Shape the Sands MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 205
2019-11-07 - Number 1332
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-205
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature gets +0/+5 and gains reach until end of turn. (It can block creatures with flying.)
"Dragons in flight seldom expect company." —Kadri, Dromoka warrior
Cards like Shape the Sands
Shape the Sands is an intriguing card that offers a niche boost of toughness in the Magic: The Gathering universe. Its immediate comparison is to other combat trick cards such as Giant Growth, which provides a more substantial increase in power and toughness. However, Shape the Sands singles itself out with its ultra-specific one green mana cost to give a creature +0/+5 until end of turn, notably impacting toughness alone.
Approaching a different angle, we have cards like Mending Touch that prevent destruction by regenerating the targeted creature. Although regeneration can be a powerful effect, Shape the Sands excels in its preemptive bolstering of a creature’s defenses against damage for that turn. Then consider a card like Tower Defense, which confers a similar toughness boost to multiple creatures and also grants reach. It costs more mana but affects the board more broadly. The choice between these cards often comes down to the strategic needs of the moment and the deck’s overall build around creature toughness.
Ultimately, when sifting through MTG’s vast card library for defensive options, Shape the Sands distinguishes itself as a cost-effective method to fortify a creature against combat threats, particularly appealing in decks designed to take advantage of high toughness values.
Cards similar to Shape the Sands by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: In the context of Shape the Sands, while it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can be an enabler for card interactions or deck strategies that revolve around creatures with high toughness or abilities triggered upon targeting. This can open a window for subtle card advantage in the right deck.
Resource Acceleration: Shape the Sands may not produce additional mana or treasure tokens, but its low cost provides a form of resource acceleration by allowing you to develop your board and protect key creatures while still having mana available for other spells in your turn.
Instant Speed: As with many combat tricks, the instant speed of this card is its standout feature. It allows you to surprise an opponent by modifying combat outcomes, saving your creature from a potential threat, or even enabling a surprise block. Additionally, instant speed spells like Shape the Sands provide flexibility, keeping your options open as the game progresses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Shape the Sands doesn’t demand discarding as a direct cost, its specific role in a deck can lead to situational disadvantages. In scenarios where it ends up as a non-critical draw, it might be chosen as discard fodder to comply with other card effects or to make room for more impactful spells.
Specific Mana Cost: Shape the Sands requires a single green mana to cast, which is efficient but commits part of your deck to green mana sources. For multicolored decks that are mana-intensive in other colors, maintaining the right balance to have green mana available at the right time can lead to color fixing issues.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although one green mana might seem low-cost, in the realm of combat tricks and protective spells, there are alternatives that provide more comprehensive protection or additional benefits for a similar or even lower cost. This can make Shape the Sands less desirable in a slot where deckbuilders seek maximum efficiency and versatility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shape the Sands is a unique card that can be slotted into various green decks craving protection and strength. Its ability to provide a significant boost to a creature’s toughness at a low cost makes it a flexible pick for any green player’s arsenal.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as an enabler in combo-oriented decks that capitalize on creatures’ toughness. Whether it’s powering up an Avatar of the Resolute or enabling a surprise lethal attack with Assault Formation, the potential for clever and powerful interactions is substantial.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where large, early threats are common, Shape the Sands can be the difference-maker, turning a modest creature into a formidable blocker or a surprise aggressor. Its instant speed allows for reactive plays that can catch an opponent off-guard during combat phases.
How to beat
Shape the Sands is a unique instant in the MTG landscape, known for its ability to grant a creature +0/+5 until end of turn. This defensive stat boost can turn the tide in combat, skewing trades in favor of your opponent. Facing off against a card with such a significant toughness boost might seem daunting, but there are efficient strategies to overcome it.
To neutralize the advantage Shape the Sands provides, consider using removal spells that aren’t contingent on a creature’s toughness. Spells like Murder or Doom Blade can bypass the toughness boost by outright destroying the targeted creature. Moreover, you could employ counter spells like Negate or Counterspell to prevent Shape the Sands from resolving in the first place, maintaining control over the board state.
Effective tactics also include cards that detour combat altogether. Cards causing opponents to sacrifice creatures, such as Liliana’s Triumph, ignore toughness entirely. Ultimately, while Shape the Sands can temporarily fortify a creature, its power is undermined by cards and strategies that address the underlying threats rather than the temporary buffs they receive.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shape the Sands MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Shape the Sands 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 Shape the Sands Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Ryan Yee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1332 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DTK-205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Yee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shape the Sands has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |