Shadow

Shadow is a keyword ability on creatures that serves as both an evasion ability and a blocking restriction. An attacking creature with shadow can only be blocked by a defending creature with shadow, and a defending creature with shadow can only block an attacking creature with shadow. It was first seen in the Tempest block, and was revisited in the Time Spiral block. Shadow is found on black, white and blue creatures, while a few red and green creatures are able to block shadow creatures. Aura Æther Web permits enchanted creature block creatures with shadow as though they didn't have shadow.

From the Comprehensive Rules

• 702.26. Shadow
  • 702.26a Shadow is an evasion ability.
  • 702.26b A creature with shadow can’t be blocked by creatures without shadow, and a creature without shadow can’t be blocked by creatures with shadow. (See rule 509, “Declare Blockers Step.”)
  • 702.26c Multiple instances of shadow on the same creature are redundant.

Rulings

• It is possible for Banding to result in a Shadow creature blocking or being blocked by a non-Shadow creature. This is legal.

Example

Dauthi Marauder - Creature — Dauthi Minion 3/1 Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Color percentages

There is a total of 54 cards that involve shadow, which divide by color as such:

• Black = 33 %
• White = 26 %
• Blue = 24 %
• Green = 6 %
• Red = 6 %
• Multicolor = 2 %
• Artifact = 2 %
• Land = 2 %

Creature type

• The creature subtype Shadow became Spirit in the Grand Creature Type Update (Nether Shadow).

Cards that grant Shadow

Enchantments

target creature

• Temporal Isolation
• Dauthi Embrace

Instant

• Shadow Rift
• Traitor's Clutch

External links

• http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/36217225332/you-gave-shadow-a-pretty-high-number-on-the-storm

Contributors

Binary, Faceless Wanderer, GWiZ665, GeoMike, Hunter61, Loot Niptil, Magic Mage, Silver Surfer, Unistardust