Mindclaw Shaman MTG Card


Mindclaw Shaman grants indirect card advantage and strategic disruption capabilities. Its ability to cast spells without cost accelerates your in-game resource efficiency. Despite a higher mana cost, its versatility makes it a notable card in red decks.
Mindclaw Shaman - Magic 2013
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Viashino Shaman
Released2012-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2013
Set codeM13
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number142
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySlawomir Maniak

Text of card

When Mindclaw Shaman enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You may cast an instant or sorcery card from it without paying its mana cost.

Nicol Bolas gives power to those who will abuse it most.


Cards like Mindclaw Shaman

Deep within the universe of Magic: The Gathering, Mindclaw Shaman makes for an interesting comparison with other spell-disturbance creatures. This creature notably snatches spells straight from an opponent’s hand, enabling you to cast one without paying its mana cost. It stands in the same league as cards like Nightveil Specter, which also allows you to play with your opponent’s cards, but Mindclaw Shaman focuses specifically on instant and sorcery spells.

Gonti, Lord of Luxury also explores the territory of playing cards from the enemy’s deck, though it pulls from the top of the library rather than the hand. Unlike Mindclaw Shaman, Gonti does not restrict this to instants and sorceries, offering a broader range of theft. Additionally, there’s Zealous Conscripts, a creature that has a similar immediate impact on the game, granting control of any permanent upon entering the battlefield. Zealous Conscripts lacks the spell-stealing functionality but offers a wider target range for disruption.

Assessing their tactical advantages, each card brings a unique approach to leveraging your opponent’s resources, yet Mindclaw Shaman distinguishes itself within MTG as a specialized tool for tampering with an adversary’s carefully laid plans during a match.

Nightveil Specter - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Zealous Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Nightveil Specter - MTG Card versions
Gonti, Lord of Luxury - MTG Card versions
Zealous Conscripts - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mindclaw Shaman by color, type and mana cost

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Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thundering Giant - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mindclaw Shaman acts as a form of indirect card advantage by allowing you to cast an opponent’s spell from their hand, effectively granting you access to additional resources without depleting your own hand. This can tip the scales in your favor, as playing your opponent’s powerful spells can disrupt their strategy while bolstering yours.

Resource Acceleration: While Mindclaw Shaman doesn’t directly accelerate your mana resources, it can potentially save mana by casting an opponent’s high-impact spell without paying its mana cost. This enables a more efficient use of your mana pool and can lead to a tempo advantage as you are effectively playing more spells than your mana would ordinarily allow.

Instant Speed: Although Mindclaw Shaman itself isn’t an instant, the spells you acquire from your opponent’s hand can be. This allows you to retain flexibility, playing reactive spells at instant speed even if your deck wouldn’t normally have access to them. It expands your tactical options, especially during your opponent’s turn, making Mindclaw Shaman a strategic inclusion in many MTG decks.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Mindclaw Shaman does not have a discard requirement, enhancing its appeal as it keeps your hand intact when played.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a specific combination of mana, with three generic and two red, potentially limiting its integration in multi-colored or non-red decks. Adapting your land base to accommodate Mindclaw Shaman could strain your deck’s consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana to deploy, Mindclaw Shaman might come into play later than desired. For this casting cost, some players expect a more immediate or impactful board presence. Considering the range of available options, there may be more powerful plays at this stage in the game.


Reasons to Include Mindclaw Shaman in Your Collection

Versatility: Mindclaw Shaman has the ability to disrupt opponents by revealing and casting an instant or sorcery from their hand without paying its mana cost. This makes it a useful tool in a variety of red decks, particularly those focused on control or stealing strategies.

Combo Potential: The utility of Mindclaw Shaman extends to combo decks. Its interaction with cards that manipulate or benefit from opponents’ hands adds another layer of depth, allowing shrewd players to outmaneuver the competition in complex gameplay scenarios.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks and those rich in instant or sorcery strategies prevail, incorporating Mindclaw Shaman could turn the tides by utilizing your opponents’ carefully curated hands against them, making it a cunning choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Mindclaw Shaman is an intriguing creature card that can turn the tide of a game by letting you cast an instant or sorcery card from your opponent’s hand for free. This ability, however valuable in certain gameplay situations, can be mitigated. Protecting your hand becomes the strategy to focus on when facing this threat. One method is through the use of cards that grant you hexproof, such as Leyline of Sanctity, which prevent targeted effects from reaching your valuable instants and sorceries.

Additonally, instant-speed removal cards can help you deal with Mindclaw Shaman before its ability triggers, thus forcing it onto the battlefield without impact. Counterspells are also effective, particularly when the Shaman is played during a turn, as you can counter it outright, preventing its ability from even triggering. Lastly, consider adjusting your playstyle. Being mindful of holding onto cards with instant or sorcery attributes when Mindclaw Shaman is in play is prudent. Opt instead to play them when the Shaman’s effect isn’t a threat, keeping your most powerful spells safe and your strategy intact.

By combining hand protection, removal strategies, and smart gameplay, Mindclaw Shaman’s influence can be significantly reduced, preserving your game plan and enhancing your chance for a victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the dynamic play styles that Magic the Gathering offers and how Mindclaw Shaman could revolutionize your red deck strategies. With the potential to disrupt opponent plans and give you free spells, this card introduces a fresh layer of excitement to your MTG matches. Understanding its place within various MTG strategies and meta environments is just the beginning. Whether you’re looking to optimize your current deck or seeking new ways to outsmart competitors, we’re here to guide you through enhancing your overall gameplay. Let’s explore how Mindclaw Shaman can become a game-changer for you. Embark on this journey with us and unlock your deck’s true potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mindclaw Shaman MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013, 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 Mindclaw Shaman and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mindclaw Shaman has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mindclaw Shaman card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2012-07-01 Any player can respond to Mindclaw Shaman’s triggered ability. However, once that ability starts resolving and the target opponent reveals their hand, players can’t respond until after the ability finishes resolving. For example, the opponent can’t cast the instant or sorcery card you choose to cast in order to stop you from casting it.
2012-07-01 If the card has X in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as its value.
2012-07-01 If you can’t cast any instant or sorcery card (perhaps because there are no legal targets available) or if you choose not to cast one, then Mindclaw Shaman’s ability finishes resolving and the game moves on.
2012-07-01 If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t pay any alternative costs. You can pay additional costs such as kicker costs. If the card has mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.
2012-07-01 The card goes to its owner’s graveyard after it resolves (or otherwise leaves the stack), not yours.
2012-07-01 You cast the card from the opponent’s hand immediately. Ignore timing restrictions based on the card’s type. Other timing restrictions, such as “Cast
-his card] only during combat,” must be followed.