Specter's Shriek MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Number | 106 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Svetlin Velinov |
Text of card
Target opponent reveals their hand. You may choose a nonland card from it. If you do, that player exiles that card. If a nonblack card is exiled this way, exile a card from your hand.
"Imagine having your skeleton extracted through your ear, one bone at a time." —Corliss the Wanderer
Cards like Specter's Shriek
Specter’s Shriek offers a unique taste of disruption in the world of MTG. In terms of functionality, it has echoes of the classic thoughtseize, which also delves into an opponent’s hand to disrupt their game plan. However, Specter’s Shriek trades the universal applicability of thoughtseize for a mana advantage, costing only one black mana instead of one black and one generic mana, with the added cost of discarding a card as well.
Another card worth mentioning alongside Specter’s Shriek is Duress. While both cards allow you to look at an opponent’s hand and choose noncreature cards to discard, Duress does so without the requirement for the caster to discard. Though, it lacks the ability to hit creatures – an edge that Specter’s Shriek has. Infiltrator’s Magemark can also be considered here, wherein it provides recurring discard effects – albeit conditional and reliant on combat.
Through careful analysis, it’s clear Specter’s Shriek has its niche in the MTG environment. Its strength lies in its efficient cost and flexibility to target any type of nonland card, a trait valuable in a format where pinpoint disruption can shift the tides of a match.
Cards similar to Specter's Shriek by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Specter’s Shriek provides a strategic edge by allowing you to target and discard a nonland card from your opponent’s hand, which can disturb their game plan and potentially lead to a gain in card advantage as they lose resources that are key to their strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While this card does not directly generate mana or treasure tokens, the removal of key cards from your opponent’s hand can indirectly accelerate your resources by slowing them down, giving you more time to develop your board and leverage your own resources without pressure.
Instant Speed: Although this sorcery does not benefit from the flexibility of instant speed, its single black mana cost allows for efficient use of mana. This characteristic ensures you can deploy other tactics or creatures in the same turn, keeping you nimble and able to respond to your opponent’s moves effectively.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When casting Specter’s Shriek, it mandates that you discard a card from your hand. In moments of the game where your options are already scarce, this can strip away any strategic reserve you might be holding onto.
Specific Mana Cost: Specter’s Shriek’s cost is locked into black mana, which narrows its integration solely to decks that run black or have a mana base flexible enough to accommodate black spells. This could exclude a vast array of deck archetypes who can’t meet the color requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring one black mana might seem low-cost, but its overall cost-to-effect ratio can be seen as steep, especially when evaluated against other discard spells in the format that might disrupt the opponent at a much cheaper rate or without the additional cost of discarding your own card.
Reasons to Include Specter’s Shriek in Your Collection
Versatility: Specter’s Shriek offers a powerful, early play capable of disrupting your opponent’s hand by allowing you to select and exile nonland cards, which can be a significant advantage regardless of the type of deck you’re facing.
Combo Potential: This card is particularly potent in matchups where you’re aiming to disrupt synergy-driven decks. Combined with other discard effects, it can help dismantle your opponent’s strategic plays before they come to fruition.
Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of decks that rely on specific key cards to win, Specter’s Shriek’s ability to remove those cornerstones early can shape the flow of the game, especially in formats where one card can dictate the game’s outcome.
How to beat
When facing Specter’s Shriek, players should be aware of its potential to disrupt their hand by forcing them to discard their best card. However, there are strategies to mitigate this impact and maintain control over the game. To anticipate the havoc that Specter’s Shriek may cause, keep in mind that it targets nonland cards and requires the caster to also discard a card if it’s not a black card.
One method is employing a robust hand with redundant key cards, thus lowering the pain of losing any single piece. Another tactical move is to use instant speed spells and abilities to pour your valuable cards onto the battlefield or into a protected zone, like the graveyard, where they are immune to hand disruption. This reactive play could potentially negate the advantage your opponent seeks to gain with Specter’s Shriek.
Ultimately, while Specter’s Shriek can put a kink in your plans, smart hand management and an understanding of timing can turn the tide in your favor. Thus, maintaining composure and adjusting your strategy in response to this threat is critical. Adaptability can often lead to victory, even when faced with such disruptive cards.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Specter's Shriek MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Specter's Shriek 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Specter's Shriek has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Specter's Shriek card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | If you have no cards in hand, you won't have to exile anything if you have the player exile a nonblack card from their hand. |