Shalai, Voice of Plenty MTG Card


Shalai offers protective card advantage, making crucial MTG pieces tougher to remove. Instant-speed ability counter boosts enable surprise defense or offensive strategies. Demands specific mana, potentially constraining deck designs and early plays.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Angel
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying You, planeswalkers you control, and other creatures you control have hexproof. : Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.


Cards like Shalai, Voice of Plenty

Shalai, Voice of Plenty takes her place on the battlefield as a guardian angel in MTG, delivering not only a solid body with flying but also a blanket of protection for you and your other creatures. She shares the spotlight with cards like Avacyn, Angel of Hope, who also offers a broad defense by granting indestructibility to your permanents. Avacyn’s inclusive shield comes at a higher casting cost but affects a wider range of cards on your side of the field.

Comparable too is Selfless Spirit, which allows a player to sacrifice it to protect their creatures from destruction for a turn. Although it’s a one-time use compared to Shalai’s ongoing guard, the Spirit’s lower cost and instant effect could be pivotal in the right deck. Another parallel is found with Heroic Intervention, a spell that not only provides hexproof, like Shalai, but also indestructible to your permanents for the turn, yet it lacks the permanence and creature presence Shalai offers.

Ultimately, Shalai, Voice of Plenty emerges as a favorite in decks seeking continuous protection mechanisms. Her unique ability to shield players and creatures alike from targeting, alongside a threatening board presence, carves a distinct niche for Shalai in the MTG realm. Her compelling mix of offense and defense gives her an edge in creature-based strategies.

Avacyn, Angel of Hope - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Heroic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Avacyn, Angel of Hope - MTG Card versions
Selfless Spirit - MTG Card versions
Heroic Intervention - MTG Card versions

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Leinore, Autumn Sovereign - MTG Card versions
Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa - MTG Card versions
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Knight of New Alara - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Shalai, Voice of Plenty. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WUBRGWUBRG PioneerPioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-09
Devoted ComboDevoted Combo ModernDevoted ComboModern League 2023-12-05 (1)
Devoted DruidDevoted Druid ModernDevoted ComboDEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ
Orzhov AngelsOrzhov Angels GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists ModernMTG China Open S5 Regional Championship
Rogue DecklistsRogue Decklists LegacyEternal Challenge 23
Death & TaxesDeath & Taxes ModernDeath & TaxesModern Preliminary 2024-01-01
Azorius MidrangeAzorius Midrange GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shalai, Voice of Plenty offers a unique form of card advantage by providing a protective umbrella for other creatures and planeswalkers you control. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to remove your key pieces, essentially granting you an advantage without the need to draw extra cards.

Resource Acceleration: While Shalai doesn’t directly ramp your mana, her presence can allow for a smoother deployment of your resources. With Shalai on the battlefield, your creatures are less likely to be removed, thus preserving your board state and allowing you to accelerate your game plan effectively.

Instant Speed: Although Shalai herself is a creature and not an instant, her activated ability to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control can be activated at instant speed. This feature allows you to surprise your opponents during combat or in response to an effect that would otherwise damage or diminish your creatures’ presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Shalai, Voice of Plenty itself doesn’t require a discard, it does necessitate a deck design that can handle its four mana demand. If your strategy hinges on maintaining card advantage, incorporating Shalai into your gameplay might tighten your resources, especially in the early game where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Shalai’s casting cost requires not just four mana but includes a specific need for two green and two white mana. This can make it challenging for multicolored decks to reliably play Shalai on curve, especially in formats where mana fixing is less consistent.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana, Shalai may come into play too late against decks that aim to win quickly. Additionally, in a metagame filled with efficient removal spells, investing four mana in a creature that can be neutralized with a single, lower-cost spell is a risk that needs to be carefully weighed when building your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shalai, Voice of Plenty offers a dynamic ability to safeguard your other creatures and even yourself from targeted abilities or spells, making her a solid addition to a variety of decks—particularly those in need of a protective element against control tactics.

Combo Potential: With her capacity to grant counters to your entire team, Shalai synergizes brilliantly with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. Combining her with cards that proliferate or enhance creatures further increases the potency of your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where spot removal and targeted disruption are prevalent, Shalai’s hexproof granting ability establishes her as a key piece in fortifying your defenses and maintaining a resilient board state. Her relevance tiptoes into various formats, reinforcing her status as a staple in decks that seek to thrive amidst highly interactive games.


How to beat

Shalai, Voice of Plenty stands out in the captivating universe of Magic: The Gathering as a formidable protective force. With the capability to provide hexproof to you and your other creatures, it creates a substantial shield against targeted effects. To overcome this guardian, a shift of tactics is crucial. Sweepers like Wrath of God bypass hexproof by not targeting specific creatures, thus offering a clean slate.

Removal spells that don’t specify targets, such as Settle the Wreckage, can also navigate around Shalai’s defenses effectively. In addition, if you can manipulate your opponent into tapping Shalai for its ability, you could then employ point removal during that window of opportunity. Bypassing Shalai’s barrier may require a combination of timing, strategic execution, and the right choice of non-targeted spells to tilt the game back into your favor.

As such, overcoming the challenge Shalai presents lies in a player’s ability to recognize the right moment to strike and utilizing the vast array of global removal tools available in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal. Recognizing these moments and employing efficient strategies can turn the tide of battle against this angelic protector.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embark on a deeper exploration of MTG strategy by understanding the indispensable role of Shalai, Voice of Plenty in your decks. With her ability to provide a safeguard for your valuable creatures and planeswalkers, she’s a game-changer in protecting your resources and tipping the scales in your favor. Whether you’re tweaking your deck to fend off targeted threats or enhancing your board state with her versatile abilities, Shalai can be a pivotal addition. Dive into the nuances of deck-building and the synergies that make Shalai a must-have. Enhance your MTG collection and fortify your strategy by learning more about how to optimize the use of this powerful card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shalai, Voice of Plenty MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Dominaria Promos, 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 Shalai, Voice of Plenty and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shalai, Voice of Plenty Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-04-27DominariaDOM 352015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
22018-04-27Dominaria PromosPDOM 35p2015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
32018-04-27Dominaria PromosPDOM 35s2015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 2442015NormalBorderlessErnanda Souza
52023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 742015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shalai, Voice of Plenty has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal