Shambling Suit MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 230
2022-12-02 - Number 796
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
| Power | * |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Shambling Suit becomes formidable with a high number of artifacts and enchantments on your battlefield.
- Can surprise opponents with power boosts during combat due to instant-speed play interactions.
- However, it becomes less effective with fewer artifacts or enchantments, requiring careful planning.
Text of card
Shambling Suit's power is equal to the number of artifacts and/or enchantments you control.
"The young squire gripped her sword as the clanking stranger emerged. It was no knight that had come to challenge her." —*Beyond the Great Henge*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Shambling Suit’s strength lies in its ability to grow with each artifact and/or enchantment you control, converting those resources into raw power on the battlefield, effectively turning passive artifacts into offensive potential.
Resource Acceleration: Primarily a benefit in decks plentiful with low-cost artifacts, Shambling Suit can hit the ground running earlier than expected. It’s a natural fit in strategies that involve artifact synergies, pushing you towards a quicker and more aggressive board state.
Instant Speed: While the Shambling Suit itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its power level can be opportunely increased during combat via instant-speed artifact or enchantment plays. This sneaky interaction can catch an opponent off guard, turning a defensive block into a formidable counterattack.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Shambling Suit does not directly demand a discard, its effectiveness is tied to the number of artifacts and enchantments you have. Losing these cards from the field, either from game play or from discard, diminishes the Suit’s strength, acting as an indirect resource drain.
Specific Mana Cost: Shambling Suit’s casting cost requires both generic and colored mana specific to the Orzhov guild. This can be restrictive for decks outside the black and white color pairing, as it is not as flexible as colorless creatures or those with hybrid mana costs.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its three-mana cost may seem average, Shambling Suit relies heavily on a board filled with artifacts and enchantments to be worth the investment. In scenarios with a less developed board state, there are more impactful creatures or spells that could be played at a similar or lower cost, offering better immediate value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shambling Suit’s power scales with the number of artifacts and enchantments you control, allowing it to adapt and grow in various deck archetypes that focus on these permanent types.
Combo Potential: The card has innate synergy with strategies that deploy a large number of noncreature permanents, potentially creating a formidable creature for a low mana cost.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating dynamics of the meta, Shambling Suit can serve as an effective tool in matchups where board presence and cost-efficient creatures can turn the tide in your favor.
How to beat
Shambling Suit is a unique artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, gaining strength from every noncreature artifact you control. This makes it a formidable opponent on the battlefield, particularly in decks heavy with artifacts. To mitigate the power of Shambling Suit, targeting the artifacts themselves is key. Consider utilizing artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Shatter, which will not only weaken the Suit but may dismantle your opponent’s overall strategy.
Another strategy is to reduce the Suit’s effectiveness by controlling the board. Board-clearing spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep away Shambling Suit along with any other threats present. For a more selective approach, single-target removal like Path to Exile or Murder can take care of the Shambling Suit directly, especially if the number of artifacts on the battlefield is low.
Ultimately, beating Shambling Suit involves foresight and interruption of your opponent’s plan. By keeping their artifact count low and having removal at the ready, Shambling Suit’s potential threat can be efficiently managed, ensuring you maintain control of the game’s pace.
Cards like Shambling Suit
Shambling Suit stands out in the realm of artifact creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It draws its power from the number of artifacts a player controls, akin to creatures like Cranial Plating, which also gains strength based on artifacts present. However, Cranial Plating adds flexibility, being able to attach to any creature and boosting power based on artifacts anywhere under your control, not just the battlefield.
On that same train of thought, Foundry Inspector deserves mention. Although not directly influencing creature’s power, it reduces the costs of artifacts, potentially enabling a quicker accumulation and therefore a larger Shambling Suit. Still, it doesn’t impact the board as immediately as Shambling Suit does with its inherent power boost.
Then we have Gearseeker Serpent, which similarly benefits from having multiple artifacts. It becomes cheaper to cast with each artifact you have, becoming a sizable threat with the added advantage of being unblockable for a small cost. It offers a different approach but competes in the same space as Shambling Suit for a spot in artifact-centric decks.
In sum, Shambling Suit presents a unique power dynamic for those wielding heavy artifact-themed decks. Its ability to quickly become a formidable force provides a distinct advantage over similar cards that either offer flexibility, cost-reduction or alternative benefits tied to artifacts.
Cards similar to Shambling Suit by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shambling Suit MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Shambling Suit and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Shambling Suit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 230 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 796 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shambling Suit has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| 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 Shambling Suit 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 | A permanent that's both an artifact and an enchantment is only counted once. |
| 2019-10-04 | As long as Shambling Suit is on the battlefield, its ability will count itself, so it'll be at least 1/3. |
| 2019-10-04 | The ability that defines Shambling Suit's power works in all zones, not just the battlefield. |
