassing the Shade’s protection. Artifacts and colorless spells offer additional avenues to incapacitate this intimidating foe without invoking the restrictions of its color immunity.
Navigating around the strengths of Ihsan’s Shade requires a tactical approach and the inclusion of versatile answers in your deck that can address such resilient threats. Thus, despite its potent abilities, the Shade can be overcome with the right tools and strategic planning, allowing players to maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ihsan's Shade MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Ihsan's 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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Printings
The Ihsan's Shade Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 53 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | gb53sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Christopher Rush | |
| 3 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | gb53 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Christopher Rush | |
| 4 | 2002-07-01 | Hobby Japan Promos | PHJ | 2 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 5 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 95 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Christopher Rush | |
| 6 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 94 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
| 7 | The List | PLST | A25-94 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ihsan's Shade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |