Shadowgrange Archfiend MTG Card


Offers card advantage to craft superior strategies and ensure game progression in the player’s favor. Enables resource acceleration and graveyard setup, providing a strategic board control. Instant speed ability allows flexible responses, crucial for maintaining control over the game.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities Madness
Power 8
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Shadowgrange Archfiend enters the battlefield, each opponent sacrifices a creature with the greatest power among creatures they control. You gain life equal to the greatest power among creatures sacrificed this way. Madness—, Pay 8 life.


Cards like Shadowgrange Archfiend

Shadowgrange Archfiend is a unique fiend lurking within the vast realms of Magic: The Gathering. This creature finds company with similar cards such as Archfiend of Ifnir, both showcasing the illustrious cycling ability. Shadowgrange Archfiend offers the additional versatility with its capacity for graveyard retrieval, enriching your board presence. On the flip side, Archfiend of Ifnir capitalizes on every discard to weaken opponents’ creatures, an attribute absent in Shadowgrange Archfiend’s arsenal.

Another relative in the shadowy family is Pestilent Spirit. While it lacks the cycling prowess of Shadowgrange Archfiend, it compensates with deathtouch and the ability to make instant and sorcery spells more lethal. Costing one less mana, the Spirit might appeal to those looking to influence the game earlier. However, it doesn’t replicate the resurrection theme of the Archfiend.

Considering these comparisons shapes our understanding of where Shadowgrange Archfiend stands in the ecosystem of MTG’s dark dwellers. It embraces the role of a tactical agent in the graveyard recursion niche, paired with the flexibility afforded by cycling, situating itself firmly as a card with strategic depth and board impact potential.

Archfiend of Ifnir - MTG Card versions
Pestilent Spirit - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Ifnir - MTG Card versions
Pestilent Spirit - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shadowgrange Archfiend by color, type and mana cost

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Fell Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Fell Shepherd - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shadowgrange Archfiend offers a significant boost in your hand by providing card advantage. This can be pivotal in outmatching opponents through better options and strategies available as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: This card enables resource acceleration by potentially discarding cards that trigger additional effects or by setting up your graveyard for future plays. This aspect of resource manipulation can lead to a commanding presence on the board.

Instant Speed: Its ability to be played at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions or end-of-turn dynamics. This strategic advantage ensures that the player can adapt more effectively to the unfolding game state and maintain the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shadowgrange Archfiend necessitates discarding another card as part of its casting cost, which can be a significant drawback when your hand is already sparse or the cards in hand are too valuable to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement for both black and red mana to cast this card means it’s optimally suited for a Rakdos deck. Players running other color combinations might find it hard to consistently meet the mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With four mana needed to bring Shadowgrange Archfiend into play, especially considering two must be black mana, it stands at the high end of the mana curve for its abilities. This cost can slow down your game, especially in formats where lower mana curve cards are predominantly more efficient for establishing board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shadowgrange Archfiend offers a dual nature of aggressive tactics and strategic defense. Its ability to operate as an enforcer on the battlefield makes it highly adaptable for various deck archetypes that need a powerful creature presence.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in combo decks, exploiting its life loss and gain mechanics. Syncing with cards that benefit from these interactions, Shadowgrange Archfiend can become the lynchpin in a well-oiled combo engine.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that values resilience and adaptability, Shadowgrange Archfiend proves its worth. It can hold its own against many current popular decks, making it a smart inclusion for players aiming to stay competitive.


How to beat

Shadowgrange Archfiend is a powerful force in MTG gameplay, compelling players to strategize effectively for victory. Delivering an intense challenge, this card boasts abilities that can quickly turn the tides of the game. To counter this adversary, it’s essential to employ removal spells that can bypass its potent defenses. Targeted removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade, which can outright eliminate creatures regardless of their size or abilities, are perfect for dispatching the Archfiend before it can establish dominance on the board.

Another effective method is to take advantage of exile effects found in spells like Path to Exile or Oblivion Ring. These bypass the potential graveyard recursion spells that could bring Shadowgrange Archfiend back into play. Additionally, controlling the Archfiend’s presence through enchantments or artifacts that keep it tapped or unable to attack or block can also be pivotal in ensuring it doesn’t overwhelm the battlefield.

In essence, while Shadowgrange Archfiend might appear daunting, a well-constructed deck with the right mix of removal and control can neutralize it effectively. By prioritizing its removal or limitation, players can maintain the upper hand against this formidable foe.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the nuances of Shadowgrange Archfiend showcases the importance of strategy and foresight in MTG. With its distinctive ability to influence the game through both its presence on the field and graveyard interactions, this card holds potential that can be realized with thoughtful deck building and playstyle adaptation. Optimizing your resource management and tailoring your approach to include effective countermeasures and synergies can transform Shadowgrange Archfiend from a mere card to a game-changing force. Curious about incorporating this compelling creature into your deck? Discover more insights and strategies by visiting us, where the road to MTG mastery awaits your next move.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shadowgrange Archfiend MTG card by a specific set like Crimson Vow Commander and Crimson Vow 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 Shadowgrange Archfiend and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Shadowgrange Archfiend Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2021-11-19. Illustrated by Oleksandr Kozachenko.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 602015NormalBlackOleksandr Kozachenko
22021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 222015NormalBlackOleksandr Kozachenko

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shadowgrange Archfiend has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-11-19 A card with madness that's discarded counts as having been discarded even though it's put into exile rather than a graveyard. If it was discarded to pay a cost, that cost is still paid. Abilities that trigger when a card is discarded will still trigger.
2021-11-19 A spell cast for its madness cost is put onto the stack like any other spell. It can be countered, copied, and so on. As it resolves, it's put onto the battlefield if it's a permanent card or into its owner's graveyard if it's an instant or sorcery card.
2021-11-19 Cards are discarded in a Magic game only from a player's hand. Effects that put cards into a player's graveyard from anywhere else do not cause those cards to be discarded.
2021-11-19 Casting a spell with madness ignores the timing rules based on the card's card type. For example, you can cast a creature with madness if you discard it during an opponent's turn.
2021-11-19 If a player controls more than one creature tied for the greatest power among creatures they control while Shadowgrange Archfiend's first ability is resolving, that player chooses which one of those creatures to sacrifice.
2021-11-19 If you choose not to cast a card with madness when the madness triggered ability resolves, it's put into your graveyard. Madness doesn't give you another chance to cast it later.
2021-11-19 If you discard a card with madness to pay the cost of a spell or activated ability, that card's madness triggered ability (and the spell that card becomes, if you choose to cast it) will resolve before the spell or ability the discard paid for.
2021-11-19 If you discard a card with madness while a spell or ability is resolving, it moves immediately to exile. Continue resolving that spell or ability, noting that the card you discarded is not in your graveyard at this time. Its madness triggered ability will be placed onto the stack once that spell or ability has completely resolved.
2021-11-19 Madness works independently of why you're discarding the card. You could discard it to pay a cost, because a spell or ability tells you to, or because you have too many cards in your hand during your cleanup step. You can't discard a card with madness just because you want to, though.
2021-11-19 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a madness cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was.