Voracious Greatshark MTG Card


Voracious Greatshark offers tactical board control and counters creatures or artifacts at instant speed. Specific blue mana demands limit deck versatility but provide strong mid-game presence and momentum. Its role is pivotal in current metagames, making it a worthwhile addition to blue-themed collections.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Shark
Abilities Flash
Power 5
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flash When Voracious Greatshark enters the battlefield, counter target artifact or creature spell.


Cards like Voracious Greatshark

Voracious Greatshark makes a splash in the world of MTG counter-creature cards. When you stack it against similar cards, say, Mystic Snake, the shark offers a steeper mana cost coming in at five total mana. Unlike the snake which can counter any spell, the Greatshark specializes in sinking creatures and artifacts as they surface on the stack. What’s more, its 5/4 stats make it a formidable presence once on the battlefield.

Then you’ve got Glen Elendra Archmage, another creature with a knack for countering, only wielding the power on noncreature spells. It’s less expensive with a four-mana cost and comes with persist, allowing it to return after its first foray into combat. However, the Archmage’s 2/2 body is significantly weaker compared to our shark friend’s robust build. Further in the depths is Plaxmanta, a creature with a surprise edge—shielding your sea of creatures from spells for a turn with a swift flash ability, albeit with a less impactful 2/2 presence and no permanent counter capability.

The Voracious Greatshark swims ahead with its solid build and tailored countering ability, setting a high watermark in the creature control category in MTG, particularly for players ready to invest in its mana demands for a more substantial board presence.

Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Plaxmanta - MTG Card versions
Mystic Snake - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Plaxmanta - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

When discussing the attributes that set the Voracious Greatshark apart in MTG, it’s essential to delve into the key aspects that make it a valuable addition to many blue decks. Not only does it deliver on versatility, but it also provides tactical advantages that are hard to ignore.

Card Advantage: The Voracious Greatshark does not directly offer card draw but presents a strategic form of card advantage by selectively countering your opponent’s creatures or artifacts that are cast with a mana value of 4 or less. This allows you to disrupt opponent strategies and maintain control over the board, providing advantage through quality rather than quantity of cards.

Resource Acceleration: Though the Greatshark doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its presence on the battlefield as a 5/4 creature for five mana can put immense pressure on your opponent. This aligns with the concept of tempo acceleration, where you advance your board state faster than your opponent can manage, often leading them to exhaust their resources more rapidly.

Instant Speed: The true power of Voracious Greatshark lies in its ability to be played at instant speed. This feature allows savvy players to keep mana available for responses on the opponent’s turn, and if no immediate threats surface, deploying a substantial creature at the end of the turn can swing the momentum in your favor.

With these factors in mind, Voracious Greatshark is not simply a sea creature but a strategic play that can dictate the ebb and flow of a match, offering you the chance to make a decisive, shark-sized impact on the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Voracious Greatshark lacks any discard mechanics, often a strategic element in blue control decks for card advantage and graveyard synergy.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of three generic and two blue mana can be restrictive, as it requires a heavy commitment to blue resources, potentially limiting deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of five mana, players might find the cost steep for a 5/4 body, even with its counter ability, especially in a format where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Voracious Greatshark serves as a potent force in blue-based control and midrange decks, capable of disrupting opponents by countering artifact or creature spells when it enters the battlefield. Its instant-speed interaction makes it flexible in various game states.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with flash strategies and enhances decks that leverage creature-based combos or effects triggered by creature spells. It’s an enabler for surprise plays and a formidable tool in a player’s arsenal.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment that’s rich with creature and artifact spells, Voracious Greatshark maintains a high level of relevance. Its ability to selectively counter key spells while providing a threatening body makes it a card to consider for keeping pace in the current metagame.


How to Beat Voracious Greatshark

Voracious Greatshark presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield. Its flash ability allows it to surprise opponents, while its creature countering capability disrupts well-laid plans. But every leviathan has its weakness, and this shark is no exception. To tip the scales in your favor, consider using spells that can’t be countered. Cards like Prowling Serpopard or spells with the “can’t be countered” clause are valuable assets. Additionally, instant-speed removal can take care of the Greatshark after it hits the board but before it can affect the game’s outcome.

Deploying creatures with hexproof or shroud ensures they slide past the Greatshark’s jaws unscathed. Remember, Voracious Greatshark can only counter creature spells, so non-creature strategies can also effectively navigate around it. Direct damage spells, enchantments, and planeswalkers remain untouched by its abilities. Strategic timing can also play a crucial role. If you can bait the shark out on your terms, you can plan your moves knowing that the path is clear of the deep sea predator. With the right cards and careful play, you’ll be sailing smooth waters, leaving the Voracious Greatshark behind.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the MTG battlefield with the Voracious Greatshark as your secret weapon. Its strategic value in controlling the flow of play cannot be overstated, making it a prized catch for any aspiring blue deck commander. While it may not pump out extra cards or accelerate your resources, this instant-speed leviathan brings a form of tactical dominance that can tip the scales in your favor. Got a penchant for timing and surprise moves? Embrace the Voracious Greatshark’s ability to disrupt and intimidate. Discover more strategies and strengthen your deck by clicking to learn how this card can be a game-changer in your collection.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Voracious Greatshark MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Voracious Greatshark and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Voracious Greatshark Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 808732015NormalBlackMathias Kollros
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3202015NormalBlackMathias Kollros
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 70s2015NormalBlackMathias Kollros
42020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 70p2015NormalBlackMathias Kollros
52020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 702015NormalBlackMathias Kollros
62022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 9162015NormalBlackMathias Kollros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Voracious Greatshark has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 You can cast Voracious Greatshark without a target for its enters-the-battlefield triggered ability. That ability will simply not happen. It won’t cause Voracious Greatshark to counter itself. It’s not that hungry.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.