Blighted Shaman MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Cleric Shaman
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Blighted Shaman boosts graveyard synergy, reviving creatures for superior board presence and hand advantage.
  2. While providing instant speed utility, it demands specific mana types and a card discard for activation.
  3. Its potential in combos and meta play makes it a compelling addition despite the presence of similar cards.

Text of card

oc T, Sacrifice a creature: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. oc T, Sacrifice a swamp: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blighted Shaman grants a significant edge by potentially recurring utility creatures from the graveyard, bolstering hand options and battlefield presence without expending additional cards from the deck.

Resource Acceleration: This spell enhances mana efficiency by returning a low-cost creature to play, thereby accelerating your resource deployment and improving the tempo of your strategy.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Blighted Shaman offers tactical flexibility, allowing players to wait for the most opportune moment to surprise opponents or efficiently use their mana at the end of an adversary’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Blighted Shaman requires the player to discard a card in order to activate its ability. This can potentially set you back, depleting your hand especially when you might need those resources for future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Blighted Shaman’s ability necessitates a certain type of mana to cast. This can be restrictive, requiring deck builders to tailor their land base or mana sources accordingly, which might not always align with the overarching strategy of the deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the activation cost in addition to the discard requirement, the overall expense of utilizing Blighted Shaman’s ability may seem high. Players may find that other cards could execute similar functions at a lower cost, making them more appealing choices for deck inclusion.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blighted Shaman offers flexibility in deckbuilding, easily integrating into strategies that revolve around graveyard play or creature sacrifice mechanics. This adaptability makes it a useful card across various formats.

Combo Potential: With its ability to turn creatures into undead minions, Blighted Shaman pairs well with cards that profit from creature deaths or zombie tokens, opening up numerous synergistic possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game landscape where creature-based strategies dominate, having a card like Blighted Shaman can provide an edge. It interacts with the board and can disrupt the flow of the opponent’s game plan, making it a noteworthy choice in current competitive scenes.


How to beat

Blighted Shaman presents a unique set of challenges on the battlefield. This MTG card is known for its potent combo potentials, enabling players to swiftly turn the tide of a game. A key aspect of overcoming Blighted Shaman lies in neutralizing its ability to manipulate and exploit creature abilities. Strategic use of removal spells is critical, allowing players to dismantle combos and mitigate the card’s impact on the game.

One effective approach is to employ instant-speed removal, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, striking at opportune moments to disrupt your opponent’s carefully laid plans. Keeping mana open for reactive measures ensures you can respond swiftly to the shaman’s activations. Additionally, graveyard hate cards, like Rest in Peace, can cripple the synergy that Blighted Shaman thrives on, restricting access to the crucial resources it needs from the graveyard.

Understanding the typical deck archetypes that feature Blighted Shaman can give players an upper hand, preparing sideboard strategies that specifically target its weaknesses. Focusing on its reliance on creature-based combos, prioritizing board control, and knowing when to apply pressure or hold back for the perfect counterplay are essential tactics to trounce decks wielding the power of Blighted Shaman.


Cards like Blighted Shaman

The Blighted Shaman card brings its unique flavor to the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It holds a resemblance to other shaman cards like Deathrite Shaman, as both have abilities that interact with graveyards. Deathrite Shaman stands out with its versatility in mana generation and direct life manipulation, whereas Blighted Shaman emphasizes targeted removal, presenting a strategic option in decks that capitalize on creature control.

Comparing it to Shaman of the Pack, another Elf Shaman that interacts with opposing life totals, Blighted Shaman offers a different kind of board impact. Instead of leveraging the number of Elves you control, Blighted Shaman provides a direct way to weaken an opponent’s defenses. Meanwhile, Fauna Shaman delivers a different utility by tutoring creatures to your hand, tailoring your draws to the current needs of the game—something the Blighted Shaman does not facilitate.

The strategic depth of Blighted Shaman within its category is significant. With the rise of graveyard-centered playstyles and the always relevant need for creature removal, this card claims a niche that, while not as broadly functional as some of its cousins, distills its purpose to an essence that can be crucial depending on your playing style and deck build.

Deathrite Shaman - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Fauna Shaman - MTG Card versions
Deathrite Shaman - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Shaman of the Pack - Magic Origins (ORI)
Fauna Shaman - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Blighted Shaman by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Stromgald Crusader - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blighted Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Blighted Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blighted Shaman Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by Ian Miller.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 1071997normalblackIan Miller
21999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 1141997normalwhiteIan Miller

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blighted Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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