Shiv's Embrace MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 216
2010-07-16 - Number 156
2011-04-01 - Number 74
2013-07-19 - Number 153
2021-08-26 - Number 511
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and gains flying. oo R Enchanted creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
"Wear the foe's form to best it in battle. So sayeth the bey."
Cards like Shiv's Embrace
Shiv’s Embrace is a notable card for red decks in Magic: The Gathering, enhancing creatures with a fiery boost. It mirrors the functionality of cards like Spectra Ward in the way it can turn a benign creature into a formidable threat. Spectra Ward, however, is more focused on protection rather than power, granting the enchanted creature an almost impenetrable shield against spells of all colors.
Analogous to Shiv’s Embrace is the enchantment Dragon Mantle. Although providing a less substantial power increase, Dragon Mantle compensates with the flexibility of its one mana cost. Moreover, it has the draw-a-card ability upon entering the battlefield, offering card advantage right away. As for similarities in red-specific enchantments, we have Madcap Skills, which, like Shiv’s Embrace, conveys a substantial power surge and also makes the enchanted creature more difficult to block, though without the flexibility of granting flying.
Overall, comparing Shiv’s Embrace with its counterparts underlines the card’s unique balance of granting significant combat enhancements and the strategical depth it adds by being able to give a creature flying, a potent ability within Magic: The Gathering’s diverse tactical landscape.
Cards similar to Shiv's Embrace by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shiv’s Embrace is a multi-faceted enchantment that gives you the upper hand by upgrading a creature’s abilities. Equipped creatures not only get a +2/+2 boost but also gain flying, allowing you to outmaneuver opponents and secure crucial attacks. This form of enhancement can translate to sustained board presence and potential card advantage as you pressure your opponent’s life total and resources.
Resource Acceleration: One of Shiv’s Embrace’s indirect benefits in a red-heavy deck is its potential to enable quicker, more impactful plays. By increasing the power and capabilities of a single creature, you’re efficiently using mana to create a significant threat—an approach that’s all about putting resources to work swiftly and effectively.
Instant Speed: While Shiv’s Embrace itself may not be an instant, its ability to grant flying at a moment’s notice can be leveraged similarly to instant speed interactions. Activating this enchantment before the combat phase can surprise an opponent, turning the tides by providing evasion when they least expect it, which is akin to the strategic advantage gained by casting instants.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shiv’s Embrace does not have a discard requirement, allowing you to retain cards in hand, which is important for maintaining game options.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment comes with a specific mana cost that includes double red mana. This mana specificity can sometimes restrict deck building, as it requires a commitment to a red mana base making it less flexible for multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana investment, two of which must be red, Shiv’s Embrace can be considered costly, especially in fast-paced games where efficiency is key. In such instances, players might find other enchantments or creature buffs that provide similar benefits for a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shiv’s Embrace can be a powerful addition to many Red or multi-colored decks, offering a significant boost in power and granting flying, a key ability for bypassing ground defenses.
Combo Potential: This enchantment lends itself to synergies with creatures that benefit from enchantments, or with cards that have effects when dealing combat damage from the air.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where Red decks are prominent, Shiv’s Embrace can turn any creature into a formidable threat, adjusting well against various meta shifts.
How to beat
Shiv’s Embrace is an impactful aura in Magic: The Gathering, known for beefing up creatures with additional power and giving them the crucial ability to fly. To successfully counter this card, it’s essential to adopt strategies that either preemptively tackle the enchantment or adeptly remove it post-application. Enchantment removal spells are highly effective; a card like Disenchant can eliminate Shiv’s Embrace outright, leaving the buffed creature vulnerable once again.
Board disruption tactics such as sweepers can bypass the aura’s bonuses by clearing the enchanted creature along with the board. Consider spells like Wrath of God for this purpose. Another angle is to target the enchanted creature before the aura is cast or when it’s on the stack, through removal spells, such as Murder. Cards that grant hexproof to your creatures, like Heroic Intervention, can also neutralize this threat by preventing your opponent from targeting your creatures with Shiv’s Embrace. Staying one step ahead of your opponent when they play this card is key to maintaining control of the game.
Overall, by employing the appropriate counterspells, targeted removal, or global disruption, players can effectively mitigate the advantages granted by Shiv’s Embrace and keep their opponents from commanding the skies.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shiv's Embrace MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Magic 2011, 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 Shiv's Embrace 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
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Printings
The Shiv's Embrace Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 216 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Bob Eggleton | |
| 2 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 156 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall | |
| 3 | 2011-04-01 | Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons | DDG | 74 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall | |
| 4 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 153 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall | |
| 5 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 511 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shiv's Embrace has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shiv's Embrace card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-08-15 | Only Shiv’s Embrace’s controller (who is not necessarily the enchanted creature’s controller) can activate its activated ability. |
| 2010-08-15 | When Shiv’s Embrace’s activated ability resolves, the creature Shiv’s Embrace is enchanting at that time will get +1/+0 (regardless of what creature Shiv’s Embrace was enchanting when the ability was activated). If Shiv’s Embrace has left the battlefield by then, the creature it was enchanting at the time it left the battlefield will get +1/+0. |