Shade's Form MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Number	81
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Clyde Caldwell

Key Takeaways

Shade’s Form enables creatures to return from the graveyard, providing a strategic advantage and potential card value.
Costing three mana and requiring a card discard, the spell may be less favored in fast-paced or resource-tight games.
Its ability to resurrect creatures fits into several deck strategies, boosting its relevance in diverse MTG metagames.

Text of card

Enchanted creature has "o B: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn." When enchanted creature is put into a graveyard, return that creature to play under your control.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shade’s Form enhances your board presence by bringing a creature back from the graveyard. This can tip the scales in your favor, replenishing your resources while depleting your opponent’s.

Resource Acceleration: In addition to its primary function, Shade’s Form can be a form of resource acceleration since the resurrected creature might have abilities that contribute to your mana pool or overall strategy, effectively adding to your available resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Shade’s Form at instant speed offers tactical flexibility. You can respond to an opponent’s move during their turn, potentially surprising them with a creature’s return at a critical moment or saving the enchantment for a pivotal creature in your graveyard when needed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides when playing Shade’s Form is that it asks players to pitch another card from their hand. This can be a hefty price in games where maintaining card advantage is crucial. If you’re already behind in resources, the additional discard might deepen your disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Shade’s Form demands a strict two black mana in its casting cost. This requirement can be restrictive for players who run multicolor decks and might not always have the necessary black mana sources readily available when they need to cast this spell.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana, including the two black, Shade’s Form can be seen as a costly investment compared to other enchant creature cards in the same role. For decks that aim to operate efficiently, utilizing the available mana each turn, the cost may be too steep for the effect provided, especially in a fast-paced game environment.

Reasons to Include Shade’s Form in Your Collection

Versatility: Shade’s Form is a unique enchantment that can seamlessly integrate into various deck types, turning any creature into a resilient threat. Its ability to return to the battlefield gives players a recurring advantage in prolonged games.

Combo Potential: This card shines in setups that manipulate the graveyard, allowing players to create synergies with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield or dies triggers, further extending the reach of combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where removal spells are prevalent, Shade’s Form provides a safeguard for key creatures, keeping them in play and maintaining pressure on the opponent.

How to beat

Shade’s Form is an intriguing enchant creature card that endows the attached creature with the potential to become stronger and unblockable when the right conditions are met. To effectively negate the advantage that Shade’s Form provides, it’s wise to employ removal spells that can target either the enchantment or the enchanted creature. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are perfect examples, as they can directly destroy Shade’s Form, thus negating its benefits.

Additionally, countermagic can be a proactive approach to ensuring Shade’s Form never hits the battlefield in the first place. Spells such as Negate or Mana Leak can be valuable tools in your arsenal, disrupting your opponent’s strategy before it becomes a threat. Dealing with the enchanted creature may sometimes be more challenging, especially if it has already been made unblockable. In such cases, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, irrespective of any enhancements.

Understanding the key moments to interact with Shade’s Form or its host creature is crucial. By keeping a sharp eye on your removal and counter options, you can strategically dismantle your opponent’s plan, maintain board control, and steadily steer the match towards your victory.

Cards like Shade's Form

Shade’s Form is an intriguing enchantment in the MTG realm with the unique ability to resurrect a creature in the heat of battle. Its close relatives might include Unholy Indenture or Supernatural Stamina. While all three enchantments bring creatures back from the brink, each has its distinct advantages. Unholy Indenture, for instance, allows the creature to return under your control, which can be a strategic twist in the game, perfect for disrupting your opponent’s plans.

Supernatural Stamina, much like Shade’s Form, gives the creature a second wind but goes a step further by temporarily boosting its power during the turn it dies. However, unlike Shade’s Form, the boost is only for a single turn, which means you need to make it count. Moreover, Supernatural Stamina is cost-effective, requiring only one black mana, aligning it with players favoring a fast-paced, aggressive play style.

To sum up, while each card has its strategic use, Shade’s Form stands out by offering versatility and resilience, allowing creatures to return to the battlefield ready for more action, an enduring benefit that can turn the tides in an ongoing duel.

Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shade's Form by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shade's Form MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Shade's Form and other MTG cards: