Shu Elite Companions MTG Card

Shu Elite Companions - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
1999-05-01 - Number 21

Shu Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Masters Edition III (ME3)
2009-09-07 - Number 24

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Abilities	Horsemanship
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Offers card replacement, granting sustained momentum and strategic flexibility during a match.
Accelerates resource and board growth, potentially leading to earlier and more powerful plays.
Instant speed play allows for surprise maneuvers and adaptivity in response to game changes.

Text of card

Horsemanship

Throughout the three kingdoms, important generals were often guarded by small groups of expert soldiers known as "elite companions."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shu Elite Companions excels in maintaining a player’s momentum by offering resourceful companions that can replace themselves in your hand. This translates to a continued influx of options, keeping your deck fueled and ready to tackle the game’s various stages. Whether it’s holding the line against an aggressive opponent or setting up for that game-winning combo, these companions ensure that you’re seldom at a loss for moves.

Resource Acceleration: By providing additional creatures, Shu Elite Companions aids in ramping up your board presence quickly. More creatures could mean more mana if those creatures have abilities that tap for mana or can be sacrificed or traded for an increase in resources. This acceleration is crucial, as it allows a player to execute more powerful plays earlier than expected, giving them a noticeable edge over their opponent.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Shu Elite Companions at instant speed offers strategic versatility to any player. This means you can respond to threats or opportunities at a moment’s notice without foregoing the chance to cast other spells during your turn. Reacting to the dynamic landscape of the game with a card that can surprise your opponent when they least expect it can often turn the tide in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shu Elite Companions comes with a caveat; you must discard a card to harness its ability. This can put players in a tight spot, especially when playing with a sparse hand. Discarding strategically is key, but it does introduce an additional hurdle to jump through to gain this card’s benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Shu Elite Companions is very particular, requiring not just a significant amount of mana but also precise colors. This can be limiting for decks that don’t run heavily on those specific colors, potentially making the card a slower option for inclusion in multi-colored or flexible color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When analyzing the mana efficiency, Shu Elite Companions’ cost may raise some eyebrows. With other creatures or spells in the game offering similar or better effects for less mana, this card could be seen as an investment, and not always the most cost-effective choice depending on the board state and available options.

Reasons to Include Shu Elite Companions in Your Collection

Versatility: Shu Elite Companions fits seamlessly into a variety of deck builds, notably those that capitalize on creature synergies and bolstering your battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: This card is exceptional in decks that manipulate the number of creatures you control, working well in tandem with cards that grant benefits for each creature you summon.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to enhance your line-up with solid creatures, Shu Elite Companions proves its worth in a meta that favours board dominance and strategic creature play.

How to beat

Shu Elite Companions, with their cohesive teamwork and the boost they provide to Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest, create a powerful synergy within player decks. Neutralizing this card becomes essential to prevent your opponent from gaining momentum. The most effective way to counter this strategy involves disrupting the synergy before it takes root. A timely removal spell targeted at Shu Yun or the companions themselves can break the cycle. One card that stands out in this situation is Swords to Plowshares, as its low mana cost and instant speed allow you to react swiftly to the threat.

Additionally, utilizing counter spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Shu Elite Companions from ever hitting the battlefield. In multi-player formats, encouraging other players to focus on the potential threat this card presents can also help. It’s about timing and choosing the right moment to act, before the team of elite warriors start their assault. Strategic planning and maintaining control of the board will guide you to victory against decks that run this particular card.

Ultimately, managing threats early on, keeping up with removal resources, and anticipating when to counter effectively are keys to triumph over Shu Elite Companions in your MTG matches.

Cards like Shu Elite Companions

Shu Elite Companions is a card that brings tactical maneuvers to the forefront in MTG. Aligned with cards like Keldon Warlord, which also relies on the number of allies to determine its power, Shu Elite Companions stands out due to its unique ability to gain a temporary advantage with boosts to power for each other attacking creature. Unlike Keldon Warlord, the Companions offer a more fleeting surge in strength, rather than a constant force determined by your troops on the ground.

In comparison, another card for strategic gameplay is Benalish Hero, offering a twist with banding – a capability that can combine the strength of multiple creatures during an attack or defense. Although Benalish Hero itself doesn’t possess the raw might increase like Shu Elite Companions, its collaborative potential can substantially alter the combat outcome. Furthermore, Siege Behemoth, with its hefty power and ability to dictate how your creatures assign combat damage, also provides a way to shift the battlefield tide but demands a larger mana investment than Shu Elite Companions.

Ultimately, each card offers its own flavor to gameplay, yet Shu Elite Companions stands as a versatile choice, providing a rapid boost in power during combats, which can be a decisive factor in many MTG matches. This makes it a notable option among its peers for players seeking to exert immediate pressure on their opponents.

Cards similar to Shu Elite Companions by color, type and mana cost

Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions

Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions

Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shu Elite Companions MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Shu Elite Companions and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shu Elite Companions Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Qiao Dafu.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1999-05-01	Portal Three Kingdoms	PTK		21	1997	Normal	White	Qiao Dafu
2	2009-09-07	Masters Edition III	ME3		24	1997	Normal	Black	Qiao Dafu

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shu Elite Companions has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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