Shadows of the Past MTG Card
2015-07-17 - Number 118
2016-09-02 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Abilities | Scry |
Text of card
Whenever a creature dies, scry 1. (Look at the top card of your library. You may put that card on the bottom of your library.): Each opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life. Activate this ability only if there are four or more creature cards in your graveyard.
Cards like Shadows of the Past
Shadows of the Past is an intriguing enchantment in MTG, creating a nuanced layer of strategy within the game’s vast card pool. It enters a distinctive category, tapping into the mechanics of scrying and life gain. Comparable to cards like Crystal Ball, which also allows a player to scry to filter their draws, Shadows of the Past adds value by scrying whenever a creature dies—potentially a more frequent occurrence depending on the deck’s design.
Seeking further parallels, one might also assess Underworld Connections. While this card leans towards card draw instead of scry, it similarly offers recurrent value each turn at the expense of life. Unlike Shadows of the Past, it does not capitalize on the death of creatures but still empowers the player with additional resources. Deathreap Ritual is another comparison, which capitalizes on the end-of-turn mechanic, granting card draw instead of scry whenever a creature dies that turn, sharing some situational synergy with Shadows of the Past.
While each of these cards embodies unique aspects, Shadows of the Past holds its ground, offering consistent opportunities for deck manipulation with its scry ability while also sprinkling in life gain, magnifying its utility in creature-heavy matchups within MTG.
Cards similar to Shadows of the Past by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shadows of the Past is a versatile enchantment that serves as a continual source of scrying. Each time a creature dies, you get to scry 1, helping you filter through your deck and draw into your key spells and lands more consistently.
Resource Acceleration: This card’s secondary ability can turn into a significant resource boon. By providing you the option to pay mana in the late game to raise creatures from your graveyard to your hand, it effectively gives you a form of card recursion and potential acceleration of your board state.
Instant Speed: Although the enchantment itself is cast at sorcery speed, its triggered ability works at instant speed. This means you can scry immediately when a creature dies during any player’s turn, thus optimizing your draw step and maintaining reactivity during the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shadows of the Past requires a player to discard a card, which can be particularly taxing when hand size is critical to maintaining strategic advantage. This condition may pose a challenge during gameplay, especially in tight situations where every card in hand is vital.
Specific Mana Cost: This card has a precise mana cost that includes black mana. This specificity could restrict the card’s inclusion only to decks that can reliably produce black mana, possibly limiting its overall versatility in a player’s arsenal. Those who run multicolored or non-black decks may find it difficult to integrate Shadows of the Past effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana cost, Shadows of the Past may be considered costly for the effects it offers. In the competitive landscape of MTG, there are alternatives that might bring similar or enhanced benefits for the same or lower investment, making it a less favored choice among players who aim to optimize their mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shadows of the Past is a dynamic card that can be seamlessly incorporated into different deck archetypes, particularly those that can exploit its scry ability to control the top of their deck for better draws.
Combo Potential: This card excels in strategies that involve creatures dying. It pairs well with sacrifice synergies, enabling you to scry repeatedly and potentially profit from any death triggers on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta with frequent creature trades, Shadows of the Past shines by turning each death into an opportunity to sift through your deck, ensuring you draw into your game-winning resources more consistently.
How to beat
Shadows of the Past is a unique enchantment in MTG that can influence game dynamics subtly but effectively. The card’s ability to scry when a creature dies allows players to filter through their decks, enhancing their draw quality. This incremental advantage can be significant, especially in formats like Commander, where the battlefield can be crowded with creatures. Its secondary ability offers a late-game advantage by providing a method to drain opponents’ life totals. However, like all powerful spells, it has its Achilles’ heel.
To effectively counter Shadows of the Past, it’s essential to mitigate the enchantment’s impact. This can be done by limiting creature deaths or employing enchantment removal. Cards like Rest in Peace can stop abilities that trigger from creatures dying, while straightforward enchantment destruction, provided by cards like Disenchant or Naturalize, can remove it directly from the battlefield. Additionally, proactive strategies include exerting pressure to divert your opponent’s mana away from activating its abilities, or using counterspells like Counterspell or Negate to prevent it from hitting the field altogether.
Strategies to beat Shadows of the Past focus on disruption and precise timing. By understanding the card’s mechanics and having a plan to neutralize its effects, players can limit its potential and maintain control over the game’s flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shadows of the Past MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Shadows of the Past and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Shadows of the Past Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2016-09-02. Illustrated by Ryan Yee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee | |
| 2 | 2016-09-02 | Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis | DDR | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shadows of the Past has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shadows of the Past card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-06-22 | Once you legally activate the last ability, it doesn’t matter how many creature cards are in your graveyard as it resolves. |