Shanodin Dryads MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 216
1993-10-04 - Number 217
1993-12-01 - Number 217
1993-12-10 - Number 217
1993-12-10 - Number 217
1994-04-01 - Number 216
1994-04-01 - Number 216
1994-06-21 - Number 216
1995-04-01 - Number 271
1995-04-01 - Number 271
1997-03-24 - Number 325
1999-04-21 - Number 252
2001-04-11 - Number 269★
2001-04-11 - Number 269
2022-11-28 - Number 212
2022-11-28 - Number 509
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Nymph Dryad |
| Abilities | Forestwalk |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Forestwalk
Moving without sound, swift figures pass through branches and undergrowth completely unhindered. One with the trees around them, the Dryads of Shanodin Forest are seen only when they wish to be.
Cards like Shanodin Dryads
Shanodin Dryads, a classic creature from the early days of Magic: The Gathering, joins the ranks of one-mana green creatures with a straightforward purpose – quick board presence. When stacking up Shanodin Dryads against Narnam Renegade, a slightly newer card with a comparable mana cost, we see that the Renegade offers additional value with deathtouch and the potential upside of entering with a +1/+1 counter if a permanent was put into your graveyard that turn.
Another similar card is Pelt Collector, which also begins as a one-mana, one-power creature. However, Pelt Collector holds the promise of growth, getting stronger each time a creature with greater power enters your battlefield. While Shanodin Dryads boasts the forestwalk ability, enabling it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Forest, Pelt Collector provides a scaling threat which can be more impactful as the game progresses.
Considering the range of one-mana green creatures, Shanodin Dryads serves a niche role in decks that can exploit the forestwalk ability for consistent damage. Despite this, other alternatives like Narnam Renegade and Pelt Collector may offer greater flexibility and potential for power growth, adapting more dynamically to the evolving battlefield.
Cards similar to Shanodin Dryads by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shanodin Dryads may not draw you extra cards directly, but being a low-cost creature, it can be an efficient way to populate the battlefield. Versatility comes into play as the card can be used both offensively and defensively, improving your board presence, which is a subtle form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: One of the key features of Shanodin Dryads is that it enables forestwalk. If your opponent controls a Forest, this means your Dryads can potentially swing for damage each turn unchecked. While not direct resource acceleration, this ability can apply consistent pressure without the need for further mana investment, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.
Instant Speed: While Shanodin Dryads itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its low mana cost synergizes well with decks that focus on instant-speed interaction. You can deploy your Dryads using minimal mana and keep the rest available for instant-speed spells, thus maintaining the ability to react to your opponent’s moves effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Shanodin Dryads doesn’t require discarding as a cost, its presence often doesn’t justify the card slot in a deck, potentially leading to it being discarded for more impactful plays.
Specific Mana Cost: Shanodin Dryads demands a green mana, which confines it to green-centric or multicolor decks, potentially restricting deck-building options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although casting for a single green mana seems efficient, in a fast-paced game, other one-drop creatures offer more utility or power, pushing the Dryads aside for more competitive options.
Reasons to Include Shanodin Dryads in Your Collection
Versatility: Shanodin Dryads come with the benefit of being truly adaptable across various green decks, from legacy to casual formats. Their forestwalk ability can be a tactical advantage in matches where forest-heavy decks are prevalent.
Combo Potential: The card naturally pairs well with effects that turn your opponent’s lands into forests, enabling unblocked attacks. This sets the stage for numerous combo possibilities, leveraging its unique landwalk capability.
Meta-Relevance: Given that green decks often focus on powerhouse creatures and land manipulation, Shanodin Dryads can be a stealthy addition that capitalizes on the widespread use of forests in many popular decks, enhancing its relevance in certain meta environments.
How to Beat
Shanodin Dryads is a classic creature card from Magic: The Gathering that might remind veteran players of simpler times. This nature-themed card boasts the landwalk ability, specifically forestwalk, allowing it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a Forest. This subtle feature requires a strategic approach to outmaneuver.
To effectively counter Shanodin Dryads, consider adjusting your land base if you’re not committed to Forests or using removal spells that can target any creature, regardless of its abilities. Cards that change land types can also be handy in this scenario, rendering the Dryads blockable. Additionally, employ board control spells that don’t discriminate based on creature abilities, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” which can clear the field of pesky creatures. Artifacts and enchantments that prevent all combat damage can be pivotal in games against creatures like Shanodin Dryads that bypass traditional defenses.
Ultimately, while the Dryads may hark back to the game’s early days, they can be managed with careful planning and a diverse suite of countermeasures, ensuring that their forestwalk ability doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shanodin Dryads MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Shanodin Dryads 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Shanodin Dryads Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 216 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 217 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 217 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 217 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 217 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 216 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 216 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 216 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 271 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 271 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 325 | 1997 | Normal | White | Gary Leach | |
| 12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 252 | 1997 | Normal | White | Gary Leach | |
| 13 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 269★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Eric Peterson | |
| 14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 269 | 1997 | Normal | White | Eric Peterson | |
| 15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 212 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 509 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shanodin Dryads has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |