Feral Shadow MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Nightstalker
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Feral Shadow’s flying ability and low cost facilitate early game pressure and combo opportunities.
  2. It requires black mana, making it less versatile in multi-colored decks but essential for mono-black builds.
  3. The card’s synergy and combo potential make it a worthy addition to your MTG collection.

Text of card

Flying

"The night stalkers are such a minor power in Urborg. Their sad eagerness to elevate themselves makes them willing tools in the plundering of little Femeref." —Kaervek


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Feral Shadow may not directly provide card draw, but its synergy with other cards that benefit from having creatures with flying or nighttime-themed cards can lead to an advantageous build-up on the board, indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting mana resources, its low casting cost can quickly put a flying creature on the board, effectively speeding up your offensive capabilities and putting pressure on your opponent early in the game.

Instant Speed: While the Feral Shadow itself isn’t an instant, playing a creature like this can support a strategy that leverages instant speed spells. Having a flying attacker available means you can hold back mana for instant spells until just the right moment, maintaining flexibility and unpredictable defense during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of Feral Shadow is the necessity of card discarding to activate certain abilities, which might leave players resource-constrained, potentially hampering their strategy when having a reduced hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Feral Shadow’s reliance on black mana can be restrictive. This specificity means that it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored or flexible mana base decks, hence limiting its versatility across different playstyles.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its stats and effects, Feral Shadow faces stiff competition from other creatures in its mana range. Players may find themselves opting for alternatives that offer more impactful abilities or greater board presence for the same investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Feral Shadow is a creature that can seamlessly integrate into various deck types, particularly those capitalizing on flying abilities or needing early-game board presence.

Combo Potential: This card is a key component of the infamous “Spirit of the Night” combo, as it can be sacrificed along with other specific creatures to summon the powerful black Legend without its mana cost.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggressive plays, this nimble three-cost creature offers a valuable asset for anyone looking to maintain early game momentum or to outpace control decks with swift attacks.


How to beat

Feral Shadow is an intriguing creature card that offers stealth and agility on the battlefield. With its flying ability, this creature can soar above ground-based defenses, becoming a persistent threat each turn. To effectively counter this card, savvy players might consider using cheap removal spells that target creatures with flying or leveraging cards that negate flying abilities altogether. Additionally, since Feral Shadow carries a modest toughness, direct damage spells or abilities that deal even a small amount of damage could easily dispatch this creature from the skies. Modes of defense that involve reaching or flying creatures of your own could also intercept and defend against Feral Shadow’s assaults.

Another strategic approach to overcome Feral Shadow involves boosting your life total to outlast its attacks or implementing cards that punish your opponent for attacking, such as Propaganda or Ghostly Prison, which require the attacker to pay mana for each creature they attack with. As a general reminder, understanding the synergies of your opponent’s deck that may involve Feral Shadow can aid in preparing the right counters ahead of its deployment, further bolstering your defense against this nocturnal predator.


Cards like Feral Shadow

Feral Shadow is an intriguing creature card to consider for fans of flying beasts in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in the night sky of gameplay include cards like Vampire Bats, which also offer the ability to fly and a low cost to play. While both cards share the flying trait, Feral Shadow edges out with its stronger base power, elevating its impact on the game.

Another comparable creature is Screeching Bat. Although it has a higher cost than Feral Shadow, it compensates with its sturdier body and the transformative ability into a formidable vampire. This versatility allows for dynamic gameplay changes. In contrast, Feral Shadow’s ability to be utilized for the infamous “Nightmare” card’s power-boosting ability shows its value in more specialized deck themes.

To sum up, whether players are looking to apply constant pressure with aerial threats or seeking synergistic components to enhance their deck’s strategy, Feral Shadow holds a distinctive place among its kin. It not only reinforces its own presence on the battlefield but also supports overarching deck themes that capitalize on fearsome flying creatures.

Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - Legends (LEG)
Nightmare - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Feral Shadow by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Dusk Imp - Tenth Edition (10E)
Severed Legion - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

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

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Feral Shadow Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2000-10-01. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 1221997normalblackCliff Nielsen
21997-05-01PortalPOR 931997normalblackColin MacNeil
31997-05-01PortalPOR 93d1997normalblackColin MacNeil
41999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1311997normalwhiteCliff Nielsen
51999-07-01Starter 1999S99 771997normalwhiteCliff Nielsen
62000-10-01Beatdown Box SetBTD 261997normalwhiteCliff Nielsen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Feral Shadow has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks