Sumala Woodshaper MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Druid |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 200 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sara Winters |
Key Takeaways
- Sumala Woodshaper provides card advantage by selectively enriching your hand with creatures or enchantments.
- It streamlines your strategy by aiding resource acceleration without direct mana generation.
- Though not instant, it allows strategic instant spell setup, enhancing gameplay with its entry effect.
Text of card
When Sumala Woodshaper enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a creature or enchantment card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Sumala Woodshaper enters the battlefield, its ability lets you look at the top four cards of your library, then you may reveal an enchantment or creature card from among them and put it into your hand. This not only provides insight into your upcoming draws but also selectively boosts your hand with key pieces, ensuring that your plays are more consistent and effective.
Resource Acceleration: Although Sumala Woodshaper doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure tokens, obtaining crucial creatures or enchantments can accelerate your game plan. By fetching the right resources, you effectively streamline your deck’s performance, allowing you to execute your strategy more swiftly and reliably.
Instant Speed: While Sumala Woodshaper itself is not an instant, the advantage it offers when casting other spells at instant speed cannot be understated. By potentially drawing into an instant during your main phase, you can prepare for strategic plays to disrupt opponents during their turn or at the end of their turn, adding elements of surprise and tactical depth to your game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sumala Woodshaper’s ability might require you to sift through your library for a creature or enchantment card, but it doesn’t come without a cost. If you fail to reveal a suitable card, you’re essentially left with no additional board presence or hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green and white mana, Sumala Woodshaper’s cost demands a commitment to a Selesnya deck or a balanced mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion in more diverse deck builds that can’t consistently provide the necessary colored mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, the Woodshaper contends with other four-mana impactful creatures and enchantments. Given its modest stats and effect, there are alternatives that might provide a more immediate and substantial impact on the game at this crucial stage in the mana curve.
Reasons to Include Sumala Woodshaper in Your Collection
Versatility: Sumala Woodshaper serves a dual role in deck building. It’s not only a creature but its enter-the-battlefield effect allows you to look at the top four cards of your library, pulling an enchantment or creature card into your hand. This makes it a valuable addition in decks that require consistent access to key cards.
Combo Potential: When integrated into a deck with a focus on enchantment synergies or creature-based strategies, Sumala Woodshaper can effectively function as a toolbox card. It aids in assembling combo pieces or fetching necessary elements for an ongoing synergy, all while contributing to your board state.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts and decks evolve, having a card that can adapt to various strategies can be crucial. Sumala Woodshaper’s ability to fetch crucial pieces based on the state of the game makes it a resourceful pick for players looking to stay competitive in an ever-changing environment.
How to beat Sumala Woodshaper
Sumala Woodshaper, a notable card in many MTG decks, typically garners attention for its ability to dig through the deck in search of enchantment cards or creatures. This elven card can be a game-changer, offering both deck thinning and card advantage. It has its place in decks that synergize with enchantments and creatures, creating opportunities for powerful plays in later turns.
Overcoming Sumala Woodshaper is about disrupting the value it provides. Counterspells are a straightforward solution, intercepting the Woodshaper before the ability triggers. Removal spells that can target the Woodshaper after it hits the battlefield are equally effective. Additionally, pressure strategies can force your opponent to block with the Woodshaper, thereby mitigating its ability to fetch key deck components. If you play a deck that capitalizes on quick aggression or tempo control, Sumala Woodshaper’s impact can be greatly reduced, turning the tides in your favor.
In essence, while Sumala Woodshaper can present a challenge with its deck-searching ability, it is vulnerable to common control and aggro tactics. Thus, a well-prepared player can manage and even exploit its presence for strategic advantage.
Cards like Sumala Woodshaper
Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sumala Woodshaper stands as a notable card amongst creature-based card advantage options. Its kinship lies with cards like Elvish Visionary, sharing the elf subtype and having the benefit of drawing a card upon entering the battlefield. Sumala Woodshaper, however, offers a targeted approach, allowing you to look at the top four cards of your library and reveal an enchantment or creature card from among them to put into your hand. This selection process is a distinctive advantage over Elvish Visionary’s unconditional but singular card draw.
Looking at similar cards, Satyr Wayfinder also explores your library’s top cards, but it focuses on land retrieval and fills the graveyard, serving a different strategic niche. On the other hand, Woodshaper proves more versatile for decks with a strong enchantment theme. Comparatively, Courser of Kruphix subtly provides card advantage by playing lands from the top of the library, again accentuating a different aspect of gameplay where the creature’s longer-term presence brings recurrent benefits.
Deconstructing the abilities and situational advantages, Sumala Woodshaper appeals to players seeking a creature that can both stabilize board presence and ensure hand quality with the precision of its enchantment or creature card tutoring capability.
Cards similar to Sumala Woodshaper by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sumala Woodshaper 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 Sumala Woodshaper 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sumala Woodshaper 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 |
