Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 146
2022-06-10 - Number 146s
2022-06-10 - Number 392
2022-06-10 - Number 499
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Elf Cleric |
| Abilities | Choose a background |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice another creature: Draw X cards, where X is that creature's power. Choose a Background (You can have a Background as a second commander.)
"Shar's will shall be done. As sure as night will fall."
Cards like Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar
Shadowheart Dark Justiciar presents a new twist on the archetype of creature cards designed for tactical battlefield advantage. It’s not uncommon in Magic the Gathering to find creatures like Silverblade Paladin, which shares a somewhat similar ability to grant double strike, highlighting the potential for swift damage escalation. Nevertheless, Shadowheart Dark Justiciar distinguishes itself by granting another creature lifelink instead, which offers a different strategic edge through life gain.
Within this thematic niche, we can look to Fiendslayer Paladin as well. This card also pivots around the combination of first strike and lifelink, reinforcing the player’s defensive stance while still contributing to offensive tactics. However, with Shadowheart Dark Justiciar, the focus shifts slightly towards more aggressive plays by selectively empowering another creature rather than itself. Contrastingly, Swiftblade Vindicator stands out as a compact powerhouse, carrying both double strike and vigilance, although without the flexibility of enhancing fellow creatures.
Ultimately, directing our attention to the intrinsic value across creature cards in Magic the Gathering, Shadowheart Dark Justiciar shines for its unique ability to alter combat dynamics favorably, thereby cementing its place as a compelling choice for players aiming to inject both aggression and sustainability into their decks.
Cards similar to Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shadowheart Dark Justiciar helps you maintain card superiority by providing valuable reoccurring peek at your opponent’s hand, giving strategic insight into their plays.
Resource Acceleration: This card presents an opportunity for resource acceleration by allowing you to potentially exile an opponent’s land cards, which could translate into mana disruption and gain.
Instant Speed: The ability of Shadowheart Dark Justiciar to be activated at instant speed gifts players with the flexibility to respond adeptly to an opponent’s actions, maximizing the efficacy of their strategy at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shadowheart Dark Justiciar demands that you part with another card from your hand to unleash its potential. This can lead to a significant setback when your hand is already depleted, forcing tough decisions about which resources to relinquish.
Specific Mana Cost: The Justiciar insists on a precise blend of mana to enter the fray. Requiring both black and white mana sources, this card might not effortlessly slide into a multi-colored deck, thus narrowing its flexibility across diverse strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of four mana, this card’s entrance fee is on the steeper side. For players aiming for speed and efficiency in their gameplay, considering alternatives that achieve similar effects for less may yield a more fluid and responsive deck performance.
Reasons to Include Shadowheart Dark Justiciar in Your Collection
Versatility: Shadowheart Dark Justiciar aligns with a variety of deck builds, fitting seamlessly into Orzhov strategies that capitalize on lifegain and control tactics. Its ability to disrupt opponents makes it a flexible choice across formats.
Combo Potential: The lifegain and loss mechanic opens the door for synergies with cards that thrive on life changes, enhancing decks that pivot around such interactions to reach devastating combo finishes.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies dominate, Shadowheart Dark Justiciar stands as a formidable impediment. Its capability to manage the battlefield while advancing your game state makes it a strategic asset in the current metagame.
How to beat
Shadowheart Dark Justiciar brings unique challenges to the table in Magic: The Gathering. Encountering this card means dealing with a relentless foe that can return from the graveyard to the battlefield. To counter this formidable adversary, strategic planning is crucial. Consider incorporating graveyard disruption tools into your deck—silencing cards like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace can effectively neutralize the Justiciar’s resilience. Enchantment removal spells can also be pivotal in dismantling any auras boosting the Justiciar’s power.
Furthermore, employing timely removal spells is key. Instant-speed removals like Murder or Path to Exile give you the upper hand, enabling you to respond to the Justiciar’s return before your opponent capitalizes on its presence. Also, board wipes that purge the battlefield can reset the game state, mitigating the immediate threat posed by the Justiciar. Aim to keep the battlefield clear and control the pace of the game, avoiding situations where Shadowheart Dark Justiciar can dictate the flow or mount a significant offensive.
Ultimately, the best strategy against Shadowheart Dark Justiciar is preemptive control and disruption. By maintaining a firm grasp on the battlefield and deploying countermoves, you can mitigate the potential impact of this persistent card and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering duels.
BurnMana Recommendations
With Shadowheart Dark Justiciar offering a complex blend of strategy and resource management, it is no wonder players are seeking ways to optimize their MTG play. Whether it’s tweaking your deck to counter the latest threats or harnessing the Justiciar’s potential to disrupt, the depth of MTG ensures there’s always more to learn. We encourage you to dive deeper into crafting formidable decks and refining your tactics. Immerse yourself in our enriching content and embrace the intricacies of MTG. Enhance your gameplay, discover the finest strategies, and seek the cards that resonate with your style. Ready to broaden your MTG horizons? Connect with us and let the victories follow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos, 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 Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu | |
| 2 | 2022-06-10 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos | PCLB | 146s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 392 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Jones | |
| 4 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 499 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cristi Balanescu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-06-10 | An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders. |
| 2022-06-10 | Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library. |
| 2022-06-10 | Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate. |
| 2022-06-10 | If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens. |
| 2022-06-10 | If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities. |
| 2022-06-10 | If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander. |
| 2022-06-10 | Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway). |
| 2022-06-10 | You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors. |