Shuriken MTG Card

Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
2005-02-04 - Number 160

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number BOK-160

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Key Takeaways

Delivers card flow and creature control, disrupting opponent strategies effectively.
Instant speed activation provides real-time adaptability in various game situations.
Resource acceleration via Shuriken can swiftly tip the scales towards victory.

Text of card

Equipped creature has ", Unattach Shuriken: Shuriken deals 2 damage to target creature. That creature's controller gains control of Shuriken unless it was unattached from a Ninja." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shuriken is a nimble addition to your arsenal, not merely for its direct impact but also for its ability to maintain card flow. This card’s design provides a crafty means of trading hands with an opposing creature, potentially disrupting an opponent’s strategy while boosting your own creature base.

Resource Acceleration: The clever use of Shuriken can also serve as an indirect form of resource acceleration. By tactically removing key creatures from the battlefield, you pave the way for your own attacks to go unblocked, thereby accelerating potential damage and bringing you closer to victory more swiftly.

Instant Speed: The value of Shuriken is amplified by its capability to be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats or opportunities in real time. This adaptability ensures that you remain one step ahead, always ready to turn the tides of the game with a swift and precise intervention at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Shuriken card is the necessity to discard a card as part of its activation. This could be a significant disadvantage, especially if your hand is already depleted, forcing you to make tough decisions on resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: Shuriken necessitates a precise amount of colorless mana to play. While this may seem flexible, it can sometimes be a hurdle in multi-colored decks that might run low on colorless sources at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In comparison to other equipment or removal options available in the game, Shuriken’s mana cost can be viewed as steep. This means it competes with potentially more impactful cards you could be playing at the same stage of the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shuriken’s ability to be attached to any creature without tapping provides a flexible control mechanism on the board, catering to a variety of decks that require persistent board interaction.

Combo Potential: Its return-to-hand feature when it deals damage to a creature offers intriguing combo possibilities with ninjutsu strategies or any deck that capitalizes on recurring artifact play.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low casting cost and potential for creature control, Shuriken maintains relevance in metas where creature-based strategies prevail, allowing you to disrupt opponent’s plays with minimal investment.

How to beat

Shuriken stands out in the world of MTG as an artifact with the potential to disrupt many strategies. Players facing this threatening card have to deploy precise tactics to counteract its damaging ability. The primary technique is to render the activation cost of Shuriken prohibitive for your opponent. This can be achieved by making sure creatures you control cannot be easily targeted, are hexproof or shrouded, which prevents the Shuriken’s controller from giving you control of it.

Moreover, employing instant-speed removal spells to destroy Shuriken in response to its activation can be an effective method. Artifacts like Shuriken that rely on creatures being on the battlefield become far less effective when you keep the board clear of targets. Counterspells also play a pivotal role in keeping Shuriken at bay, ensuring that it never becomes operative. Lastly, taxing effects that increase the cost of abilities force the opponent to allocate more resources than usual, making Shuriken less appealing to use.

Ultimately, it’s about resource management, controlling the battlefield, and employing preventive measures that make Shuriken more cumbersome or less effective for your opponent. A careful strategy that includes these factors can be successful in neutralizing the sharp edge of Shuriken in your MTG battles.

Cards like Shuriken

Delving into the arsenal of ninja weaponry in MTG, Shuriken stands out as a specialized equipment card. Its closest counterpart is often seen in the likes of Cranial Archive, a card that shares the ability to be sacrificed for an effect – in this case, shuffling the graveyard back into the library. However, Shuriken’s uniqueness lies in its direct damage capability, being able to ping creatures or players while equipped. Unlike Cranial Archive, Shuriken’s interactive nature can influence combat outcomes.

Another similar tool of sabotage is Mortarpod, which also allows equipped creatures to deal damage. Though Mortarpod can offer a creature a blocking or attacking edge by providing it with an instant source of damage, Shuriken edges out with its lower equip cost and the potential to switch control between players if certain conditions are met. Additionally, comparison could be drawn to Viridian Longbow, which also grants direct damage through tapping, yet it lacks Shuriken’s interplay of control swapping.

Ultimately, each card transcends its basic function, offering varied strategies, but Shuriken carves its niche in MTG with its intricate blend of offensive action and tactical shifts of control on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Shuriken by color, type and mana cost

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shuriken MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and The List, 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 Shuriken and other MTG cards: