Shimian Specter

Creature — Specter

Flying

Whenever Shimian Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. Choose a nonland card from it. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that card and remove them from the game. Then that player shuffles his or her library.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (31)

nbarry223 on Viga-BOOM! (better mana)

1 year ago

Yeah, the only cards that make sense which I didn't really consider (I've seen them a few times) are Pick the Brain and Shimian Specter - still don't think they make the cut. Shimian Specter seems pretty disgusting if you can get it to stick around, but that would be quite the challenge in a creature based deck like this. I could see it being a decent game 2 tool in a control shell if you play little to no creatures, making them side out most of their removal, but beyond that, it is a little too fragile. I've contemplated Surgical Extraction before, but it relies on them already playing their threat, which is too late for me, since we don't have any targeted discard or mill. I ran Necromentia and Unmoored Ego for a while, but the colorless aspect of The Stone Brain just makes it worth that extra mana of investment.

rb701 on Day's Undoing

2 years ago

it's cool in theory, but in practice.. i run Orzhov Bleed. without a creature presence, there was no blocking against attackers. that might not seem like an issue, but lifelink + Cliffhaven Vampire was throttling your deck. as well, there wasn't enough targeted removal. Shimian Specter, Bitter Ordeal, Skirk Ridge Exhumer would all help this issue. having creature generation, attackers that demand an answer, and something that violently compliments Damnation will help

Munchaus on DCI Banhammer

5 years ago

Guffawkle

I like the Unmoored Ego, and if I added blue then Meddling Mage would seem like a good route. Unfortunately, Meddling Mage dies to almost every piece of removal in Modern. So it becomes far less viable and leaves us with just the Ego. I do like it, but that would be a painful manabase since the deck is so heavy on double color costed cards. Eradicate, Shimian Specter and Circu are all really neat too, but going heavier into four mana and greater cards not only shaves off our low cost silver bullets, but it also heightens our chance at dead cards in our hands. But thank you for taking the time to share your ideas and I wish you luck in your version!

DangoDaikazoku

I honestly don't know how I forgot about Spyglass. The information that it provides about our opponent's hand and future game plan in game 2 and 3 is pretty great. Good on you for the great idea!

Guffawkle on DCI Banhammer

5 years ago

If you're willing to splash blue, Unmoored Ego would be a perfect upgrade for this deck. There's also Eradicate and its kin from Betrayers of Kamigawa. And If you decide you want creatures, just know that Shimian Specter and Circu, Dimir Lobotomist exist.

This beautiful conglomeration of absolute denial has inspired me to build a similarly themed deck that I am presently aiming to make competitive, so thank you.

SynergyBuild on Drain and Gain, Die and Cry

5 years ago

Shimian Specter is a little slow, and doesn't have any immediate impact, as does Drana, Liberator of Malakir, and even a Cabal Coffers, for when games don't get to 5 lands.

AMJacker on UltraDimir

5 years ago

good question Unlife. At this point you just wait for a tap out. I'll likely have to make room for a Shimian Specter or two.

Darkshadow327 on Schemes of the Omnipotent

5 years ago

Bxbx

Mindleech Mass was in here, but during testing I just never really wanted to cast it. Shimian Specter is good if I run into an Athreos, God of Passage + Shadowborn Apostle deck (it was everywhere after the Command Zone episode and it was driving me insane. Luckily the deck has died down now). Doomsday Specter sounds interesting, and I love Kheru Mind-Eater. Glasses of Urza could be interesting, it would allow me to see if I wanted a certain opponent to discard their hand.

davidsays1

It's all good, I just remind people because I've posted and haven't been commented on before. I totally understand, I've done it too.

I've been on the fence about It That Betrays for a while, but Vaevictis Asmadi, the Dire cannot be in the deck due to the green symbol in its mana cost.

Thanks for letting me know about Last Word in the land slot, I have no idea how it happened and probably wouldn't have noticed.

Thanks for the suggestions guys! You've given me a lot to think about (and thanks for not saying anything about Dragon Tempest, it gets annoying have to explain why that is in here sometimes)!

Bxbx on Schemes of the Omnipotent

5 years ago

Hey, I play a similar deck in esper that tries to control the opponent's hands. Some cards I play in it are: Silent-Blade Oni, Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni, Mindleech Mass, Ghastlord of Fugue, Shimian Specter, Doomsday Specter, Kheru Mind-Eater, Rootwater Thief, Head Games and Glasses of Urza. Maybe some of those cards would also work in your deck. Also Mindclaw Shaman.