Shriek of Dread MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2001-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Planeshift
Set code	PLS
Number	53
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nelson DeCastro

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by replacing itself in hand, aiding in drawing crucial deck components.
Instant speed grants flexibility, enhancing reactive play and disrupting opponent combat phases.
Demand of black mana and discard requirement may limit deck inclusion and strategic value.

Text of card

Target creature can't be blocked this turn except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.

When Crosis roared, the battle ended and the slaughter began.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shriek of Dread offers a tactical edge by allowing a player to cycle it away, replacing itself with another card in your library. This helps maintain hand consistency and increases your chance to draw into key cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to resource acceleration, Shriek of Dread’s low casting cost ensures you can efficiently utilize your mana each turn. This can indirectly help in managing your resources effectively and playing other spells that may accelerate your resources.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Shriek of Dread gives you flexibility during the game. It enables reactive gameplay, allowing you to make decisions with more information on your opponent’s moves and potentially disrupt their combat strategies during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shriek of Dread necessitates you to discard another card when casting it. This can be a significant setback when your hand resources are already dwindling, potentially forcing tough decisions about what to sacrifice for a fleeting advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands black mana, inherently restricting its versatility. If your deck isn’t built around black mana or doesn’t have adequate mana fixing, including Shriek of Dread can prove impractical and may upset the deck’s mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being an instant, Shriek of Dread’s mana cost may not justify the effect it delivers. In the realm of MTG, there are numerous alternatives for creature protection or evasion that come at a lower mana investment, potentially offering better overall value and strategic depth for your deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shriek of Dread has the flexibility to serve both as a removal enabler and a combat trick. It allows you to force a block with an otherwise unblockable creature or sneak past defenders when used on an opponent’s creature.

Combo Potential: This spell can be a key component in decks that thrive on interactions with combat phases or abilities that trigger when damage is dealt, thus empowering various combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by creature-based strategies, Shriek of Dread can break stalemates or eliminate key threats by facilitating unexpected blocks or attacks, making it a tactical addition to control or midrange decks.

How to Beat

Shriek of Dread is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering both a fear effect and card cycling capability. For those looking to counter this spell, considering cards that grant protection from black is a solid strategy. This includes enchantments and creatures which specifically state that they either can’t be targeted by black spells or can’t be blocked by black creatures. Playing such cards can nullify Shriek of Dread’s ability to make a creature unblockable.

Moreover, leveraging instant-speed removal or counterspells when Shriek of Dread is cast can be effective. Since it’s a card often used in the combat phase to surprise an opponent and sneak through defenses for lethal damage, being prepared with instant disruption can turn the tides. Lastly, casting spells that restrict your opponent from targeting their creatures or yours, like hexproof or shroud effects, can entirely prevent the fear ability from being a factor.

Temporary unblockability might seem daunting, but with the right mix of protective spells and timely counters, you can easily keep Shriek of Dread from becoming a game-ending threat. Putting this into practice can enhance your defense and lead to greater success on the battlefield.

Cards like Shriek of Dread

Shriek of Dread from the rich lore of Magic: The Gathering offers strategic advantages similar to other instant-speed control cards. As a card that can grant any creature fear until end of turn, it ensures your critical attacks can bypass blockers with ease. This functionality has echoes in cards like Cower in Fear, which gives opposing creatures -1/-1 for a turn, impacting the board state in a different yet strategically relevant manner.

Another card, Dark Banishing, brings a removal aspect to the table, allowing a more permanent solution by exiling a troublesome creature. Although it does not enable attacks like Shriek of Dread, the card’s utility in handling threats is undeniable. Furthermore, considering Atmospheric Fear, we find a card that shares the fear mechanic, although it is more situational, affecting only creatures with flying. This makes Shriek of Dread more versatile and applicable in various scenarios.

In sum, whilst comparing Shriek of Dread to other cards with similar effects, its instant speed and unrestrictive targeting criteria combined with a typically low mana cost positions it as a uniquely advantageous tool for players looking to navigate around their opponent’s defensive lines.

Cards similar to Shriek of Dread by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shriek of Dread MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift, 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 Shriek of Dread and other MTG cards: