Volrath's Shapeshifter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Shapeshifter
Power 0
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by turning discarded creature cards into on-field abilities, bypassing the need for redeployment.
  2. Increases resource efficiency, adapting to game changes without extra mana, allowing flexibility for other strategic moves.
  3. Instant-speed discard capability provides unexpected combat or removal responses, creating favorable interactions mid-game.

Text of card

As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, Volrath's Shapeshifter is a copy of that card, except that Volrath's Shapeshifter retains its abilities. : Choose and discard a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Volrath’s Shapeshifter has a strategic edge providing continual card advantage. By discarding a creature card with a potent ability, you essentially gain access to that ability, therefore optimizing every card in your hand and turning potential dead draws into versatile threats or answers.

Resource Acceleration: The Shapeshifter can adapt on the fly without additional mana costs after its on the battlefield. This quality translates to a form of resource acceleration since you do not need to deploy extra mana to summon a new creature when the board state changes. Your mana is free for other strategic plays or for maintaining a solid defense.

Instant Speed: The ability to discard a creature card at instant speed gives Volrath’s Shapeshifter the flexibility to surprise an opponent during combat or in response to removal, effectively navigating around attempts to neutralize it and potentially creating favorable interactions on the fly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Volrath’s Shapeshifter’s potency hinges on having creatures in the graveyard, necessitating a card discard which can exhaust your hand when you need resources the most.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost demands both blue and generic mana, potentially complicating its inclusion outside of blue-centric or dual-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of three mana for a card that relies on graveyard synergy, it may be deemed inefficient compared to other graveyard-utilizing cards with lower cost or more immediate impact.


Reasons to Include Volrath’s Shapeshifter in Your Collection

Versatility: Volrath’s Shapeshifter not only shifts its form to copy creatures in your graveyard, but also adapts to changing gameplay, making it a dynamic asset in various decks that hinge on creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card excels in combo arrangements, pairing exceptionally well with high-power creatures that can lead to powerful, game-changing effects once the Shapeshifter takes on their abilities and characteristics.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to continually adapt to the most threatening creature in your graveyard, Volrath’s Shapeshifter remains a relevant choice across various meta environments, particularly where graveyard manipulation is advantageous.


How to Beat Volrath’s Shapeshifter

Volrath’s Shapeshifter is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to take on the characteristics of the top creature card in its controller’s graveyard. Its strength lies in its versatility, as it can become a powerful creature at will, dependent on graveyard mechanics. To overcome this shapeshifting adversary, smart graveyard management is essential. Tactics include employing graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void to remove its power source. Alternatively, one can use instant-speed removal such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, targeting the Shapeshifter during the upkeep before the opponent has a chance to change the top card of their graveyard.

Another successful strategy is the use of exile effects to neutralize the creature directly. Cards like Scavenging Ooze not only deal with the Shapeshifter itself but also control the graveyard’s content, preventing the opponent from setting up lethal combinations. Strategic planning and maintaining control over both graveyards often will secure the victory against a deck that centers around Volrath’s Shapeshifter.


Cards like Volrath's Shapeshifter

Volrath’s Shapeshifter stands out as an intriguing creature in the world of MTG. It is most closely related to cards like Clone, which can also copy creatures, and the Shapeshifter offers a unique spin by using the top card of your graveyard to determine its copy target. Unlike Clone, which requires a creature on the field to copy, Volrath’s Shapeshifter’s ability is more versatile, continuously changing its form as your graveyard evolves. This makes it dynamically adaptive to the changing battlefield.

Another related card is Phyrexian Metamorph, which offers both creature and artifact copying capabilities. While Metamorph requires a one-time additional cost of two life due to its Phyrexian mana, it doesn’t possess the ongoing malleability of Volrath’s Shapeshifter. Morphling is a creature with adaptable characteristics, too, but it demands mana investment to change its abilities, while the Shapeshifter’s traits alter inherently based on graveyard contents.

Considering the wide array of choices for creature copying in MTG, Volrath’s Shapeshifter is uniquely positioned for decks looking to exploit graveyard synergies. Its reactive nature gives it an edge in games tailored to strategic graveyard manipulation, offering continuous versatility that other creature copiers might lack.

Clone - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Metamorph - MTG Card versions
Morphling - MTG Card versions
Clone - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Phyrexian Metamorph - New Phyrexia Promos (PNPH)
Morphling - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Volrath's Shapeshifter by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Horned Turtle - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Wormfang Drake - Judgment (JUD)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mistform Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Horned Turtle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Blind Phantasm - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Volrath's Shapeshifter MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Vintage Masters, 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 Volrath's Shapeshifter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Volrath's Shapeshifter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2014-06-16. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-03-02StrongholdSTH 481997normalblackRon Spencer
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1012015normalblackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Volrath's Shapeshifter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 A copy of a Volrath’s Shapeshifter will have the shapeshifting ability.
2004-10-04 If the top card in the graveyard has any other undefined characteristics, then those characteristics are not acquired and the shapeshifter uses the characteristic from its own card.
2004-10-04 If the top card in your graveyard is a creature card, this card uses the listed characteristics, including color and any other types. But, this card keeps the granted ability in addition to those from the card being copied.
2004-10-04 If the top card in your graveyard isn’t a creature card (meaning a card with the type Creature, which may or may not have other types such as Artifact or Enchantment), then it’s just a 0/1 blue creature. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature cards.
2004-10-04 When it changes forms, any “enters the battlefield” abilities of the card it “copies” do not trigger.
2008-08-01 The ability that sets its characteristics is a text-changing effect.

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