Shamble Back MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2016-04-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Set code | SOI |
| Number | 134 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Izzy |
Text of card
Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield. You gain 2 life.
Lost loved ones are never truly gone.
Cards like Shamble Back
Shamble Back stands out primarily among the vast array of graveyard interaction spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a simple and efficient spell, much like the card Raise Dead, which allows players to return creature cards from their graveyard to their hand. Shamble Back, however, offers a different twist by targeting only creature cards in graveyards, exiling them to create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token while also giving the caster 2 life points.
In this context, we also see a resemblance to cards such as Ghoulcaller’s Chant, which offers flexibility by potentially returning two Zombies from your graveyard to your hand. Unlike Shamble Back, Ghoulcaller’s Chant doesn’t provide life gain or exile creatures, which can be crucial against decks that rely on graveyard strategies. Another peer card is Disentomb, notable for its lower mana cost, but lacking the additional benefits of token creation and life gain.
Assessing these comparisons, we recognize that while Shamble Back might not have the lowest mana cost or the flexibility to return multiple creatures, it carves its niche with its life-gain feature and the ability to thwart opponents’ reanimation strategies, all while expanding your board presence with a new Zombie token. This makes Shamble Back a unique choice for certain MTG strategies focused on incremental advantage and graveyard control.
Cards similar to Shamble Back by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shamble Back not only exiles a creature from a graveyard, which can disrupt your opponent’s strategy but also lets you put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield. This two-in-one action provides you with an additional blocker or attacker while potentially denying your opponent resources or graveyard synergies.
Resource Acceleration: By casting Shamble Back, you also gain 2 life. This can be an essential boost in resource acceleration, especially in the early game where maintaining a high life total can give you an edge or in a long game where it can be the difference between defeat and victory.
Instant Speed: The power of Shamble Back being an instant cannot be underestimated in MTG. It allows you to react to your opponent’s moves, making strategic plays during their turn. Surprise graveyard removal can be pivotal, especially when it deprives them of a key card they might have been relying on for a recursion strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Shamble Back doesn’t ask you to discard a card, it does require you to exile a creature from your graveyard to cast it. This prerequisite can be restrictive and hampers strategies that rely on graveyard recursion or synergize with creature cards in the graveyard.
Specific Mana Cost: Shamble Back necessitates one black mana to play. This can limit its inclusion to decks that are heavy in black or run the right mana fixing to accommodate such specific mana needs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While costing a single black mana might not seem high, in the realm of one-mana spells, the effect of returning only a 2/2 zombie and gaining 2 life might not be as impactful when compared to other one-drop spells in MTG that can offer more immediate board presence or card advantage.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shamble Back offers utility in various deck types, making it a helpful addition for players seeking graveyard interaction and zombie synergy. Its ability to exile a creature from the graveyard and create a Zombie token can be pertinent in both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card is especially potent in decks that capitalize on zombie tribal themes or strategies that benefit from having creatures enter the battlefield. Pairing Shamble Back with cards that trigger upon token generation or creature death can create powerful interactions.
Meta-Relevance: With graveyard-based strategies often present in the meta, Shamble Back serves as both a countermeasure against opponent’s recurrence themes and a resourceful way to strengthen your board presence. It’s a low-cost sneaky play that can shift the tide at critical moments in a match.
How to beat
Shamble Back is a unique card that can trip up many MTG players with its ability to tap into graveyard resources. This sorcery speeds the return of zombies from the graveyard to the battlefield while simultaneously sapping the strength from the opponent. Its appeal lies in its low mana cost and the instant gain of life which can swing the tide of a match significantly.
To counter Shamble Back effectively, a strategic approach is key. Consider cards or abilities that exile cards from graveyards, precluding the resurrection of zombies. Graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can be game changers. Additionally, having instant speed removal or counterspells ready can negate Shamble Back before it takes effect, ensuring the opponent doesn’t benefit from the life gain or zombie token.
Focusing on early disruption, and controlling the graveyard, prevents an adversary from leveraging Shamble Back’s full potential. Prioritizing swift elimination of zombie tokens can also diminish its impact. Overall, understanding Shamble Back’s mechanism and being prepared with the right counters ensures you maintain the upper hand and sustain your position in the game effectively.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shamble Back MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Shamble Back 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shamble Back has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shamble Back card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | If the creature card becomes an illegal target, Shamble Back doesn’t resolve. None of its effects happen. |