Dragonspeaker Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Barbarian Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Dragonspeaker Shaman reduces dragon spell costs, accelerating your game and increasing threat deployment.
  2. The card’s specific red mana requirement may limit its integration into diverse MTG decks.
  3. Shaman’s value is unquestionable in dragon-centric builds, enhancing combo potential and board presence.

Text of card

Dragon spells you play cost less to play.

"We speak the dragons' language of flame and rage. They speak our language of fury and honor. Together we shall weave a tale of destruction without equal."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dragonspeaker Shaman presents a unique opportunity in MTG by reducing the mana cost of Dragon creature spells you cast. This cost reduction can be pivotal in securing card advantage as it allows for more efficient deployment of high-cost Dragon cards, which in turn can lead to drawing into more game-changing creatures or spells.

Resource Acceleration: The cost reduction effect of Dragonspeaker Shaman can act as a form of resource acceleration. By effectively decreasing the mana required to cast your Dragons, it acts nearly as if you’ve ramped your mana resources without the need for additional land drops or mana artifacts, thus speeding up your overall game plan.

Instant Speed: While Dragonspeaker Shaman itself is not an instant-speed spell, it synergizes well with Dragons that can be cast at instant speed or have flash. With the Shaman on the board, these creatures become even more threatening as you can use the mana saved to control the battlefield with other instant-speed interactions or deploy threats quicker than usual.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dragonspeaker Shaman does not directly require discarding as a cost, but it is crucial for players to consider the overall strategy of keeping necessary dragon cards in hand to make the most of the Shaman’s effect. This could potentially be a tactical con if the deck runs low on dragons to play.

Specific Mana Cost: The Shaman’s casting cost strictly requires two red mana which can pose a limitation. Players running multicolored decks might find it challenging to consistently meet the red mana requirement, restricting the card’s inclusion only to decks with a heavy red mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three mana, including two red, Dragonspeaker Shaman might be a slow start in fast-paced games. Given its utility is only maximized with other dragon cards, some players could perceive the cost as high compared to other utility creatures that can be played earlier and benefit a wider variety of deck archetypes.


Reasons to Include Dragonspeaker Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Dragonspeaker Shaman is a valuable addition to decks that prioritize casting dragon spells, as it effectively reduces their mana cost, making high-impact plays more attainable early in the game.

Combo Potential: This card unlocks high-powered combos by allowing you to play multiple dragons in a single turn or invest extra mana into bolstering their effects, significantly increasing your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where dragon-themed decks are prominent, the Dragonspeaker Shaman serves as a cornerstone, providing an economic advantage over opponents by enabling faster and more frequent deployment of dragons, a strategic benefit that can lead to decisive victories.


How to beat

Dragonspeaker Shaman is a powerful ally for any player looking to summon dragon companions swiftly onto the battlefield. Known for its mana-reducing ability, this card can make your opponent’s army of serpentine behemoths soar through the skies much sooner than you’d like. To effectively challenge a player leveraging the Dragonspeaker Shaman, you need to disrupt their momentum. Removal spells are your best friend in these scenarios; efficient removal can prevent the shaman from ever applying its cost-reduction effect.

Counterspells can also play a crucial role when playing against cards that enhance creature types, denying your adversary the opportunity to gain that critical advantage. Artifact and enchantment removal can be handy to dismantle any support that might protect the shaman or further decrease dragon casting costs. Don’t forget about board-wiping spells, which can clear the field of multiple threats at once, including any dragons that may have already hit the board. By maintaining control and being preemptive in your strategy, you stand a solid chance of grounding your opponent’s dragon-fueled ambitions and preserving your dominance in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the intricacies of Magic the Gathering is key, and Dragonspeaker Shaman is a card that can shift the dynamics of your game in fascinating ways. Whether you’re looking to drop mighty dragons earlier than expected, or simply seeking to enhance your red-based deck, this card holds a promise of power. If dragon spells are your pathway to victory, consider the Shaman as an indispensable part of your arsenal. Curious about optimizing your deck with powerful creature synergies and reducing mana costs for high-impact play? Dive into our world of strategic insights, where we unravel the secrets of MTG mastery and help you forge a deck that’s not only formidable but legendary.


Cards like Dragonspeaker Shaman

Dragonspeaker Shaman is a powerful support card for dragon-themed decks in Magic: The Gathering. This creature reduces the mana cost of dragon spells you cast by two, similar to the way Urza’s Incubator grants cost reductions to a chosen creature type. Though the Incubator’s effect is broader, targeting any creature type, Dragonspeaker Shaman is specifically tailored to dragons, making it a staple in dragon-focused builds.

When comparing to another cost-reducing card, Hazoret’s Monument comes to mind. This artifact reduces the cost of red creature spells by one mana and also provides a way to discard and draw a card whenever you cast a creature spell—a feature Dragonspeaker Shaman lacks. However, Dragonspeaker Shaman still remains uniquely valuable for the substantial two-mana discount it provides exclusively to powerful dragon spells. Lastly, we see Dragonlord’s Servant, a creature with a similar ability to Dragonspeaker Shaman. Although it only reduces the dragon casting cost by one, it does so at a lower initial mana investment, making it a wise choice for early game ramping in dragon decks.

Assessing these cards overall, Dragonspeaker Shaman’s significant mana reduction for dragons makes it an excellent accelerant in any deck built around dragon synergy. Its utility and specialization enable players to summon mighty winged creatures earlier than usual, swinging the momentum in their favor.

Urza's Incubator - MTG Card versions
Hazoret's Monument - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord's Servant - MTG Card versions
Urza's Incubator - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Hazoret's Monument - Amonkhet (AKH)
Dragonlord's Servant - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

Cards similar to Dragonspeaker Shaman by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Stone - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Cavern Crawler - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Windseeker Centaur - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
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Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Stone - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Cavern Crawler - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Windseeker Centaur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Skirk Commando - Archenemy (ARC)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dragonspeaker Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Archenemy, 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 Dragonspeaker Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dragonspeaker Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 891997normalblackKev Walker
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 362003normalblackKev Walker
32011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 532003normalblackKev Walker
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1362015normalblackKev Walker
52020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3122015normalblackKev Walker
62021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 3302015normalblackKev Walker
72022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 752015normalblackKev Walker
82022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 5252015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dragonspeaker Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

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