Shadowcloak Vampire MTG Card

Magic 2015 (M15)
2014-07-18 - Number 113

Shadowcloak Vampire - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 768

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M15-113

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Vampire
Power	4
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Shadowcloak Vampire flexibly boosts power for life, maintaining card advantage and enabling surprising plays.
Its ability at instant speed can be critical for unexpected combat advantages and battlefield control.
However, its higher mana cost and specific requirements present balance challenges in multi-colored decks.

Text of card

Pay 2 life: Shadowcloak Vampire gains flying until end of turn. (It can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)

"My favorite guilty pleasure? Are there innocent ones?"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shadowcloak Vampire can provide strategic advantage by giving you the option to pay life instead of mana to boost its power. This flexibility can keep your hand stocked and enable more plays per turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although Shadowcloak Vampire doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its manageable casting cost can help streamline your mana curve, allowing for an efficient utilization of your lands each turn.

Instant Speed: The Vampire’s ability can be activated at instant speed, which means you can surprise your opponent with an unexpected power increase during combat, potentially swinging the tide of battle in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shadowcloak Vampire calls for a card from your hand to be relinquished each time you want to use its ability. This can severely hamper your game plan, especially when your hand is dwindling and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Shadowcloak Vampire necessitates a specific blend of mana, which includes not just generic but also black mana. This requirement can sometimes become a hurdle in decks that strive for a balanced mana base or those running multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five total mana, including three of any type and two black, Shadowcloak Vampire sits at the higher end of the mana spectrum. Considering the array of abilities available on other creatures at or below this cost, its value becomes a bit shadowed in competitive settings.

Reasons to Include Shadowcloak Vampire in Your Collection

Versatility: Shadowcloak Vampire is a flexible card that can easily adapt to a variety of black-based decks. Its ability to gain flying by paying 2 life can catch opponents off guard and turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card is particularly useful in decks that capitalize on life total manipulation. It synergizes well with cards that benefit from life payment or use life as a resource, thus unlocking various combo possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that is heavy on ground creatures, Shadowcloak Vampire’s flying ability can be a significant advantage. Its inherent evasion makes it a solid choice against decks that lack sufficient aerial defense.

How to beat

The terrain of MTG is ever-evolving, and adjusting strategy to counter particular cards is fundamental. Shadowcloak Vampire, a creature that presents a straightforward but potentially dangerous threat, is seen in many decks. With the ability to pay 2 life to gain flying until end of turn, this card can surprise unprepared opponents by turning into an evasive attacker. Understanding how to counter this card is essential for maintaining control of the game.

To effectively beat Shadowcloak Vampire, one should consider cards that neutralize it without relying on combat. Removal spells are prime tools in this scenario. Spells like Murder or Doom Blade can dispose of the vampire before it becomes a soaring problem. If you’re anticipating an assault from above, instant-speed removal is particularly valuable, allowing you to wait until your opponent pays life before you strike. Moreover, remember that Shadowcloak Vampire’s strength lies in its aerial agility, so enhancing your deck with cards that prevent flying, such as Windstorm or Plummet, could provide a safety net against such threats.

In the greater scheme, it isn’t just about the vampire but understanding how to diminish its effect on the match. With the right preparation, even the deadliest creatures can be rendered harmless.

Cards like Shadowcloak Vampire

Shadowcloak Vampire, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering, navigates the realm of tactical life payment in exchange for benefits, a trait shared by certain other creatures in the game. When examining similar cards, Vampire Cutthroat comes to mind as it also provides a way to turn life into an advantage with its skirmish mechanic, albeit without the option to pump its own power.

Another card in this category is Guul Draz Vampire, which offers an edge in its potential to become a considerable threat under specific game conditions. Unlike Shadowcloak Vampire, which allows on-demand power increases, Guul Draz Vampire’s abilities are conditional to an opponent’s life total. Then we must mention Bloodthirsty Aerialist that, similar to Shadowcloak Vampire, benefits from the player’s life total; increasing its power and toughness through lifegain rather than direct life payment.

Assessing their playability and impact, Shadowcloak Vampire holds its own with its flexibility in combat scenarios, allowing players to make on-the-spot decisions that could swing a game. This comparison underlines the unique tactical niche that Shadowcloak Vampire fills, particularly for decks that capitalize on life as a resource.

Bloodthirsty Aerialist - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shadowcloak Vampire by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shadowcloak Vampire MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Mystery Booster, 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 Shadowcloak Vampire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shadowcloak Vampire Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Cynthia Sheppard.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2014-07-18	Magic 2015	M15	113	2015	Normal	Black	Cynthia Sheppard
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	768	2015	Normal	Black	Cynthia Sheppard
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	M15-113	2015	Normal	Black	Cynthia Sheppard