Shaper Guildmage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	91
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	D. Alexander Gregory

Key Takeaways

Offers consistent card filtering to improve hand quality and game control, pivotal in long-term strategy.
Functions as a mana sink, indirectly boosting resource usage to solidify board presence each turn.
Instant speed-stat modification catches opponents off-guard, providing a strategic edge in combat.

Text of card

o W, oc T: Target creature gains first strike until end of turn. o B, oc T: Target creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

Shape this world in Zhalfir's image. —Shaper Guild maxim

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shaper Guildmage offers strategic hand sculpting by permitting repetitive filtering of cards in your hand. This can result in significant card quality improvement over the course of a match, as you are able to cycle through your deck to find the resources or answers you need to control the game.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t create additional mana by itself, Shaper Guildmage can essentially function as a mana sink, allowing you to effectively utilize your mana each turn. By adjusting the power and toughness of creatures, you can ensure your resources are continually put to good use, thus indirectly accelerating your ability to impact the board state.

Instant Speed: The ability to modify creature stats at instant speed gives you the upper hand during combat. You can catch an opponent off-guard, turning a seemingly unfavorable block into a victorious clash. This reactive power can shift the tides of battle and create advantageous scenarios that entice your opponent into making mistakes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shaper Guildmage demands a card discard, making it a tough play when your hand is running thin. This mechanic demands that players weigh the cost of card advantage against the benefits provided by the Guildmage’s abilities, leading to potentially difficult decisions during crucial points in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Shaper Guildmage’s abilities are tethered to a particular mana combination. This requirement can restrict its inclusion to decks explicitly designed around those colors, potentially limiting its overall versatility across the broader range of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its abilities may impact the game, the Guildmage’s activation cost is on the higher side. Competitive play often features cards with lower activation costs for similar or even enhanced effects, which might deter players from choosing this card for their deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shaper Guildmage offers a flexible skillset compatible with a variety of decks. Its ability to manipulate +1/+1 counters can bolster creature-based strategies or be pivotal in any deck focusing on counter synergies. This makes it an adaptable choice for many builds.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, capable of feeding into both +1/+1 counter mechanics and five-color strategies. The capacity to provide repeated, targetable stat boosts can be a game-changer, enabling unexpected victories and interaction with a wide assortment of other cards.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values adaptability and resilience, Shaper Guildmage holds its own. Its counter manipulation can be crucial in outmaneuvering opposition, and its relevance within the scope of evolving MTG gameplay keeps it a timely addition to your arsenal.

How to beat Shaper Guildmage

Shaper Guildmage is a niche card in Magic: The Gathering that offers versatility on the battlefield. Its ability to change a creature’s color or pump a creature’s power at a small mana investment can present unexpected challenges. However, overcoming this adaptable card can be straightforward with the right strategy.

To neutralize Shaper Guildmage’s color-shifting ability, it’s wise to refrain from relying too heavily on protection from specific colors or effects that target only one color. Having a diverse array of removal spells that are not color-dependent ensures that Shaper Guildmage’s ability won’t hinder your game plan. Also, incorporating spells that don’t allow the opponent to choose targets, such as board wipes or removal like Doom Blade for nonblack creatures, can be very effective.

Addressing the power-boosting aspect of Shaper Guildmage means minimizing the impact of combat tricks. This is where instant-speed removal or bounce spells shine, as they can interrupt the Guildmage’s ability before it affects a major combat outcome. By keeping removal spells ready, you can manage the battlefield and retain control, even if the Guildmage tries to tip the scales.

Cards like Shaper Guildmage

Shaper Guildmage is a versatile figure in the Magic: The Gathering landscape. This card finds its parallels in a number of other guildmages across different sets. A card like Zameck Guildmage from the Simic Guild serves as a notable comparison. Both guildmages come with two abilities; however, Zameck Guildmage focuses on modifying counters and card draw, which contrasts Shaper Guildmage’s focus on creature strength and mana efficiency.

Keeping within the Guildmage theme, Izzet Guildmage also shares the trait of having two abilities. Izzet’s emphasis is on copying instant or sorcery spells, which differs from Shaper’s abilities that pivot more toward directly influencing the board state. And while costs might be comparable, the strategies and deck synergies they play into can be quite dissimilar.

Ultimately, while there are numerous guildmages, each with unique abilities tailored to their respective guilds, Shaper Guildmage carves out its own niche. Its ability to control creature size and maintain mana flexibility allows for tactical plays that give it a distinct position among its peers in Magic: The Gathering’s array of multicolored utility creatures.

Cards similar to Shaper Guildmage by color, type and mana cost

Stormscape Apprentice - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shaper Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Shaper Guildmage and other MTG cards: