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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day


Image from Wizards.com

Shining Shoal 
Betrayers of Kamigawa


Reviewed February  2, 2005

Constructed: 3.40
Casual: 3.10
Limited: 4.10

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all our 
Card of the Day Reviews 


Scott
Gerhardt

Shining Shoal:

I'll keep this short and sweet. WotC once again proved they are brewing home grown crack. This card is stupid good in almost any environment. There is no way I would not play this card in type 2 or block if I was playing white, and I wonder if it's not Extended amazingness as well. Redirecting damage from anywhere, to anywhere, while tapped out is SOOOOOOOO sick.

In limited, it might be evern better if you can imagine that. A game swinger all the way!

Constructed: 5 (can I give it higher?)
Limited: 5 (can I give it higher?)


Jeff Zandi

5 Time Pro Tour
Veteran

Shining Shoal

Card advantage is king in the current limited environment, and Shining Shoal gives you two different ways to achieve it. Whether you pay this card's casting cost of XWW or whether you sneakily throw away a white card to pay its alternate casting cost, Shining Shoal gives you the upper hand. He attacks, you block his 4/2 with your 2/2 and allow his 3/3 to come through unblocked. Before damage is dealt, you cast Shining Shoal to redirect the four damage that would be dealt to your creature to his unblocked 3/3. When the smoke clears, your creature is still alive and two of his have been destroyed. Without the alternate casting cost, this card would probably not be worth the time in the constructed realm. With the ability to play it when tapped out, Shining Shoal will more than likely pop up in some good constructed decks centered on a creature strategy.

CONSTRUCTED: 3.5
CASUAL: 4.0
LIMITED: 4.0

Ray "Monk"
Powers
* Level 3 DCI Judge
*DCI Tournament Organizer
Shining Shoal

The Shining Shoal is by far the trickiest shoal, and can be the most beneficial, acting not only as a damage prevention spell, but a redirect that can be used to kill another creature or even your opponent in the right situation. The cost is fine for it, and the ability to use it at an alternate casting cost is even better, but still, the card is unlikely to be used in anything other than limited play.

Constructed: 1
Casual: 2
Limited: 4


DeQuan
Watson

* game store owner (The Game Closet - Waco,TX)

 Shining Shoal - Wednesday

I'm split on this one, but I'd give it the nod toward the good category. The main reason is that it fits in several different decks. Even weenie decks can take advantage of this card. Many times you only need to prevent one or two damage to make a difference. Casual decks should be able to make plenty use of this card. I'd expect this to be a playable card in limited play as well.

Constructed: 3.5
Casual: 3
Limited: 3


Chris
Gerhardt

* game store owner
(Shuffle and Cut)

Shining Shoal

Wow - a VERY powerful card for white! Shining Shoal is limited only by your opponent's firepower and your cards in hand. But think of it this way. Your opponent thinks he is getting in the final blow against you, and you instead turn it on him and get the final blow in. The life swing could be major, or even final. It also has the ability to whack a creature instead. Shining is a nice, versatile card that fills in what white often lacks, some firepower. In limited, also a very strong card for white.

Constructed - 4
Casual - 3.5
Limited - 4.5
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