Mycoid Shepherd MTG Card
2006-01-02 - Number 28
2009-04-30 - Number 73
2002-06-24 - Number 43556
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Fungus |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Mycoid Shepherd excels in card advantage, synergizing with creature power for pivotal board presence.
- Noteworthy for ramp decks, the Shepherd quickens resource development for mid to late game dominance.
- Enriched by instant-speed interactions, it disrupts opponents’ plans with unexpected life total swings.
Text of card
Whenever Mycoid Shepherd or another creature you control with power 5 or greater dies, you may gain 5 life.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mycoid Shepherd provides a solid edge by triggering its ability whenever its power and toughness reach a total of 5. This unique trait means it can consistently offer resilience on the board, often resulting in a card advantage as opponents must deal with your threats more than once.
Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with decks focusing on the ramp, potentially allowing you to drop heavy hitters early. Its presence can accelerate your resource development, ensuring a formidable position on the battlefield from the mid to late game.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Mycoid Shepherd can greatly benefit from instant-speed interactions. For instance, flashing in a creature to assist in meeting its power and toughness threshold can result in a sudden shift in life totals, catching an opponent off guard and swinging the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mycoid Shepherd doesn’t directly require discarding cards, but being part of a deck that synergizes with its ability might force you into specific deck-building choices, which could limit other card options or strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Mycoid Shepherd’s mana cost requires green-white hybrid mana, which makes it less flexible outside of those color combinations. Decks not running both colors won’t benefit from this card, restricting its use significantly.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three generic and one green-white hybrid mana, Mycoid Shepherd’s mana cost is on the higher side, which can slow down your gameplay. In faster games or against decks that ramp quickly, it might not prove as efficient or timely enough to impact the board state favorably.
Reasons to Include Mycoid Shepherd in Your Collection
Versatility: Mycoid Shepherd is a card that finds its place in a variety of decks, especially those focused around life gain or large creature strategies. Its ability to add significant life points when creatures of power 5 or greater enter the battlefield can be a game-changer.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, Mycoid Shepherd can serve as a repeatable life-gain engine. Pairing it with creatures that can bounce to and from the battlefield or ways to cheat in big creatures can create powerful synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In metas dominated by aggressive strategies, Mycoid Shepherd can swing games in your favor as a defensive roadblock that cushions your life total. This can be crucial against burn decks or other fast-paced aggressive opponents.
How to beat
Mycoid Shepherd is an intriguing green creature card in MTG, known for its ability to provide a significant boost to a player’s life total when powerhouses hit the battlefield. It thrives in decks that utilize large creatures, becoming a life-sustaining asset for those playing within green’s heavy-hitting archetypes. However, overcoming the resilience this card provides can be straightforward when deploying the right strategies.
One effective method against Mycoid Shepherd is to limit its activation. Since its ability triggers only when creatures with power 5 or greater enter the field, controlling the board with removal spells or counters before these large creatures can land will nullify the Shepherd’s potential. Cards with exile effects, such as Path to Exile, are particularly efficient, ensuring that once dealt with, the Shepherd doesn’t return to provide its benefits.
Maintaining a faster pace can also eclipse Mycoid Shepherd’s impact. By pressuring opponents with aggressive plays and denying them the chance to stabilize with high-power creatures, the Shepherd’s ability becomes less relevant. Prioritizing speed and early game control can be key, making decks that can outpace and overrun an opponent before Mycoid Shepherd becomes effective a great countermeasure.
Cards like Mycoid Shepherd
Mycoid Shepherd serves as an intriguing creature card within the vast realms of Magic the Gathering. It walks alongside fellow high-power creatures such as Pelakka Wurm, who also boasts a significant life gain mechanic upon entering the battlefield. However, Mycoid Shepherd offers the unique advantage of potentially activating its life-gain ability multiple times, as long as it’s involved with damage of 5 or more, giving it an edge in creature-heavy decks.
Siege Rhino is another kindred spirit, supporting both life gain and a solid body to block or attack. Though it lacks the recurring potential of Mycoid Shepherd, the Rhino compensates with immediate impact, draining life from an opponent upon arrival to the battlefield. Unlike our focal Shepherd, Siege Rhino doesn’t require triggers during combat to utilize its ability, making it a more straightforward option for players.
In sum, Mycoid Shepherd has a special place in MTG as a creature that rewards players for engaging in heavy combat with life-sustaining perks. Its comparison with kindred beasts like Pelakka Wurm and Siege Rhino shows its value in decks designed around life gain strategies and combat resilience.
Cards similar to Mycoid Shepherd by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mycoid Shepherd MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and DCI Promos, 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 Mycoid Shepherd 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
Printings
The Mycoid Shepherd Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-01-02 and 2009-04-30. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 43556 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jarreau Wimberly | ||
| 2 | 2006-01-02 | DCI Promos | PDCI | 28 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jarreau Wimberly | |
| 3 | 2009-04-30 | Alara Reborn | ARB | 73 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Trevor Claxton |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mycoid Shepherd has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mycoid Shepherd card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-05-01 | If Mycoid Shepherd and another creature you control with power 5 or greater are put into a graveyard from the battlefield at the same time, Mycoid Shepherd’s ability will trigger twice. |
| 2009-05-01 | If another creature you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, Mycoid Shepherd’s ability checks that creature’s power as it last existed on the battlefield. If it was 5 or greater, the ability will trigger. |
| 2009-05-01 | Mycoid Shepherd’s ability will trigger when it’s put into a graveyard from the battlefield no matter what its power is at that time. |
