Shinen of Stars' Light MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Channel,First strike |
| Released | 2005-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Saviors of Kamigawa |
| Set code | SOK |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 28 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeremy Jarvis |
Text of card
First strike Channel , Discard Shinen of Stars' Light: Target creature gains first strike until end of turn.
Cards like Shinen of Stars' Light
Shinen of Stars’ Light is an intriguing card in the realm of combat trick spells within MTG. It shows a resemblance to cards like Giant Growth, which also grants a power boost. Nevertheless, Shinen of Stars’ Light offers something unique with its ‘channel’ ability, allowing a flexibility that Giant Growth does not possess. While the traditional growth spell boosts one creature substantially, Shinen can spread its impact across several creatures for a single turn.
Comparatively, we have cards like Vines of Vastwood which offer not only a boost in power but also protection from targeting by spells or abilities your opponents control. Even though Vines of Vastwood is versatile, it lacks the channel mechanic that provides the Shinen of Stars’ Light with its multi-creature amplification. Another peer in this category is Blossoming Defense, granting a smaller increase in power but adding the crucial element of hexproof to safeguard creatures from hostile spells or abilities for the turn.
Overall, when it comes to providing a strategic edge in combat, Shinen of Stars’ Light stands out due to its channel ability. This feature enhances its appeal as a multifaceted spell capable of influencing the battlefield in favor of players looking for widespread creature empowerment.
Cards similar to Shinen of Stars' Light by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shinen of Stars’ Light can be a subtle but impactful way to keep your hand filled. By enabling spiritcraft triggers, which often involve drawing cards or other beneficial effects, your strategy can benefit from the additional value garnered through maintaining a full hand.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Shinen of Stars’ Light can act as a catalyst in decks that capitalize on spirit or arcane synergies. Enhancing the pace at which your deck operates, it can play a crucial role in stratagems focused on accelerating your overall board presence.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast this card at instant speed adds a tactical layer to gameplay, allowing you to react to opponents’ moves or optimize the timing of your own spells. Its Channel ability can be activated in a pinch, offering flexibility and the element of surprise during complex board states.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Within your strategy, including Shinen of Stars’ Light demands a careful balance, as it necessitates the forfeit of a card, which could potentially deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage in the long game or when seeking to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Flexibility can be strained with a card like Shinen of Stars’ Light due to its fixed green mana requirement. This can limit deck-building options, often confining the card to mono-green or two-color decks where green is heavily featured.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Armed with a channel ability, Shinen of Stars’ Light might not be your optimal pick, particularly when you gauge its mana cost against other cards with similar or more impactful effects. It’s critical to evaluate whether the mana invested translates to substantial value on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shinen of Stars’ Light can adapt to various deck builds, especially those that require instant speed interactions. Its Channel ability allows for tactical plays, either by buffing creatures for a surprise block or making a key attacker elusive during combat.
Combo Potential: With its ability to give a creature shroud until end of turn, Shinen of Stars’ Light can safeguard combo pieces from targeted removal. This ensures that your complex board states remain intact when you’re ready to execute your winning move.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where spot removal is ubiquitous, having cards that protect your valuable creatures can be crucial. Shinen of Stars’ Light has a role in any meta where maintaining board presence determines the outcome of matches.
How to beat Shinen of Stars’ Light
Shinen of Stars’ Light is an intriguing creature card that can be a tricky adversary in Magic: The Gathering. Its channel ability allows it to be discarded for a unique effect—giving all your creatures protection from a color of your choice until the end of the turn. This makes it a handy tool for ensuring successful attacks or shielding your board from targeted spells or abilities.
To counter Shinen of Stars’ Light, it’s crucial to employ strategies that aren’t reliant on colors. Colorless removal spells, such as reality smasher or exile effects like those found on Oblivion Ring, can bypass the protection granted by Shinen’s channel ability. Additionally, board wipes that don’t target, such as Supreme Verdict or Damnation, can clear the field without being hindered by color protection. It’s also effective to pressure your opponent and force them to use their Shinen early, diminishing their surprise factor, which can often swing a game in their favor.
Finally, remember that Shinen of Stars’ Light requires the element of surprise to be fully effective. Playing thoughtfully and maintaining awareness of its presence can go a long way in ensuring it doesn’t catch you off guard.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shinen of Stars' Light MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Shinen of Stars' Light 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 Shinen of Stars' Light has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |