Veiled Shade MTG Card

Its instant-speed flexibility makes Veiled Shade a tactical asset during combat phases, keeping opponents on edge. As a mana sink, it transforms excess resources into a formidable board presence, scaling with the game’s progress. The card’s requirement for specific mana hints at deck-building considerations, ensuring its optimal utilization.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Shade
Released	2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Guilds of Ravnica
Set code	GRN
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	88
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anna Steinbauer

Text of card

: Veiled Shade gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"I sang songs of sorrow for my lost love. Imagine my horror when, one night, they were answered." —Milana, Orzhov prelate

Cards like Veiled Shade

Veiled Shade brings unique elements to the rogue’s gallery of pump-able creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares its ability to increase power and toughness with various others, like Nantuko Shade. This classic creature also requires mana to boost its power, but with a noteworthy distinction. Nantuko Shade’s pump effect is tied specifically to black mana, offering potentially more power increase per mana spent as compared to Veiled Shade’s colorless mana requirement for its smaller, but still significant, boost.

Another card that resembles Veiled Shade in mana-adjustable power is Vampire Nighthawk. While the Nighthawk doesn’t have a mana activation for its power increase, it stands out with its static abilities of flying, deathtouch, and lifelink, giving it a robust defensive and offensive utility at all times. Conversely, Veiled Shade requires active investment of mana to become a significant threat, focusing on flexibility over consistent board presence.

Comparing these cards, Veiled Shade offers a blend of adaptable power with the strategic depth of mana management, marking its place among creature options that reward tactical resource distribution during the ebb and flow of a match.

Cards similar to Veiled Shade by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Veiled Shade offers strategic hand flexibility. Depending on the game phase and board state, it may force opponents to think twice before attacking or using removal, potentially leading to advantageous situations for you.

Resource Acceleration: While the Veiled Shade itself doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, its ability to repeatedly power up using mana can turn excess lands or resources into a formidable threat on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The key attribute of Veiled Shade is its ability to become stronger at instant speed. You can efficiently manage your resources, waiting for the perfect moment to surprise an opponent by increasing its power and toughness during combat or at the end of their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Veiled Shade requires you to remove another card from your hand as part of its activation cost, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage and disrupting your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands both black mana and generic mana, which could restrict its inclusion to monoblack or two-color decks that can reliably produce these resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its initial cost and the additional cost to boost its power, Veiled Shade can be mana-intensive. Depending on the game state, investing in this creature might be less efficient compared to other creatures or spells available for a similar investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Veiled Shade offers flexibility to a variety of deck builds. Its ability to pump itself for a mana investment means it can serve as an agile threat in both aggressive and defensive positions.

Combo Potential: This card plays well with decks that exploit abilities based on mana sinks or have themes around +1/+1 counters. Its potential to grow rapidly can be a game-changer, especially when combined with cards that synergize with powerful, single creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board control and adaptable strategies are key, Veiled Shade fits right in. It can be a persistent menace that demands an answer, aligning well with decks that can protect it or maximize its threat level through buffs and equipment.

How to Beat Veiled Shade

Veiled Shade stands out in the realm of black creatures with its ability to get stronger through mana investment. It’s a flexible card that can be a relentless force in the late game. To overcome this shade, one effective strategy is to manage your removal spells wisely. Keeping a kill spell in reserve for when your opponent pumps a significant amount of mana into Veiled Shade can disrupt their tempo and leave them at a resource disadvantage.

Board control is another key aspect. Creatures with ‘deathtouch’ or ‘first strike’ can deter a pumped Veiled Shade from attacking. Alternatively, playing aggressively and reducing your opponent’s life total quickly can force them to hold back Veiled Shade as a blocker, nullifying its offensive potential. Always be aware of your opponent’s untapped mana and potential for instant-speed tricks that could turn the tides during combat.

Lastly, exerting pressure on the opponent’s mana base can inhibit their ability to pay for Veiled Shade’s ability. Land destruction or cards that tax creature spells can slow down their strategy, providing you with an upper hand.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Veiled Shade MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Veiled Shade and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Veiled Shade has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal