Shrieking Specter MTG Card


Shrieking Specter - Starter 1999
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Specter
Abilities Flying
Released1999-07-01
Set symbol
Set nameStarter 1999
Set codeS99
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number89
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderwhite
Illustred byrk post

Key Takeaways

  1. Shrieking Specter’s forced discard disrupts opponent strategies, granting psychological control during games.
  2. Mana cost and color specificity can limit deck versatility, affecting its inclusion in diverse builds.
  3. Optimal in mono-black decks, the Specter synergizes well with discard-focused tactics, enhancing its value.

Text of card

Flying When Shrieking Specter attacks, defending player chooses and discards a card from his or her hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shrieking Specter offers a unique advantage by forcing your opponent to discard a card upon hitting them. This not only depletes their resources but can also disrupt their strategy and give you an upper hand in controlling the game.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting mana resources, the discard effect can indirectly accelerate your game plan by removing potential answers or threats from your opponent’s hand, thus smoothing the path for your own plays.

Instant Speed: Shrieking Specter may not have abilities that operate at instant speed, but its presence can influence when and how your opponent plays their instants and flash spells, as they must consider the looming threat of discards, which adds a layer of psychological advantage for you.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leveraging Shrieking Specter’s ability hinges on a discard mechanism, compelling you to discard a card upon successfully dealing damage to an opponent. While this can pressure your opponent’s hand, it can also be a double-edged sword if you’re already behind on cards in hand, reducing your own strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Shrieking Specter is locked into a particular color identity; it requires black mana to summon. This specific mana requirement means it might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t heavily focused on or supporting the black mana archetype, potentially limiting its versatility across different deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost set at a higher register on the mana curve, the resource investment for Shrieking Specter can be significant compared to other creatures in the same mana cost bracket. In some cases, you might find that its board impact doesn’t align with the investment, as there are alternative creatures or spells that could offer more immediate or versatile advantages on the battlefield for a similar, or even lower, mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shrieking Specter introduces a flexible element to black deck builds, often fitting seamlessly into strategies that revolve around discard effects and player harassment.

Combo Potential: This card can work well in tandem with other cards that punish opponents for having fewer cards in hand, potentially dismantling an opponent’s game plan piece by piece.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players hold onto key cards for longer periods, the specter’s ability to systematically disrupt those strategies adds a layer of control to your gameplay, keeping you one step ahead.


How to Beat Shrieking Specter

Shrieking Specter is a haunting card that can trouble players with its ability to disrupt hand advantage on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. A solid strategy to undermine this menace is to manage your hand size effectively. Holding onto cards that are expendable or less crucial until after the Specter’s ability triggers can minimize the impact on your game plan.

Another effective counteraction involves utilizing instant-speed removal or counter spells to deal with the Specter before it has the chance to activate its ability. Cards like Murder or Counterspell are prime examples that can negate the Specter’s effect and maintain the equilibrium of your hand.

Moreover, cards that offer graveyard retrieval capabilities can also help in mitigating the loss caused by Shrieking Specter’s discard effect. This way, discarded cards can become resources you may recover later, sustaining your strategy and staying ahead of the Specter’s eerie game.

In essence, overcoming Shrieking Specter in Magic: The Gathering requires tactical hand management, timely removal, and incorporating graveyard synergies into your deck, ensuring the Specter’s whispers don’t lead to your downfall.


Cards like Shrieking Specter

Shrieking Specter holds its own unique place among flying creatures in Magic the Gathering. At a glance, you might find some similarities with Hypnotic Specter, both applying pressure on the opponent’s hand. The key difference is that Shrieking Specter requires a successful hit to force a discard at a potentially higher cost, while Hypnotic Specter demands a discard with each attack, offering an immediate and consistent disruption to your opponent’s game plan.

In the realm of discard mechanics, Liliana’s Specter enters the conversation. It hits each opponent with a discard trigger upon entering the battlefield, unlike Shrieking Specter, which requires combat damage to an individual opponent. This makes Liliana’s Specter a preferable choice in multiplayer games, where the impact is spread across the table.

Looking at the broader MTG card pool, Burglar Rat also competes in similar territory. Despite lacking the airborne agility of Shrieking Specter, it immediately impacts the board by forcing a discard upon being cast. It offers a more reliable but less repeatable way to decrease your opponent’s hand size. Thus, each card serves a strategic role depending on the desired approach to hand disruption within a deck’s design.

Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Specter - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Liliana's Specter - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Burglar Rat - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Shrieking Specter by color, type and mana cost

Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Ihsan's Shade - MTG Card versions
Necrosavant - MTG Card versions
Wire Surgeons - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions
Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions
Anurid Murkdiver - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Nefashu - MTG Card versions
Twisted Abomination - MTG Card versions
Iname, Death Aspect - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth Demon - MTG Card versions
Ascendant Evincar - MTG Card versions
Bog Hoodlums - MTG Card versions
Helldozer - MTG Card versions
Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions
Toxic Nim - MTG Card versions
Dark Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Pontiff of Blight - MTG Card versions
Nightmare - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Necrosavant - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Grave Titan - Fallout (PIP)
Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)
Anurid Murkdiver - Onslaught (ONS)
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Nefashu - Scourge (SCG)
Twisted Abomination - Scourge (SCG)
Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yawgmoth Demon - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Ascendant Evincar - Tenth Edition (10E)
Bog Hoodlums - Lorwyn (LRW)
Helldozer - Planechase (HOP)
Geth, Lord of the Vault - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Toxic Nim - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Dark Hatchling - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Pontiff of Blight - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shrieking Specter MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999, 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 Shrieking Specter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shrieking Specter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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