Shimmering Wings MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Shimmering Wings offers card reuse, enabling multiple strategic plays and sustained value.
  2. Flexible and surprising, it can be attached at instant speed, altering combat dynamics.
  3. Though it requires discarding and specific mana, the tactical benefits can be decisive.

Text of card

Enchanted creature gains flying. o U: Return Shimmering Wings to owner's hand.

The brighter the wings, the deeper the impact crater.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shimmering Wings can be returned to its owner’s hand for just a single blue mana. This means if you have the mana available, you can effectively recycle the card for multiple uses, granting you sustained value over your opponents by allowing card reuse for strategic placement or combo setups.

Resource Acceleration: Although Shimmering Wings doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, it does enable a quick and cost-effective way to give creatures flying. This can be advantageous for bypassing ground blocks, thus accelerating potential damage to your opponent, which is a crucial resource in winning games.

Instant Speed: The ability to attach Shimmering Wings at instant speed provides significant flexibility. You can surprise an opponent by giving a creature flying at the optimal moment—whether that’s in the middle of combat or right before they declare attackers, potentially shifting the tide of battle in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks includes a requirement to discard another card to gain its effect, which can deplete valuable hand resources that could be crucial during critical gameplay moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Shimmering Wings demands both generic and blue mana, making it less versatile for decks that are not centered around blue or lack sufficient mana fixing to accommodate such specifics easily.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed for this enchantment might be considered quite high when compared to other available options. This can sometimes lead to a slower pace of gameplay or delay other potent plays which might be detrimental in a fast-paced game setting.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shimmering Wings can be added to a variety of decks, providing an edge with its ability to grant flying. This can be crucial when creating evasion for your ground-based creatures, giving them the lift they need to avoid blockers.

Combo Potential: This card can be particularly synergistic in decks that capitalize on casting spells, as it can be returned to hand and recast, triggering abilities or prowess on numerous creatures. Additionally, it can be used in decks that focus on enchantments for repeatable effects.

Meta-Relevance: With flying creatures often playing a key role in many game styles, Shimmering Wings can enable your creatures to evade common ground defenses, adapting to various meta environments where aerial superiority can mean the difference between victory and defeat.


How to beat

Shimmering Wings presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering, thanks to its ability to grant flying to the creature it enchants. Understanding the card’s strengths and weaknesses is key to formulating an effective counterplay. In a game where aerial superiority can tilt the balance, being prepared for such enhancements can turn the tides in your favor.

To mitigate the impact of Shimmering Wings, it’s beneficial to have removal options readily available. Keeping instant speed removal like Naturalize or Disenchant can swiftly deal with the enchantment before it becomes a threat. Additionally, incorporating creatures with reach or those that can block flying creatures into your deck ensures that you’re not at a disadvantage if your opponent manages to get Shimmering Wings into play. Rely on versatility and quick responses to ensure Shimmering Wings doesn’t let your opponent’s creatures soar over your defenses.

It is wise to always consider the potential for a game to shift quickly with cards like Shimmering Wings. With careful deck building and strategic play, you can ensure that the addition of flying doesn’t leave you grounded. Prepare for this and other enhancements, and you’ll maintain control of the skies and the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Shimmering Wings can turn it from a simple enchantment into a game-changer for your MTG deck. This card’s flexibility and reusability offer a distinct tactical advantage, making it worthy for any player looking to add layers to their gameplay. Its potential for card recycling and strategic timing elevates both its practical and intrinsic value in various scenarios. If you’re aiming to dominate your airspace and outmaneuver your opponents, consider integrating Shimmering Wings into your arsenal. For additional insights and in-depth strategies with this unique card, step into the BurnMana arena where we dissect and explore every angle to enhance your playing experience.


Cards like Shimmering Wings

Shimmering Wings conjures up the tactical advantage of recurring blue enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. It resonates with cards such as Flight and Leap, which also grant flying to a target creature. Unlike these counterparts, Shimmering Wings can be returned to its owner’s hand for a single blue mana, offering a unique flexibility not seen in most other auras. This means it not only provides evasion but also allows for repeated use throughout the game, effectively bypassing typical enchantment limitations.

Jump, another spell in the same vein, grants temporary flying ability until the end of the turn for less mana. However, its one-time use makes it less versatile than Shimmering Wings. On the other side of the spectrum is Wonder, which gives all creatures you control flying as long as it’s in your graveyard and you control an Island. Although Wonder has a broader effect, it lacks the tactical reusability of Shimmering Wings that can be critical in tight board states where mana efficiency and strategic timing are paramount.

In terms of adaptability and the power to repeatedly safeguard or empower different creatures, Shimmering Wings stands out among its fellow flying enablers in Magic: The Gathering, making it a valuable tool in the right deck builds. Its ongoing rigidity to outmaneuver opponents adds a layer of strategy that can flutter a player’s way to victory.

Flight - MTG Card versions
Leap - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Wonder - MTG Card versions
Flight - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Leap - Stronghold (STH)
Jump - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Wonder - Judgment (JUD)

Cards similar to Shimmering Wings by color, type and mana cost

Flight - MTG Card versions
Unstable Mutation - MTG Card versions
Field of Dreams - MTG Card versions
Dream Coat - MTG Card versions
Tangle Kelp - MTG Card versions
Tidal Flats - MTG Card versions
Flood - MTG Card versions
Backfire - MTG Card versions
Mystic Remora - MTG Card versions
Essence Flare - MTG Card versions
Cloak of Invisibility - MTG Card versions
Mana Chains - MTG Card versions
Robe of Mirrors - MTG Card versions
Telepathy - MTG Card versions
Veiled Sentry - MTG Card versions
Air Bladder - MTG Card versions
Seal of Removal - MTG Card versions
Aboshan's Desire - MTG Card versions
Curiosity - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Falls - MTG Card versions
Flight - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Unstable Mutation - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Field of Dreams - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Dream Coat - Legends (LEG)
Tangle Kelp - The Dark (DRK)
Tidal Flats - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Flood - Renaissance (REN)
Backfire - Renaissance (REN)
Mystic Remora - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Essence Flare - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Cloak of Invisibility - Mirage (MIR)
Mana Chains - Weatherlight (WTH)
Robe of Mirrors - Tenth Edition (10E)
Telepathy - Magic 2010 (M10)
Veiled Sentry - Urza's Saga (USG)
Air Bladder - Nemesis (NEM)
Seal of Removal - Nemesis (NEM)
Aboshan's Desire - Odyssey (ODY)
Curiosity - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Genju of the Falls - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shimmering Wings MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Invasion, 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 Shimmering Wings and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shimmering Wings Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 871997normalblackSteve Luke
22000-10-02InvasionINV 721997normalblackCarl Critchlow
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 107★2003normalblackCarl Critchlow
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1072003normalblackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shimmering Wings has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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