Shu General MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Horsemanship, Vigilance
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Drawing extra cards through Shu General improves resource management and offers a card advantage.
  2. Instant-speed ability enables flexible play, adjusting strategies to the current game state.
  3. Specific mana requirements and higher cost could limit deck-building compatibility and efficiency.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Horsemanship Attacking doesn't cause Shu General to tap.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Shu General card offers a strategic edge by allowing the player to draw additional cards, enabling the preservation or increase of hand resources against opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This legendary creature can accelerate your mana resources, providing the needed leverage to play higher-cost spells earlier in the game and potentially overwhelming adversaries with superior board presence.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Shu General being an instant-speed spell provides players with the flexibility to react to the evolving state of the game, maximizing strategic depth and allowing for surprise shifts in the game’s dynamics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Shu General card necessitates the player to discard another card, which can be detrimental when hand size is already diminished or when every card in hand is vital for upcoming plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Implementing the Shu General into a deck requires a commitment to both red and white mana sources. This specificity can restrict deck-building options and is not always compatible with multicolor strategies that don’t include these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three generic and one each of red and white, Shu General might be considered too costly, particularly when you could deploy other cards with similar or better effects at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest thrives in Commander decks that embrace spellslinging tactics. With prowess and the ability to grant double strike, this card adapts well in any deck looking to cast numerous spells in a turn.

Combo Potential: Known for his ability to turn any noncreature spell into a potential game-ender, Shu Yun unlocks explosive combos. Pair him with cheap cantrips or buff spells to unleash swift and devastating damage to your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: As games become more focused on decisive turns and value from each card played, a versatile commander like Shu Yun can pivot strategies to outmaneuver opponents. His potential to win out of nowhere keeps him relevant in ever-shifting metas.


How to beat

Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest, presents a unique challenge in the realm of MTG due to his ability to empower creatures with pumped spells via prowess and grant them double strike. To effectively counter this formidable card, understanding the deck’s mechanics and pivotal moments is essential. Your strategy should revolve around disrupting the tempo of your opponent’s spell casting and denying them the opportunity to maximize Shu Yun’s powers.

Firstly, consider employing instant speed removal spells to eliminate Shu Yun before your opponent can benefit from casting noncreature spells that would trigger his prowess. Holding onto removal until the last possible moment often pays off, as it forces the Shu Yun player to commit resources before you neutralize their threat. Moreover, efficient counterspells can hinder a Shu Yun player’s game plan by directly countering key spells they aim to cast. Lastly, broad-spectrum board wipes can serve as a reset button when facing a field buffed by Shu Yun’s influence, clearing the path to regain control of the game. By focusing on precise timing and resource disruption, you can navigate through Shu Yun’s storm and emerge victorious.


Cards like Shu General

Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest, stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a pivotal leader for spellslinger decks. Its ability to give a creature double strike mirrors that of other cards like Temur Battle Rage. Both cards have the potential to dramatically alter combat outcomes. However, Shu Yun provides this effect repeatedly while offering the flexibility of targeting any creature, which makes it a versatile tool in player arsenals.

Comparable cards include Zada, Hedron Grinder, which possesses an intriguing parallel; when targeted by a spell, Zada enables that spell to copy for each creature you control. It induces similar wide-scale effects like Shu Yun, yet it lacks the control over individual targeting. Then there is Feather, the Redeemed, which focuses on recapturing spells that target creatures you control. This ability guarantees ongoing value and aligns with Shu Yun’s spellslinger theme, yet it caters to a more defensive strategy compared to the aggressive potential Shu Yun introduces.

Examining these cards, Shu Yun establishes a distinct presence in the game. Its dual capacity to aggressively enhance creatures and encourage spell casting creates dynamic opportunities for players, making Shu Yun a unique combat engine in its own class.

Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions
Zada, Hedron Grinder - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions
Temur Battle Rage - MTG Card versions
Zada, Hedron Grinder - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shu General MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Masters Edition III, 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 Shu General and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shu General Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Li Xiaohua.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-05-01Portal Three KingdomsPTK 251997NormalWhiteLi Xiaohua
22009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 251997NormalBlackLi Xiaohua

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shu General has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 Despite the similarities between horsemanship and flying, horsemanship doesn’t interact with flying or reach.

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