Shore Keeper MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Trilobite |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 77 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | YW Tang |
Key Takeaways
- Shore Keeper enables card drawing at crucial points, often swinging the game’s momentum in your favor.
- The creature’s transformability into card advantage is a tactical asset in blue-based deck strategies.
- While it presents some deck-building limitations, its late-game value can’t be underestimated.
Text of card
, , Sacrifice Shore Keeper: Draw three cards.
Over their long life spans, the larger trilobites accumulate vast treasure troves in their guts.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shore Keeper offers a late-game card draw mechanism, letting you turn it into three fresh cards. This is particularly beneficial when the board is stalemated or when you’re searching for key pieces in your deck.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or resource acceleration, the cards drawn thanks to Shore Keeper might lead to land drops or other forms of acceleration, helping you to ramp up your resources indirectly. Additionally, by cycling itself from the board, it helps to dig deeper into your deck, which can lead to faster acquisition of the resources you need.
Instant Speed: The activation of Shore Keeper’s ability can be done at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s plays or end-of-turn actions, by turning it into an opportunity to refill your hand. This adaptability makes it a useful card to have on the battlefield, ready to be utilized when the moment is most advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The transform ability of Shore Keeper requires discarding, making it less optimal when hand size is critical.
Specific Mana Cost: Tapping into three blue mana to activate its ability may not always align with multicolored deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to utilize the full potential of Shore Keeper is steep considering the card draw benefit when compared with other cards in the format.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shore Keeper may not seem like a powerhouse at first glance, but its ability to fit into a variety of blue-based decks cannot be overlooked. As an inexpensive creature, it’s easy to cast and sits on the battlefield ready for strategic moves.
Combo Potential: With its ability to be sacrificed for card draw, Shore Keeper can be a vital piece in combos that rely on card cycling or powerful graveyard synergies, as well as enabling strategies for decks that capitalize on drawing activities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where long games are common, the option to turn a small creature into new cards can be critical. Shore Keeper holds its ground by offering late-game card advantage when you’ve stalled or need that extra push towards your win condition.
How to beat
Shore Keeper may not be the most formidable card in MTG, but understanding its nuances can give players an edge. This seemingly modest creature harbors potential with its seven-mana activated ability, capable of drawing three cards. Despite this, with the right strategy, it can be outmaneuvered. Efficient removal spells that bypass its defense, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can easily dispatch it before its controller can leverage those extra cards.
Applying pressure with aggressive creatures can force an opponent to block with Shore Keeper, taking it off the board prematurely. Similarly, preventing the accumulation of the necessary mana to activate its ability is another effective tactic. Disrupting the opponent’s mana base or pressuring them to use resources elsewhere can delay or deny the activation altogether. Be mindful of cards like Negate that can help protect your strategies from counter plays.
Ultimately, recognizing the moment Shore Keeper becomes a key threat and prioritizing its removal or ensuring you maintain a tempo that keeps your opponent off-balance can ensure that the tides will turn in your favor, rather than against you.
Cards like Shore Keeper
Shore Keeper may not be the standout star in blue creature options within Magic the Gathering, but its quirks warrant a comparison. Shore Keeper shares the trait of a transformable card with other creatures like Primal Amulet. Primal Amulet flips into a land that copies spells, while Shore Keeper turns into card advantage, allowing a player to draw three cards for the cost of seven mana and sacrificing it. Although the initial creature is unimposing, this activation can turn a late-game stall into a surge of new opportunities.
Examining its peers, Merfolk Looter stands out as it also converts into card draw, albeit in a smaller dose but on a consistent, turn-by-turn basis. Alternatively, expensive creatures like Sphinx of Uthuun offer immediate card draw upon entering the battlefield. However, the flexibility to decide when to use Shore Keeper’s ability can be a strategic advantage, providing a card draw at the moment most beneficial for the player.
To sum up, while Shore Keeper may initially seem underwhelming compared to other draw-focused creatures, its potential for a significant, single-use card draw can be a game-changer in the right circumstances. Its place in decks that capitalize on timing and resource management is where Shore Keeper really makes its mark.
Cards similar to Shore Keeper by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shore Keeper MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Shore Keeper 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 Shore Keeper 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 |
