Shauku, Endbringer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Vampire |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 142 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
Flying Shauku, Endbringer cannot attack if there is another creature in play. During your upkeep, lose 3 life. oc T: Remove target creature from the game and put a +1/+1 counter on Shauku.
Cards like Shauku, Endbringer
In the vast compendium of Magic: The Gathering cards, Shauku, Endbringer has a unique place among legendary creatures. It’s akin to Vampire Nighthawk, as both offer flying and some form of life gain. However, Shauku brings a distinct ability to the table – its power to remove creatures from the game and sustain your life total in return. Unlike the Nighthawk, Shauku can’t engage in combat unless it’s the only creature on the battlefield, showcasing a predatory nature that requires careful deck building to exploit effectively.
Exquisite Archangel offers a comparison in the survival stakes. Although it lacks the removal capability, the Archangel can be a game-changer by resetting your life total when you would lose the game. While this is a remarkable ability, it comes with a steep cost and doesn’t impact the board state like Shauku’s ability to exsanguinate creatures turn after turn. Then, there’s Avatar of Woe, which can eliminate creatures at a cheaper cost upon reaching threshold conditions but doesn’t have the life-linking capabilities. The avatar offers tactical creature removal without the life-gain twist that Shauku possesses.
Ultimately, Shauku, Endbringer demands strategic finesse to utilize her abilities best. While similar cards may serve as efficient creature managers or life savers, Shauku’s menacing presence is not easily replicated in the realm of MTG, marrying removal with incremental life gain.
Cards similar to Shauku, Endbringer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shauku, Endbringer provides a unique form of card advantage by exiling creatures it damages. This not only removes potential threats from your opponent’s board but also eliminates the chance of those creatures coming back from the graveyard. It’s a way to maintain control over the game by dealing with opponent’s resources effectively.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or resource acceleration, Shauku’s ability to clear the board can be seen as indirect acceleration. With opponents’ creatures out of the way, you’re free to attack more safely and commit more resources to developing your own board without fear of being blocked or taking significant damage on the backswing.
Instant Speed: Shauku, Endbringer doesn’t have an ability that operates at instant speed itself, but it synergizes well with cards that do. Since you can only use Shauku’s ability during your upkeep, it pairs well with instant-speed spells that can protect it from removal or counter spells that would prevent its activation, thus ensuring its dominating presence on the board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shauku, Endbringer requires a player to discard one of their own creatures during the upkeep. This can put a strain on resources, particularly in a game where creature presence is key to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost includes three black mana, which can be restrictive. This means it demands a deck heavily focused on black mana sources, potentially reducing versatility in deck building.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of five mana, including three that must be black, Shauku, Endbringer’s abilities may feel costly when compared to other creatures with similar power levels that can impact the board more immediately upon being cast.
Reasons to Include Shauku, Endbringer in Your Collection
Versatility: Shauku, Endbringer is not just a threat on its own, but also a potent answer to creature-heavy strategies. With its ability to exile creatures from the game, Shauku offers players a unique way to deal with opposing threats indefinitely.
Combo Potential: This card can become a key piece in combo decks that focus on life gain, reanimation, or utilizing the graveyard. Its ability to consistently remove creatures every turn can be harnessed in various creative ways to control the board and manipulate game outcomes.
Meta-Relevance: Depending on the shifting tides of the meta, Shauku, Endbringer can be a game-changer in environments where creatures dictate the pace. Its presence on the board is a consistent deterrent to creature-based strategies, making it a compelling choice for decks aiming to disrupt the norm.
How to beat
Shauku, Endbringer is a unique card that can dominate the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a formidable flying creature, it requires a specific strategy to counter. The key to beating Shauku lies in preventing its life-draining ability from activating. This can be achieved by removing it from play using instant-speed removal spells that can be cast before your upkeep, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile.
Maintaining a board presence with multiple creatures can also undermine Shauku’s effectiveness, as it cannot attack if you have no creatures on the battlefield. Furthermore, since Shauku can’t block, employing an aggressive strategy with a swarm of creatures can be effective. Employing enchantments that prevent activated abilities from being activated, such as Suppression Field, can also neutralize Shauku’s threat.
Finally, utilizing cards that can exile or shuffle Shauku back into the owner’s library, like Oblivion Ring or Condemn, can effectively mitigate the danger posed by this powerful creature. Attacking Shauku’s weaknesses directly is crucial for turning the tide of battle in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shauku, Endbringer MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Shauku, Endbringer 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 Shauku, Endbringer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |