Maze of Shadows MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 319
2015-05-06 - Number 238
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
oc T: Add one colorless mana to your mana pool. oc T: Untap target attacking creature with shadow. That creature neither deals nor receives combat damage this turn.
Cards like Maze of Shadows
Maze of Shadows presents a unique spin in MTG’s array of land cards. Its ability to give a target creature shadow until end of turn finds common ground with cards like Dauthi Trapper. Dauthi Trapper can also endow a single creature with shadow, enabling it to swing in or block virtually unopposed. However, unlike Dauthi Trapper, Maze of Shadows doesn’t come with a body and is immune to most creature removals.
Shizo, Death’s Storehouse is another land with a resemblance, providing creatures with fear instead of shadow. Fear is somewhat broader allowing a creature to be unblockable except by artifact creatures and/or those that share a color. Maze of Shadows is more niche, often suiting decks that interact with the shadow mechanic specifically. Another card in the mix is Rogue’s Passage, granting unblockability without attribute requirements, but at a higher activation cost.
In the grand tapestry of MTG’s strategic land base, Maze of Shadows might not be universally versatile but shines in the right context, especially in decks aiming to exploit evasion mechanics to the fullest.
Cards similar to Maze of Shadows by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Maze of Shadows can subtly tilt card parity in your favor. While not directly drawing you cards, its capability to return creatures to your hand synergies well with enter-the-battlefield effects, essentially allowing you to reuse your own cards for repeated benefits.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in decks centered around untapping mechanics or those that benefit from landfall triggers. It effectively doubles the use of a single land, abstractly accelerating your resource management by granting additional landfall activations or untap synergies.
Instant Speed: Acting at instant speed, Maze of Shadows provides the flexibility to manipulate combat outcomes on the fly. It can be used defensively to save a creature from an unfavorable block or offensively to remove a blocker and open a path for your attackers, all without needing to commit to a line of play until the most opportune moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The playability of Maze of Shadows demands that you discard a card to access its functionality. This requirement can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted, potentially setting you back further in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating Maze of Shadows requires specific mana, which in this case involves tapping a swamp. This can create a restrictive condition for deck construction, as it necessitates a specific land type, potentially limiting the card’s utility in multi-color decks that may not always have a swamp in play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Maze of Shadows can be a less attractive option, especially compared to other land cards or spells that offer more immediate or impactful benefits for a similar or lower investment.
Reasons to Include Maze of Shadows in Your Collection
Versatility: Maze of Shadows can be a dynamic addition to decks that focus on land interaction. It serves not only as a mana source but can also protect valuable creatures from attacks by shadow-enabled adversaries.
Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies revolving around land recursion or creature protection. Its ability to untap a target attacking creature can be exploited in complex tap/untap combos, giving it subtle but potentially powerful combo potential.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where shadow creatures see play, Maze of Shadows can be a strategic piece of the puzzle. It offers a defensive option that requires no mana to activate, meaning it can be essential for surviving in the right meta.
How to beat Maze of Shadows
Maze of Shadows presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield, as it allows players to shift a potentially fatal attack to a creature land spell that thrives in the shadows. At first glance, the utility this card provides in dodging damage and protecting valuable creatures can be daunting to overcome. Fortunately, there are strategies you can employ to render Maze of Shadows less effective.
Consider including land destruction or land incapacitation abilities in your deck. Cards that can obliterate opponent’s land like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can take Maze of Shadows out of the equation entirely. In tandem with this strategy, having creatures that can target or bypass land spells, such as Shadow creatures themselves or creatures with landwalk abilities, can mitigate the Maze’s utility.
Moreover, spells that revoke the activation of activated abilities can stifle Maze of Shadows, preventing a player from diverting a deadly blow to their creature land. In essence, preparing for this card means adapting your deck to either bypass, disable, or destroy it, allowing you to maintain the momentum and potentially clinch the victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Maze of Shadows MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Maze of Shadows 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 Maze of Shadows Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by D. Alexander Gregory.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 319 | 1997 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Maze of Shadows has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |