Death's Shadow

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Death's Shadow gets -X/-X, where X is your life total.

Discussion (45)

Apollo_Paladin on Historic Black Sac

1 week ago

I realize that you're not splashing Red, but I've actually used Claim / Fame in a number of sacrifice-related builds; not just in Black/Red builds - might give it a shot as there's no other good 1-mana "Graveyard-to-Battlefield" options in Arena.

I've got a Death's Shadow deck that it works amazing in despite being Mono-Black like yours (with the similar exception of Lurrus that I run like yours; but he can absolutely count as Mono).

zAzen7977 on SCOURGE BOLT - Suicide Burn

2 weeks ago

Hey vladpontes, thanks for your suggestions. In the past I ran a different variation of burn which used creatures like Monastery Swiftspear and Goblin Guide , and it worked very well. With enough burn spells it doesn’t need Scourge of the Skyclaves to win, but it runs out of steam really fast. This is why I transitioned away from prowess and focused on reducing my life and my opponent’s as fast as possible with this new hybrid “suicide burn.” Since I was running fetches and Sunbaked Canyon already, I thought I would take advantage of the synergy and put the life-loss to good use.

Like you I was reluctant to run Death's Shadow s at first. I thought too many creatures would water down the burn potential of the deck. But after many games it turns out that the Shadows work very well. Running 4 Scourges and 3 Shadows make it likely to draw at least 1 of either during the game. There are no other creatures with the size potential of Scourge or Shadow for their mana cost that I am aware of.

Also I think you’re placing too much importance on the creatures instead of focusing on dealing damage. The burn spells are the most consistent way to deal damage in burn decks. In the early game, a strong blocker will immediately shut down burn decks relying on Swiftspear, Guide, etc, but Lightning Bolt always deals damage.

This variant has Shadows and Scourges to fill in during the mid-late game (which is turns 3-5 for burn decks) and Canyons and Street Wraith s for card draw, whereas other decks have tiny blockers and rely on top decking a burn spell to seal the deal. Shadows and Scourges are unique because they are aggressive by being defensive and lock down the board, so I can stall a turn or two if necessary. The trick is carefully monitoring life totals to not overextend too quickly. I want to be in control of the life loss.

Goblin_Guide, thanks for commenting. You make a good point about using cheap reanimation spells like Unearth to bring back Shadows and Scourges if they die. That is definitely a valid approach. Personally I really like Apostle's Blessing as a way to pay life while preventing a creature’s death, or making it essentially unblockable. This prevents graveyard interaction so I can run Rest in Peace on the sideboard and ignore grave-hate in general.

Cypher35 on Control, Sac, Drain, Bring Back!!

2 weeks ago

This is an awesome modern build, and frankly a super affordable one! I would like to ask how it's supposed to win, as from what I can tell the plan is to stall out the game for a long while? Or is it supposed to win thanks to Blood Artist , the Cruel Celebrant , and Zulaport Cutthroat ? because if that is the case it might be weak to lifegain focused decks like Heliod Company, and I would put in an Erebos, God of the Dead to fight that lifegain. And in response to Death and taxes (my personal favorite modern archetype) and other creature focused decks like Death's Shadow (an ever-popular one in modern), I'd run a few Path to Exile s, both suggestions would at least help round out the sideboard and make a 2nd or 3rd game a bit more in your favor.

Overall, I think this deck has some major potential! +1

TheVectornaut on Kird Ape Deck of Terribleness

3 weeks ago

Naya Zoo was actually a great deck in modern before it got outpaced by things like Death's Shadow , although even now some of the new landfall guys have breathed some life into it. Add in some Wild Nacatl and Plains and then focus on your 1, 2, and 3 drops, and you have the recipe for an aggressive deck that can be surprisingly lethal. Fanatic of Xenagos , Flinthoof Boar , Frenzied Arynx , Zhur-Taa Druid , Fires of Yavimaya , and your bolts fit in with that playstyle pretty well. It's mostly the 5 and 6 drops I'd recommend cutting.

sergiodelrio on Which Magic card's art would …

3 weeks ago

Wheel of Fortune

lovers - Pia and Kiran Nalaar

moon - Blood Moon

strength - Unholy Strength

tower - Command Tower

devil - Vexing Devil

magician - Snapcaster Mage

star - Chromatic Star

death - Death's Shadow

judgment - Iona's Judgment

hangman - Walk the Plank

fool - Jester's Cap Jester's Scepter Jester's Sombrero

Cool challenge btw, hope you find good matches and please share the final list once you're done!

EDIT: @plakjekaas nice picks

Icbrgr on Modern Horizons 2 Wish List

1 month ago

definitely seems like a fair card.... maybe find a home in a Death's Shadow deck or just help burn be burn?

sergiodelrio on Looking for (virtual-/) 1-drops w/ …

1 month ago

Hi folks!

So I want to see how I could capitalize more on Stubborn Denial and Ponder ing creative options.

Please suggest creatures, of any color, that could be cast for 1 mana, or less, and have or easily gain a power stat of 4 or more.

Here's what I got so far:

• Vexing Devil
• Death's Shadow
• delve creatures Gurmag Angler and the likes
• landfallers Steppe Lynx and the likes
• prowess creatures Monastery Swiftspear , Blistercoil Weird et al
• Archfiend's Vessel
• Serra Ascendant
• Slumbering Dragon
• Hollow One

+++ Edit:

• Convoke/improvise creatures
• Chandra's Incinerator
• (pseudo) evolvers Experiment One , Champion of the Parish
• Jace's Phantasm
• Pact of the Titan
• Vengevine

Levellers are off the table, they just need too much mana to pump.

Which ones am I missing? Not looking for creatures that get pumped by a specific other spell, but rather pump as I play, or get heavy cost reduction. I really need stuff that reaches power 4 quickly and/or easily and not jump through too many hoops.

Thanks in advance!

Icbrgr on Is Grixis Control Weak/Bad in …

1 month ago

I think I'm on board/agree with everything you said Grubbernaut... the painful mana base with fetches and shocks and obligatory Thoughtseize really make the deck gravitate towards just playing another Death's Shadow deck rather than an actual control build.

We got Kess, Dissident Mage but maybe if we got another version of that card that enabled to cast spells at instant speed or maybe some kinda protection to go with Snapcaster Mage / Torrential Gearhulk Grixis would be in a better spot? Or does grixis need more of a spell based buff?