Krark-Clan Shaman MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Shaman
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	98
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Thomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

Krark-Clan Shaman enables board control by wiping out multiple small creatures efficiently and effectively.
Its instant speed activation offers tactical advantage, reacting to opponents’ moves and safeguarding strategies.
Despite heavy mana investments, the Shaman’s combo potential in artifact-focused decks justifies its inclusion.

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Krark-Clan Shaman deals 1 damage to each creature without flying.

"What do you mean, we're out of stuff to melt down? Give me your leg."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Krark-Clan Shaman provides a repeatable way to clear several small creatures from the board without losing card quantity, keeping the cards in hand for strategic plays and maintaining an edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By sacrificing artifacts, this card synergizes with decks focusing on artifact recursion, potentially accelerating your resource access through various artifact synergies or combos present in your deck.

Instant Speed: The Shaman’s ability can be activated at instant speed, allowing for tactical responses to your opponent’s moves during their turn, disrupting their plans and protecting your own strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Krark-Clan Shaman demands an artifact to be sacrificed for its ability to be used, potentially depleting your board of valuable assets.

Specific Mana Cost: The Shaman’s activation cost not only includes generic mana but also requires red mana, thereby restricting its integration into multicolor decks that may not focus on red mana production.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its initial casting cost is low, repeatedly using the Shaman’s ability can lead to a substantial mana investment. Other cards in the game could provide more cost-effective ways to deal damage without the need for continuous mana spending.

Reasons to Include Krark-Clan Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Krark-Clan Shaman provides utility in a variety of decks, excelling in those that have a focus on artifact synergy. It’s an exceptional tool for controlling the board, able to wipe out swarms of smaller creatures while working harmoniously with your artifacts.

Combo Potential: This card has significant combo potential, particularly in decks that can repeatedly sacrifice artifacts. The Shaman can become a repeatable source of board control, making it a critical piece in intricate combo chains that can overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: As a card that can manage crowded battlefields and maintain control against aggressive decks, Krark-Clan Shaman holds its ground in various metas. With artifact strategies often present in competitive play, it’s a card that can disrupt opponents and turn the tide in your favor.

How to beat

Krark-Clan Shaman is a versatile card in MTG, known for its ability to act as a repeatable sweep for small creatures. This is rendered possible through its sacrifice ability, which can be used multiple times as long as you have artifacts to sacrifice, thereby creating a board wipe effect for one-toughness creatures.

In order to effectively overcome the challenge posed by Krark-Clan Shaman, it’s crucial to adopt strategies that render this ability inconvenient or ineffective for your opponent. This can be achieved by either enhancing the toughness of your creatures to withstand the damage or utilizing instant-speed removals to eliminate the Shaman before its ability is activated. Additionally, focusing on non-creature spells can also circumvent the Shaman’s impact on the game, as the ability specifically targets creatures.

Encompassing these tactics will not only neutralize Krark-Clan Shaman’s advantage but can also cause your adversary to expend valuable artifacts without gaining much ground, ultimately tilting the game in your favor. It’s about strategic resource management, preemptive actions, and maintaining a board state that’s resilient to the Shaman’s sweeping ability.

Cards like Krark-Clan Shaman

Krark-Clan Shaman is a versatile option in the red spell suite of Magic the Gathering, echoing the functionalities of artifact-centric cards like Goblin Welder. Both interact with artifacts, but Krark-Clan Shaman has the unique ability to sacrifice an artifact to wipe out swarms of weaker creatures, providing a strategic layer of board control. This sweep can be crucial in maintaining advantage against decks that flood the battlefield.

Comparing the Shaman to Viashino Heretic delivers intriguing insights. While the Heretic offers targeted artifact destruction and deals damage according to the artifact’s cost, Krark-Clan Shaman impacts multiple enemies, with no concern for individual artifact values. However, the Shaman’s requirement to sacrifice artifacts can both be a cost and an advantage in the right deck, fueling graveyard strategies or triggering on-sacrifice effects.

In the landscape of Magic the Gathering, Krark-Clan Shaman stands out with its unique sacrifice-for-sweep mechanic, and when placed alongside similar red utility creatures, its role becomes clear – it is not just a disruptor but a potential game changer in decks that can harness its synergy with artifacts.

Cards similar to Krark-Clan Shaman by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Krark-Clan Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Krark-Clan Shaman and other MTG cards: