By far one of the best evokers, if not the best, and a great card in general. I only wish he had flavour text.
silentbobus
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Just curious, but can he be played if no other creatures are in play? He can't target himself, and there would be no other non-black creatures.
ninetailedfox
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
yeah silent just target himself and it will fizzle for being an invalid target
bigrig69
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
If he was played with no other creatures in play he would come into play and the ability would go on the stack, it would find no valid target and fizzle (relevant for Horobi). If the destruction of a creature was an additional cost it wouldn't be playable.
madformedusa
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Everything about this card is awesome. I agree with 2pcsofcanday though, flavor text would be a definite bonus. (maybe we can hope for a reprint one day??)
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This card has a ridiculous amount of removal, with horde of notions you can replay it as many times as you want, and still evoke it if you don't have the mana in the first few turns. Paleoloth can bring it back also as long as you play 5 power creatures turning every thoctar into a 5/4 with a removal for 5 mana. It's not even a sacrifice effect you get to choose what you destroy. Anything that removes it from play temporarily would give you the effect extra times, such as ghostway. That you get a 3/2 creature with fear afterwards is only icing. It's only weakness is needing a target and being unable to kill a black creature.
Gezus82
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(5 votes)
this makes me dream of a future where terror is a keyword. just imagine if they introduce it by reprinting this:
Creature - elemental fear,terror (when this creature comes into play destroy target nonblack, nonartifact creature)
SeanD86
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
You use Incandescent Soulstoke's ability to cast this card, then champion it with Nova Chaser and then you can use the CIP effect a second time if Nova Chaser dies. Not to mention that you have managed to avoid the "Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step." part of Incandescent Soulstoke's ability
Mudbutt_on
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
If you can, get this in foil. It's such beautiful, beautiful destruction.
OpenSeasonNoobs
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
It's destro is FAR too specific for a 4.7. And 5 mana for a 3/4 fear + Terror? Not that amazing. More like a 3.7 than a 4.7. Sure, it's not bad, and there are a lot of great ways to combo it, but the card itself doesn't deserve a 4.7
GruesomeGoo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Terror on a stick?
More like Terror on a stick that also happens to beat face.
Great card, easiliy on par with Mulldrifter and the like.
blindthrall
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Strictly better than Bone Shredder. The art just rocks, I wish there was a version of magic that required familiars, this would be mine.
opinionfailure
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Actually this is not even close to a Terror on a stick, but I get what you're trying to say. See, Terror can be played as an instant on your opponent's turn, evoke can only be done as a socery. Also, Terror does not let the creature being destroyed to be regenerated, Shriekmaw does.
All that aside I really like this card. Fun to abuse with cards like Otherwordly Journey and Memory Blink. For increased fun, just add Mulldrifter and Tidehollow Sculler. Even Kitchen Finks and Murdurous Redcap could get in on the fun.
ratchet1215
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I actually kind of wish its power was 2 so I could Reveillark him. Reveillark is so busted.
OmegaSerris
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Maybe I'm wrong but I always pictured 'on a stick' cards being creatures with repeatable abilities. Like ": Tap target creature" and the 'stick' just meaning it was easily accessible.
That aside, there was a reason this thing was in nearly every tournament side deck that had black.
Axelle
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I look at this card. I think, "cool." Then I decide to look at more cards and click random card.
@OmegaSerris: Agreed, 'with legs' or thereabouts is a little more accurate.
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Nekrataal 2.0, with +1 P/T for 1 extra colourless (also easier to cast in 2/3 colour decks
Comparing both, Nekrataal is cheaper if you are mono black, and hes good on both offense and defense with first strike. Shriekmaw is better on offense because fear only works when its attacking. However it also comes with evoke, which allows you to Terror stuff should you really need it and also trigger CiP effects, saving you 1 card in the process
Which one to choose depends on whether you like to hit more with creatures or like to have a balance of offense and defense
4.5/5
axiobeta
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy and Mulldrifter are the best of the greater elementals. But Shriekmaw wins because it looks AMAZING in foil. Shriekmaw 4eva
Cactmoore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kills a creature, then kills your opponent (by attacking, I guess). I like it. The Evoke is a fun bonus. Comparable to Mulldrifter.
Paolino
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Comparing this with Bone Shredder: to destroy a creature is good; to destroy a creature and chump-block once is not bad!
N3wtn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's not often you see a fog-breathing Screech Owl/Butterfly/Salamander hybrid. Incredible art for a great card. Elementals like this are why I just had to make a Greater Elemental deck back when Lorwyn was released.
Comments (23)
I agree with 2pcsofcanday though, flavor text would be a definite bonus.
(maybe we can hope for a reprint one day??)
Creature - elemental
fear,terror (when this creature comes into play destroy target nonblack, nonartifact creature)
More like Terror on a stick that also happens to beat face.
Great card, easiliy on par with Mulldrifter and the like.
All that aside I really like this card. Fun to abuse with cards like Otherwordly Journey and Memory Blink. For increased fun, just add Mulldrifter and Tidehollow Sculler. Even Kitchen Finks and Murdurous Redcap could get in on the fun.
That aside, there was a reason this thing was in nearly every tournament side deck that had black.
This is what I got.
Comparing both, Nekrataal is cheaper if you are mono black, and hes good on both offense and defense with first strike. Shriekmaw is better on offense because fear only works when its attacking. However it also comes with evoke, which allows you to Terror stuff should you really need it and also trigger CiP effects, saving you 1 card in the process
Which one to choose depends on whether you like to hit more with creatures or like to have a balance of offense and defense
4.5/5
But Shriekmaw wins because it looks AMAZING in foil. Shriekmaw 4eva