Shadows' Verdict MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Shadows’ Verdict grants notable card advantage by clearing multiple entities at once.
  2. It sets the stage for late-game dominance by eliminating early threats efficiently.
  3. The card’s sorcery speed requires foresight, making its timing crucial for impact.

Text of card

Exile all creatures and planeswalkers with mana value 3 or less from the battlefield and all creature and planeswalker cards with mana value 3 or less from all graveyards.

The shadows of death fall over everyone in the end.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shadows’ Verdict has the potential to clear multiple creatures and planeswalkers in one fell swoop, providing a significant swing in card advantage. By potentially removing several of an opponent’s cards from the battlefield and their graveyard, you deplete their resources while maintaining your own.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly generate mana or tokens, Shadows’ Verdict sets you up for future plays by cleaning the board of smaller threats. This allows you to bypass smaller plays and focus on casting your heavy hitters without worrying about the opponent’s low-cost creatures.

Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Shadows’ Verdict encourages strategic planning for maximum impact during your turn. Though it’s not cast at instant speed, the sweeping effect can be a game-changer on your main phase, especially when timed to disrupt your opponent’s next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shadows’ Verdict does not require you to discard, but it does necessitate a strategic hand management due to its ability to exile cards from both the battlefield and the graveyard. Players must be careful not to remove their valuable resources unintentionally.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise mana arrangement to cast: one Black and one White mana plus three generic. This specific cost can restrict its integration into many multicolor decks that may struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, Shadows’ Verdict can be considered quite pricey for its sweeping effect. There are alternative spells that can offer similar board-clearing benefits at a lower mana investment, potentially giving opponents a tempo advantage.


Reasons to Include Shadows’ Verdict in Your Collection

Versatility: Shadows’ Verdict offers comprehensive battlefield control, capable of wiping away low-to-midrange creatures and planeswalkers, crucial in various match-ups. It’s a well-rounded card that is a viable choice for any collection geared towards a versatile control strategy.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes effectively with graveyard management strategies, enabling powerful follow-up plays. It can serve as a setup tool for combos that thrive in a clear battlefield or require specific graveyard conditions to be met.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to deal with a swath of creature-based threats, as well as exiling them to limit further graveyard plays, Shadows’ Verdict is particularly relevant in meta with high creature density or strategies revolving around recursion.


How to beat

Shadows’ Verdict is a notable sweeper in the realm of MTG, capable of clearing the board of smaller creatures and planeswalkers in a broad sweep. This card excels against decks that flood the board with low-cost creatures, as it removes all creatures and planeswalkers with mana value three or less from the battlefield and all graveyards. Thus, finding a strategy to overcome Shadows’ Verdict is essential for players who rely on a wide strategy or graveyard synergies.

To outmaneuver Shadows’ Verdict, consider adjusting your deck to include more resilient threats that can either withstand or dodge the card’s effects. Incorporating creatures with a mana value of four or greater can be effective as they remain untouched by the Verdict’s wrath. Another approach is to embrace the power of instant-speed tricks that either give indestructibility or return key creatures to your hand in response to the sweeper. Planeswalker abilities that generate value or manage the board may also be advantageous as they press the opponent even if your creatures are cleared. Adapting your play to hold back enough resources to rebuild after a board wipe can also keep you in the game. The strategy to overcome Shadows’ Verdict lies in diversity and resilience, ensuring that one card doesn’t dictate the outcome of the game.


Cards like Shadows' Verdict

Shadows’ Verdict stands out in Magic: The Gathering’s array of sweeping removal spells. It’s often compared to the likes of Extinction Event, which also allows players to choose creatures to be exiled based on their converted mana costs (CMC). However, Shadows’ Verdict has a broader reach, exiling creatures and planeswalkers with CMC 3 or less from the battlefield and graveyards, offering a deeper level of control and disruption.

Diving into the same strategic pool, Cry of the Carnarium is another spell offering exile benefits, though its effect is limited to creatures already on the battlefield and it only affects those with a lesser power. Despite the narrower application when compared to Shadows’ Verdict, its lower mana cost can make it a more accessible option in the early game.

In essence, while there are several options for board sweepers within MTG, Shadows’ Verdict holds a unique spot. By combining immediate board impact with graveyard disruption, it can be a critical play in matches where managing both the field and the follow-up from the graveyard is vital for maintaining control.

Extinction Event - MTG Card versions
Cry of the Carnarium - MTG Card versions
Extinction Event - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Cry of the Carnarium - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Cards similar to Shadows' Verdict by color, type and mana cost

Reign of Terror - MTG Card versions
Soul Shred - MTG Card versions
Living Death - MTG Card versions
Soul Feast - MTG Card versions
Dregs of Sorrow - MTG Card versions
Haunting Echoes - MTG Card versions
Beacon of Unrest - MTG Card versions
Coveted Prize - MTG Card versions
Final Punishment - MTG Card versions
Sever Soul - MTG Card versions
Mind Sludge - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Bidding - MTG Card versions
Aether Snap - MTG Card versions
Vicious Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Dance of Shadows - MTG Card versions
Brainspoil - MTG Card versions
Head Games - MTG Card versions
Rise from the Grave - MTG Card versions
Voices from the Void - MTG Card versions
Promise of Power - MTG Card versions
Reign of Terror - Mirage (MIR)
Soul Shred - Portal (POR)
Living Death - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Soul Feast - Tenth Edition (10E)
Dregs of Sorrow - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Haunting Echoes - Magic 2011 (M11)
Beacon of Unrest - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Coveted Prize - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Final Punishment - Scourge (SCG)
Sever Soul - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Mind Sludge - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Patriarch's Bidding - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Aether Snap - Commander 2014 (C14)
Vicious Betrayal - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Dance of Shadows - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Brainspoil - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Head Games - Tenth Edition (10E)
Rise from the Grave - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
Voices from the Void - Conflux (CON)
Promise of Power - Commander 2014 (C14)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shadows' Verdict MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising, 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 Shadows' Verdict and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shadows' Verdict Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Lius Lasahido.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 838002015normalblackLius Lasahido
22020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 1242015normalblackLius Lasahido
32020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 124p2015normalblackLius Lasahido
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 124s2015normalblackLius Lasahido
52020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3442015normalblackLius Lasahido

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shadows' Verdict has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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