Fallen Shinobi MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Zombie Ninja
Abilities Ninjutsu
Power 5
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Fallen Shinobi offers significant card advantage by utilizing opponents’ libraries to your benefit.
  2. Its ninjutsu ability enables unpredictability and surprise tactics during combat phases.
  3. While powerful, Fallen Shinobi presents mana and board presence challenges to consider.

Text of card

Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever Fallen Shinobi deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top two cards of their library. Until end of turn, you may play those cards without paying their mana costs.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Fallen Shinobi deals combat damage to a player, you may exile the top two cards of that player’s library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards without paying their mana costs. This provides significant potential for card advantage, allowing you to benefit from your opponent’s deck.

Resource Acceleration: While Fallen Shinobi itself does not directly produce mana or immediate resource acceleration, playing your opponent’s cards without paying their mana costs can effectively accelerate your resource availability and apply pressure with additional board presence.

Instant Speed: Although Fallen Shinobi’s ability is not at instant speed, its Ninjutsu ability can be activated only when you could cast an instant, which means you can unpredictably switch an unblocked attacker with Fallen Shinobi, catching your opponent off guard and potentially leading to a high-impact turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One potential downside of Fallen Shinobi is that to utilize its Ninjutsu ability, you need to return an unblocked attacker you control to your hand. This could leave you short on board presence, especially if your strategy relies on maintaining a strong lineup of creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Fallen Shinobi requires a precise blend of mana types to cast normally—two blue and two black. This can be a stumbling block for decks that aren’t finely tuned for such a mana distribution, potentially leading to the card sitting in your hand longer than you’d like.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a Ninjutsu cost of two colorless, one blue, and one black mana, it’s not the cheapest ability to activate. There are other creatures in the MTG arsenal with lower Ninjutsu costs, offering stealth and damage at a more economical rate, which could be considered more efficient in the fast-paced gameplay.


Reasons to Include Fallen Shinobi in Your Collection

Versatility: Fallen Shinobi’s ability to slip into decks with evasive creatures allows for a multitude of strategies, from aggressive ninjutsu plays to tactical control gameplans. Its adaptability in both tempo and midrange builds makes it a worthy asset in diverse MTG collections.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to cheat out powerful ninjas and potentially cast opponent’s spells for free, Fallen Shinobi can pivot a game by combining with cards that manipulate the top of opponents’ decks, amplifying the threat it poses each time it connects.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where opponents often have rich hands and valuable spells, Fallen Shinobi thrives. Its relevance increases against decks that rely heavily on specific card synergies, disrupting their strategy while bolstering your own position.


How to beat

Fallen Shinobi, a notorious creature in the realm of ninjutsu, poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. This stealthy assailant can not only hit unexpectedly but also wield your own spells against you by exiling the top two cards of your library and playing them without paying their mana costs. Overcoming such an opponent requires a proactive defense.

Counterspells are your first line of defense against Fallen Shinobi, preventing it from ever entering the battlefield. Should this stealthy adversary manage to sneak past your counters, remember that it relies on dealing combat damage to a player to activate its pivotal ability. This means that cards that can prevent combat damage or remove creatures before they attack, such as instant-speed removals like Path to Exile, are extremely effective. Additionally, employing creatures that can block effectively, or otherwise limit your opponent’s ability to attack, can neutralize Fallen Shinobi’s impact on the game.

Evaluating such strategies is crucial for staying a step ahead in the game. Adequately preparing your deck with answers to this clandestine threat can mean the difference between a triumphant victory or a sudden and unexpected defeat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Discovering the depth of strategy behind Fallen Shinobi can elevate your MTG experience. Its ability to leverage opponents’ decks and sway the tide of battle marks it as a card to consider for ninjutsu-focused and control playstyles alike. MTG is an evolving journey, and Fallen Shinobi is just one exciting step along the path. We invite you to delve deeper, refine your deck-building skills, and adapt to the ever-changing meta with insights and recommendations from fellow enthusiasts. Ready to make the most out of every MTG match and draw upon the full potential of your cards? Let’s embark on this quest together and unlock the secrets to your next triumphant victory.


Cards like Fallen Shinobi

Fallen Shinobi stands out in the ninja archetype within Magic: The Gathering. A comparison can be drawn with other cards such as Silent-Blade Oni, which similarly offers a high-impact effect upon dealing combat damage to a player. However, Fallen Shinobi is differentiated by its ability to enable you to cast the top two cards of your opponent’s library without paying their mana costs, giving it a unique edge in gameplay disruption.

Another analogous card is Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni, which also boasts a potent ninjutsu ability and provides card advantage by reanimating creatures from an opponent’s graveyard when it deals combat damage. Yet, Fallen Shinobi goes a step further by potentially delivering a double impact with stolen spells. In addition, compare it against Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow, who shares the color identity and offers card advantage and life loss to opponents. Though Yuriko excels at consistent damage over time, Fallen Shinobi can often provide a much more explosive and game-swinging effect.

Through this comparison, it’s apparent that while there are similarities among these cards, Fallen Shinobi’s potential for sudden advantageous swings in the game’s balance, at no additional mana cost, places it as a significant threat in decks that can reliably connect with an opponent.

Silent-Blade Oni - MTG Card versions
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - MTG Card versions
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow - MTG Card versions
Silent-Blade Oni - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Cards similar to Fallen Shinobi by color, type and mana cost

Nebuchadnezzar - MTG Card versions
Skeleton Ship - MTG Card versions
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - MTG Card versions
Kotose, the Silent Spider - MTG Card versions
Narfi, Betrayer King - MTG Card versions
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - MTG Card versions
Consuming Aberration - MTG Card versions
Zareth San, the Trickster - MTG Card versions
Necromaster Dragon - MTG Card versions
Tattered Drake - MTG Card versions
Dementia Sliver - MTG Card versions
Dralnu, Lich Lord - MTG Card versions
Ghastlord of Fugue - MTG Card versions
Gravelgill Axeshark - MTG Card versions
Nemesis of Reason - MTG Card versions
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - MTG Card versions
Havengul Lich - MTG Card versions
Horror of the Dim - MTG Card versions
Haunter of Nightveil - MTG Card versions
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - MTG Card versions
Nebuchadnezzar - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Skeleton Ship - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Nymris, Oona's Trickster - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Kotose, the Silent Spider - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Narfi, Betrayer King - Kaldheim (KHM)
Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth - Midnight Hunt Commander (MIC)
Consuming Aberration - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Zareth San, the Trickster - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Necromaster Dragon - Dragons of Tarkir Promos (PDTK)
Tattered Drake - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Dementia Sliver - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dralnu, Lich Lord - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Ghastlord of Fugue - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gravelgill Axeshark - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Nemesis of Reason - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Havengul Lich - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Horror of the Dim - Gatecrash (GTC)
Haunter of Nightveil - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fallen Shinobi MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and New Capenna Commander, 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 Fallen Shinobi and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fallen Shinobi Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1992015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3382015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fallen Shinobi has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fallen Shinobi card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-06-14 Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2019-06-14 Any cards you don't cast will remain in exile.
2019-06-14 As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn't put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won't enter the battlefield at all.
2019-06-14 Casting an exiled card causes it to leave exile. You can't cast it multiple times.
2019-06-14 Fallen Shinobi's triggered ability doesn't change when you can play the exiled cards. For example, if a sorcery card is exiled, you can cast it only during your main phase when the stack is empty. If a land card is exiled, you can play it only during your main phase and only if you have an available land play remaining.
2019-06-14 If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.
2019-06-14 The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature's controller chooses which player or planeswalker it's attacking.
2019-06-14 The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won't normally deal combat damage.
2019-06-14 The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

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