Shocker MTG Card

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 204

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number TMP-204

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Insect
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Shocker disrupts opponents’ strategies with forced random card discards, altering game dynamics.
Demands careful play due to its card discard requirement, specific mana cost, and flexibility limitations.
In the right deck, Shocker can lock opponents out, proving its value despite potential downsides.

Text of card

If Shocker damages any player, that player discards his or her hand, then draws a new hand of as many cards as he or she had before.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Shocker successfully deals damage to an opponent, it allows you to force that opponent to discard a card at random, disrupting their strategy while potentially giving you insights into their hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although Shocker itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, its benefit comes from disrupting your opponent’s resources. By reducing the number of cards they have access to, you effectively slow their progression while maintaining your own.

Instant Speed: The key ability of Shocker can be triggered during the combat phase, making it a potent force when opponents least expect it. In addition, the capability to use other spells at instant speed alongside Shocker creates strategic layers of gameplay, keeping opponents guessing and on the defensive.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shocker requires players to discard a card each time it deals damage to an opponent. This stipulation might backfire if a player is already low on cards, potentially leading to a deficit in hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Committing to Shocker’s specific mana cost can be restrictive as it demands two red mana. This constraint means it often fits only in mono-red or red-heavy decks, reducing its flexibility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of three mana, which includes two red mana, Shocker’s cost is on the higher side for its effect. Considering other cards in the game may provide similar effects for less mana or offer additional benefits, Shocker may not always be the most mana-efficient choice for a deck.

Reasons to Include Shocker in Your Collection

Versatility: Shocker offers a unique approach to deck construction, fitting seamlessly into strategies that prioritize direct damage and discard mechanics. Its ability to force a card discard upon dealing damage to a player allows for creative deck synergy.

Combo Potential: Pairing Shocker with cards that prevent the opponent from drawing additional cards can create powerful lockout combos, disrupting your adversary’s hand while you control the game.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where players rely on carefully curated hands, Shocker can be a formidable disruptor, tackling decks that depend on specific card combinations or high-value spells.

How to beat

Shocker is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, recognized for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand when it deals combat damage. While Shocker’s mechanic presents a challenge, there are effective strategies players can adopt to mitigate its impact. Ensuring you have adequate creature removal spells in your deck such as Murder or Path to Exile can neutralize Shocker before it gets a chance to hit. Moreover, using creatures with reach or flying can block Shocker, preventing the damage and subsequent effect entirely.

Taking a proactive stance with counterspells is also a robust technique to stop Shocker in its tracks. By including cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak in your deck, you can prevent Shocker from even entering the battlefield. Additionally, since Shocker requires a successful combat damage strike to trigger its ability, cards that prevent damage or provide protection to the player, such as Fog or Shield of the Oversoul, can be invaluable in keeping your hand intact.

In the broader context, understanding the metagame and preparing your deck to handle disruptive creatures like Shocker is key. Incorporating a balanced mix of removal, counters, and prevention measures ensures that you’re well-equipped to counter such threats, maintaining control over your hand and the flow of the game.

Cards like Shocker

Shocker, a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, can create tremors in gameplay with its ability to force both players to discard their hands and draw new cards. This attribute is somewhat mirrored in similar cards like Wheel of Fortune, a game-changing spell that resets players’ hands completely. Wheel of Fortune however, does not target specific players, which makes Shocker a bit more strategic in scenarios where hand disruption is key.

Comparable effects can be seen in Winds of Change, another spell that shuffles hands back into the library and draws new ones. While Winds of Change is less disruptive since it retains the hand size, Shocker can undermine an opponent’s careful planning by presenting unexpected card swaps. Additionally, Lavaclaw Reaches stands out in the land category with its ability to become a creature, though it lacks the hand-altering impact, it can still be a game-changer with its utility and surprise factor.

Evaluating Shocker alongside its counterparts showcases the card’s potential in decks focused on disrupting opponents’ strategies, while also considering the balance of risk that comes with its symmetric effect on the player. The capacity to refresh your own hand while shaking your opponent’s game plan anchors Shocker’s position as a distinctive choice in MTG.

Cards similar to Shocker by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shocker MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and The List, 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 Shocker and other MTG cards: