Shellephant MTG Card


Shellephant - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Turtle and/or Elephant
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Power ?
Toughness ?
Number121
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byHector Ortiz
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Shellephant excels in card advantage by creating tokens, increasing board presence and overwhelming opponents.
  2. Allows for greater resource control through Clue tokens and instant speed play enhances adaptability in-game.
  3. Although high mana cost and specific colors may limit some decks, Shellephant’s versatility justifies inclusion.

Text of card

: Choose one. You may activate this ability while Shellephant is in any zone. • Shellephant has base power and toughness 1/4. • Shellephant has base power and toughness 3/3.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shellephant gives a player the ability to potentially flood the board with tokens, which can translate into a significant card advantage. With every attack, you’re not just dealing damage; you’re also building a presence that can overwhelm your opponents over time.

Resource Acceleration: In addition to its combat benefits, Shellephant provides an edge in resource acceleration. Its ability to create Clue tokens upon dealing combat damage allows for a smoother flow of resources, enabling you to draw into more options and maintain a strong hand throughout the match.

Instant Speed: Shellephant’s Instant Speed abilities allow a tactician to adapt to the battlefield on the fly. Whether it’s flashing in to block an unexpected attacker or surprising an opponent during their end step, this facet of the card opens up a myriad of strategic options and keeps opponents guessing.

Remember to always check the latest rulings and card interactions for Shellephant to make the most out of your gameplay and strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Shellephant card mandates that players discard another card which can present a tactical setback, especially if the player’s hand is already sparse on options.

Specific Mana Cost: Shellephant necessitates a defined combination of mana colors, possibly nullifying its utility in a deck that doesn’t harmonize with its mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating a considerable sum of mana to summon Shellephant can potentially hinder your tempo, seeing as there are cards with lesser mana demands that yield similar or higher value.


Reasons to Include Shellephant in Your Collection

Versatility: Shellephant offers an adaptable presence on the battlefield, adept at both aggressive and defensive strategies thanks to its potential for a substantial power boost.

Combo Potential: With abilities that could synergize with graveyard strategies or artifact-centric decks, Shellephant works well to enable and enhance various combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given a metagame that favors creature-based tactics, Shellephant’s capability to become a formidable blocker or an imposing attacker makes it a savvy addition.


How to Beat

Shellephant is an intriguing creature card that can be quite the powerhouse on the battlefield. With its potent ability to fortify itself with +1/+1 counters each time a noncreature spell is cast, it can quickly become a dominant force. The real trick in overcoming this card’s impact involves strategic timing and the judicious use of removal spells. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade are effective ways to handle this growing threat before it gets out of control.

Direct damage spells, such as Lightning Bolt, can also be useful, especially early in the game when Shellephant’s toughness is still within range. Additionally, countering the spells that trigger Shellephant’s ability will limit its growth and maintain manageable board state. Employing board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the field, negating the advantage a Shellephant player might have established. Understanding that pacing and control are crucial, keeping a steady hand and playing removals at the right moment will ensure that Shellephant doesn’t trample your chances of victory.

Therefore, while Shellephant has the potential to overrun a game, savvy players can adapt their strategies and prevent this card from fully realizing its strength on the battlefield. A well-timed removal or a strategic block can go a long way in keeping this mammoth at bay.


Cards like Shellephant

Shellephant enters the Magic: The Gathering arena as a creature card with unique mechanics. Creature cards with a blend of power and utility like Shellephant can be reminiscent of cards such as Woolly Thoctar. Famed for its sheer size relative to its mana cost, Woolly Thoctar lacks, however, the versatility that Shellephant provides. Shellephant has an ability that can create a tactical advantage on the battlefield not just through its power and toughness, but through additional effects that impact the game’s state.

Diving deeper into the realm of versatile creatures, Siege Rhino also strikes a comparison in providing an immediate impact upon entering the battlefield. Whereas Siege Rhino affects life totals, Shellephant may offer more in terms of board presence or utility, depending on its specific abilities. Finally, comparing it to Loxodon Smiter, we see a creature that resists some forms of control magic, a valuable trait in many matchups. However, Shellephant might surpass in adaptability, catering to strategies that benefit from its unique set of skills.

When evaluating creature cards like Shellephant, its combination of cost-efficiency, power, and strategic versatility is what can potentially make it a go-to for players looking to diversify their game and maintain the upper hand in creature-focused matches.

Woolly Thoctar - MTG Card versions
Siege Rhino - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Smiter - MTG Card versions
Woolly Thoctar - Wizards Play Network 2008 (PWPN)
Siege Rhino - Khans of Tarkir Promos (PKTK)
Loxodon Smiter - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Shellephant by color, type and mana cost

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Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
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Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Lurker - The Dark (DRK)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Uktabi Orangutan - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Verduran Enchantress - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Fyndhorn Elder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shellephant MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Shellephant and other MTG cards:

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Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shellephant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-01-19 If Shellephant has first strike, double strike, or triple strike, you can have it deal combat damage as a 3/3 and then change it to a 1/4 before normal combat damage happens. This will also work if the creature Shellephant is in combat with has last strike.
2018-01-19 If you haven’t activated Shellephant’s ability, its power and toughness are 0/0.
2018-01-19 You can change Shellephant’s creature types at any time and while Shellephant is in any zone. It can be a Turtle, an Elephant, or both. “And/or” isn’t a creature type.

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