World Shaper MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Merfolk Shaman
Abilities Mill
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. World Shaper provides resource acceleration and can be pivotal for strategies involving land synergy.
  2. Its graveyard-triggered effect can be exploited for surprise plays, enhancing its tactical utility.
  3. However, the card requires a setup to maximize its potential, which could be seen as a drawback.

Text of card

Whenever World Shaper attacks, you may put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard. When World Shaper dies, put all land cards from your graveyard onto the battlefield tapped.

"The Great River will not be tamed."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When World Shaper is sent to the graveyard from the battlefield, you may return all land cards from your graveyard to the battlefield. This effect can significantly increase the number of resources at your disposal, often swinging the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: World Shaper’s ability to bring lands back onto the battlefield synergizes with landfall abilities and other mechanics that trigger upon lands entering the battlefield. This can result in resource acceleration that propels you ahead in the game.

Instant Speed: While World Shaper itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its triggered ability can be leveraged during any turn. This can happen as a result of surprise blocking or by other cards that may sacrifice it at instant speed, which can be a tactical way to unexpectedly ramp up your lands.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: World Shaper’s ability comes into effect only after being put into the graveyard from the battlefield, meaning you may need to sacrifice or find a way to kill it off, potentially requiring extra steps or resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a mix of green mana and generic mana, which can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary green mana sources available when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to cast, World Shaper’s initial investment is significant, especially in formats where tempo plays a crucial role. Other cards at a lower cost may activate or provide graveyard synergy more immediately or efficiently.


Reasons to Include World Shaper in Your Collection

Versatility: World Shaper’s unique ability to benefit graveyard-centric strategies spans across multiple deck types. Whether it’s a land-focused commander deck or a self-mill archetype, this card unlocks a substantial advantage through milling and returning lands to the battlefield.

Combo Potential: The card enables numerous interactions, especially with effects that sacrifice creatures for value, leading to an explosive return of lands when it dies. This makes it an ideal fit for engine-based decks looking to capitalize on landfall triggers or other land-dependent synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Decks that leverage the graveyard are persistent in the meta. With graveyard strategies being a staple in many formats, including World Shaper can strengthen your deck’s ability to recover and flourish, particularly after mass removal spells clear the board.


How to beat

World Shaper presents a unique challenge on the battlefield due to its ability to significantly alter the course of the game upon death. This formidable card from Magic: The Gathering stands out as it dutifully mills cards while also teeing up a potential landfall cascade upon its demise. To circumnavigate the advantages World Shaper offers, it’s imperative to contain or preemptively deal with it before its death trigger can be activated.

One strategy involves leveraging graveyard disruption tools. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt and Relic of Progenitus can be played to strip crucial lands from the opponent’s graveyard, effectively neutering the benefit World Shaper may provide. Countering World Shaper’s trigger with Stifle or Tale’s End can also derail your opponent’s plans. Directly exiling the card using Path to Exile or similar effects forecloses its ability to affect the board post-mortem. Moreover, applying pressure with faster, aggressive strategies may put opponents on the defensive, reducing the impact of their World Shaper’s benefits.

A balanced approach, utilizing disruption alongside pressure, often proves the most effective against World Shaper, ensuring it doesn’t shape the world—or the outcome of the match—in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re captivated by the strategic depth that World Shaper brings to MTG, we believe your journey shouldn’t end there. Diving deeper into this facet of the game will unlock even greater potential for your deck. Whether you’re looking to harness graveyard synergy, accelerate your resources, or simply crave the thrill of those game-swinging moments, there’s a wealth of knowledge waiting for you. Let your curiosity guide you to new heights and strategies that will shape your path to victory. Delve further with us and discover the keys to mastering your gameplay with World Shaper and beyond.


Cards like World Shaper

World Shaper is a distinctive creature in MTG, offering a nuanced approach to mana acceleration and deck utility. This resonates with cards like Ramunap Excavator, which allows players to play lands from their graveyard but lacks the ability to bring multiple lands back all at once. World Shaper’s real comparison shines with the likes of Splendid Reclamation—a card that returns all lands from your graveyard to the battlefield, yet it’s a one-time effect and doesn’t provide the recurrent threat that World Shaper does with its creature type.

Another analog is The Mending of Dominaria, a saga that incrementally brings lands back and ultimately shuffles the graveyard into the library. However, World Shaper delivers immediate board impact and can be exploited with various sacrifice effects to trigger its ability on demand. Crucially, while other cards may offer similar returns, World Shaper’s merge of creature-based combat and land recursion creates strategic depth in how a player times their plays and interacts with the board.

Therefore, World Shaper establishes its place through the potential of consistent graveyard synergy and the threatening presence of a creature that inherently dissuades opponents from blocking or attacking. It cultivates an environment ripe for tactical playmaking in MTG.

Ramunap Excavator - MTG Card versions
Splendid Reclamation - MTG Card versions
The Mending of Dominaria - MTG Card versions
Ramunap Excavator - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Splendid Reclamation - Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)
The Mending of Dominaria - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase World Shaper MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Arena Beginner Set, 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 World Shaper and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The World Shaper Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1512015normalblackRaymond Swanland
22020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 1102015normalblackRaymond Swanland
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3232015normalblackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where World Shaper has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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