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Magic: The Gathering Card Comments Archive

Skinshifter

Multiverse ID: 220151

Skinshifter

Comments (78)

SirMalkin
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0) (7 votes)
Very versatile indeed, both offensively and defensively.
Tigerguy786
★★☆☆☆ (2.6/5.0) (5 votes)
I feel like this could be the key piece to green aggro...

Even if he wasn't, this is the swiss army knife of green creatures. I want a few.
alucard311
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
seems good, even if they can shock it in response to your payment of mana. seems like a Useful version of Gigantomancer.
Kyzar
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0) (3 votes)
awesome
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0) (22 votes)
Nicholas Cage Shapeshiftin Like A CrackHead Dragon Bro Str8 BEAST MODE!!!!!
hugemanatee
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
It pleases me to see this card get so many positive reviews. I looked at it during all the card previews and I was thinking to myself...everyone should want this
WateryMind
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0) (3 votes)
Pretty damn good, to be honest.

4.5/5
Lyoncet
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very fun and very flavorful with good power, all while being competitively priced? Sounds good!
Stray_Dog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0) (2 votes)
"I'm a tipi, I'm a wigwam, I'm a tipi, I'm a wigwam..."

In a sense, this is how green can do copy/shapeshifting effects.

And well, a 4/4 with trample attacking on turn three is raw power.

Hayw00d0909
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0) (18 votes)
Definetly Nicholas Cage.
Cyberium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Even with the last line this shaman is very hard to kill. Shifting into a Rhino or a wall would give it enough toughness to survive most combat and burn. Enchant him, equip him, and suddenly he becomes a force to be recognized.
Deco_y
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Most flexible card in standard.

5/5
Arachibutyrophobia
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
I get that it can turn into a Stampeding Rhino, but I'm not sure what the bird or plant is.

Love this card, so flavorful. so versatile. 4.5/5
Mid_Squad
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0) (17 votes)
To bad it can't turn into ghost rider...

This card should be fun to play. The only thing I'm worried about is my opponent playing something like Doom Blade on it. I don't want to play it only to have it gone in sixty seconds.
sonorhC
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Note that "once each turn" includes your opponent's turns.
2pcsofcandy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Time to make a Power Rangers deck.
ZEvilMustache
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I want to put counters and auras all over him. bliss.
auriscope
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
@OmegaSerris: Why would it matter? You swing with him vanilla, then you shapeshift him depending how they block. Stacked combat damage would have made this insane, but that was done away with a while ago.
OmegaSerris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh, it was so close... The last line is a death sentence to this card. :-( Of course, it probably would have cost like 3GreenGreen without it. They were playing it safe because of the horror that was Figure of Destiny.

Tap, make him a 2/2 Bird, wait for blockers, pop him into rhino. Or swing with rhino, they block with 2+ creatures, pop plant and save him. Oh and First Strike would have been amazing with him. He'd effectively be a 4/8 for GreenGreen a turn. So much lost potential...

@auriscope
If it doesn't matter, why would they go out of their way to add those words to the end? Seems like R&D either foresaw what I saw when I first looked at it, or it was added after internal play testing. Your example makes bird mode useless. If you wait until they declare blockers to change him, then he is blocked, flying or not. Flying (unblockable, landwalk, etc) ONLY matters during the declare blockers step. Jumping a blocked creature doesn't magically make him unblocked. Just like Doom Bladeing the blocking creature doesn't unblock it. A Blocked creature is a blocked creature is a blocked creature.

Maybe I wasn't clear, it isn't a BAD card as it is, just meh. As it is, the ability is just a gimmick. It's more or less vanilla once the ability is used.
tcollins
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0) (4 votes)
Of all the cards that SHOULD have the shapeshifter subtype, i mean half the type is in his name!
Shadoflaam
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0) (5 votes)
Boss at the prerelease, gonna build a casual beatdown deck around it! 4.5/5
ivanescalante
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0) (5 votes)
This guy is MANIMAL!!! ahahaha...
wait, I'm too old to remmeber that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVQoHc-KHf4
God_Of_The_Smurfs
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0) (5 votes)
Fantastic card. You swing with a vanilla 1/1. Then, based on how they block, you can alter the little dude to best suit the situation. 5/5, an absolute powerhouse.
GrimjawxRULES
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0) (2 votes)
I don't know. This feels overrated, but I guess time will tell.
TherealphatMatt
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0) (6 votes)
Not just good. But fun. I love this kind of card.
Radagast
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0) (4 votes)
Flexible and interesting - and he can turn into a green flyer, which is very unusual. Good card!
Kryptnyt
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0) (2 votes)
"I WANT THAT CAKE!"
AngelPhoenix
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Oh my GOD is is Nick Cage...lol wtf.

Love this card, will be espcially resistant to minus spells as you can change to 0/8 plant on the fly. That's actually my favorite form. Doesn't say he's a wall. Shouldn't be too hard to find ways to beef up his offense to a good level, making him a solid creature sweeper, and extremely hard to take down in combat.
ChildOfPrometheus
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0) (4 votes)
My favorite card of the set. Not the best, but my favorite.
Cheza
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0) (3 votes)
Welcome WARCRAFT. It combines a "Druid of the Claw" and a "Druid of the Talon".
Within M12, I would have enjoyed to see a Spider transformation.

@ tcollins:
>>> Of all the cards that SHOULD have the shapeshifter subtype, i mean half the type is in his name! <<<
In Magic, shapeshifter is a race and not a class.
NeoKoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like how versatile he is. I don't know if I'll use him, but he's fun.
theis999
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0) (3 votes)
Trick: At the beginning of your opponent's end step, make him a flyer. Then attack with him during your own attack step (when that comes) and post blocking make him a 4/4.

Btw, doran quite like his wall-ish form.
Mortipede
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wow, Wizards made card based on my IRL appearance
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is soooo awesome...I thought it would be, like, at least constructed quality, until I saw the "once per turn" clause...but still, it is a very versatile concept, and I really wanna pull one of these
Ouroborobelisk
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0) (1 vote)
I know why they didn't make his first form as a 4/4 beast, but why a rhino? Are elephants that strong of a tribe?
Gelzo
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0) (4 votes)
The consensus seems to be that this guys is Nic Cage. I've opened two in packs so far. Maybe I should make a Nic Cage deck.

/point to Stuffy Doll

"HOW'D IT GET BURNED? HOW'D IT GET BURNED HOW'D IT GET BURNED?!"

"NOT THE BEES! AAAAAAAH!"

"KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GODDAMN DROP OF HONEY!"
kanguilla
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0) (8 votes)
"There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history."
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's not quite Tarmogoyf, but in today's constructed climate, he's pretty close. People played Putrid Leech as a 4/4 for 2; there's no reason they won't play Skinshifter (yeah, he requires a mana investment, but he's also a lot more versatile).

While I don't know what devastating T2 plays there'll be in Innistrad, it's feasible to be able to drop this guy turn 2, tapping out in UG, then on turn 3 swinging for 4 with Mana Leak mana available, and continuing this sort of trend on subsequent turns.
Dr.Pingas
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
I really wish there was a Druid counterpart to him; I really feel like Shamans are waaaay more supported of a creature-type than most people realize.
That aside, i really, REALLY like this bro, and I want some. I want some BAD.
djflo
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0) (2 votes)
The best thing about him is that he's a 4/4 trampler attacking on turn 3, with enough mana left to do something else.
Later on, when a 4/4 might not be relevant except as a chump blocker (though that's relatively rare) it turns into a bird when you have a spare mana to keep pressure on the opponent.
Finally, the plant form is not as good for dodging burn and -1/-1 spells as you'd think, because they'll wait for you to change him then hit you (you can only activate the ability once). Still, can be good in a long game when you just need to stop a threat.
LostNephini
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0) (4 votes)
So a ruling question .. In your end of turn step, I use his 2/2 ability and give him flying. Lasts until end of my turn of course, no problem with that. But then for the trickies in my turn I use his 4/4 ability and he gains trample. No problem there either, only there's nothing that says he loses flying .. So he's 4/4 flying trample until the end of my turn right?
SorianSadaskan
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
I believe the greatest asset he offers to you is that he can shapeshift at anytime. And he has multiple purpose as a creature, an attacker, fly, or a defender, which is etirely up to you depending in your position of play
The_USAgent
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0) (3 votes)
Wonder Twin Powers Activate!
Form of a Rhino!
Form of a Plant!
...a Plant?
Yeah... a Plant?
Ok... Thats... Ummmm... Yeah
Hylebos
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0) (3 votes)
I managed to pull a foil copy of this card during the Magic Celebration today (Yay Free Cards!). I know for sure he is going straight into my Doran, the Siege Tower EDH Deck that I've been making. I'm so happy that his plant form doesn't have defender, can't wait to be swinging with what is essentially an 8/8 for two mana.
AlbinoSnowman
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0) (3 votes)
I just pulled him at the Magic Celebration...damn. Play him turn two and wreck with a 4/4 trampler for a few turns, then if you haven't won and overstay your welcome you can use him as a...that's right 0/8 blocker. Of course it helped that I had a Rune-Scarred Demon to finish with, but yeah. 5 out of 5. I loved him with Goblin Tunneler.
Keiya
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0) (24 votes)
Nicolas Cage thought these disguises would help him hide from the bees.
NecroticNobody
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0) (5 votes)
This guy is actually Roger the Shrubber, as explained in this card of the day;

Card of the Day - Friday, August 19, 2011

AWOL – Unhinged common. This week's secret Card of the Day theme has been references to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Skinshifter looks a lot like Roger the Shrubber, Angus Mackenzie is a dead ringer for Tim the Enchanter, Master of the Wild Hunt makes an acceptable Knight Who Says Ni, and Sol Grail stands for itself. And today, we close out with Sir Not-appearing-in-this-film.

Sorry to break it to you, Nicholas Cage fans.
Tiggurix
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
The third form could actually be quite useful in Banding decks especially, along with the two others.
blink182zombies
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Even if the plant form had defender, you'd just switch it into a plant after you already declare it an attacker. I wish this card could transform more than once a turn. Maybe have a form that protects it from spells. Still a very cool card though.
luca_barelli
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Hm, I'm surprised that this hasn't been making much of a splash in standard. One thing's for sure, though, this card's a beating in limited.
Hanksingle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've got this feeling people are skipping the 'until end of turn' bit - it's still fun, and versatile, but not quite as much so as everyone seems to think.
Hackworthy
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0) (3 votes)
The most poetic answer to Skinrender.
Cetriel
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0) (1 vote)
A very nice card for sure. What I think some people seem to be forgetting though (unless the rules have changed in the past few years that I have been dealing with life too much to play) is that 1. at the end of turn it becomes a 1/1 creature again meaning if it has a -1/1- counter on it it will be killed as soon as the turn ends. 2. by the same token if it is dealt damage that damage does not go away until the beginning of your next turn therefore yet again killing this creature. This is the only downside I see from this card.
myztikrice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ Cetriel

Yes that's how 1/1s work, thank you.
MMT
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Cetriel

Damage actually fades at the end of the turn, at the same time Skinshifter goes back to being a 1/1.
DoragonShinzui
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
I almost think he should've been a Human Shaman Shapeshifter. Oh well, he's pretty good as is, and a lot of fun.
MrFluffyThing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Cetriel

Wrong on #2: During the cleanup step, all "until end of turn" and damage dealt are removed simulatneously. If he's dealt damage, it won't kill him.

514.2. Second, the following actions happen simultaneously: all damage marked on permanents (including phased-out permanents) is removed and all "until end of turn" and "this turn" effects end. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
SpliffWizard
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I need four skinshifters
Slavii
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0) (2 votes)
I have a question about the rules regarding this card (Skinshifter).

More specifically, Soulbond. If I have Skinshifter out on the field and then I play a creature like Wolfir Silverheart and pair Wolfir with Skinshifter, Skinshifter receives a +4/+4 counter. Then if I transform Skinshifter into one of his three forms, would the new form retain the Soulbond and the +4/+4 counter?

Thank you.
KnexWiz
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0) (4 votes)
I have a question about the rules regarding this card (Skinshifter).

More specifically, Soulbond. If I have Skinshifter out on the field and then I play a creature like Wolfir Silverheart and pair Wolfir with Skinshifter, Skinshifter receives a +4/+4 counter. Then if I transform Skinshifter into one of his three forms, would the new form retain the Soulbond and the +4/+4 counter?

Thank you. -Slavii


First off, there are no counters with Wolfir Silverheart, i know what you mean but your wording was bothering me.
yes his ability doesn't cause any thing to change control or location of skinshifter so soulbound, +1/+1 counters, or auras conected to him don't change, also when you use his ablity your only changing the number at the botom of the card so any additions (or reductions) to his power/toughness go on top of his new stats so yes with Wolfir Silverheart he can either be a 5/5 human shaman, 8/8 rhino with trample, 6/6 bird with flying, or a 4/12 plant

your welcome.
dlgn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Art is unspeakably wonderful. That plus an amusing and useful ability gets him 5/5 from me.
scolheep
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0) (1 vote)
when skinshifter changes does he ever leave play or is his ability strictly changing only his power/toughness and creature type?

like when he turns into a 4/4 rhino then back to a 1/1 human shaman, would that have any effect on abilities that activate when a creature enters the battlefield?
Guest1381794618
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0) (1 vote)
Man, I'm gonna miss this guy when he rotates. He's such a fantastic 2 drop, just in his versatility. Of course if he didn't have the once per turn clause he'd be Superman good, but that's just my particular daydream.

At any rate, stuff Skinshifter loves:
Wolfir Silverheart
Increasing Savagery
Sword of Whatever
and my personal favorite,Batterskull
alextfish
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Just to correct a couple of misunderstandings: Damage on this guy goes away at precisely the same time his shapechanging ends. So if as a 0/8 he takes 7 damage, then the turn ends, he'll go from "a 0/8 with 7 damage" to "a 1/1 with no damage". He won't die from the damage. (He would die if there was a -1/-1 counter on him though.)

Also, his ability doesn't last until "the beginning of the next end step", but until the end of the current turn (i.e. the cleanup step). So activating him in the end step doesn't do much; it doesn't let the ability carry forward to the next turn.

That said, there is one great way to use his abilities to make him a 4/4 flying trampler: Rings of Brighthearth! (Okay, fine, it just accomplishes the same as Flight would. But I'm circumventing the once-per-turn restriction! Just call me Johnny-Melvin.)
Arachnos
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
Three creatures in one, and every single one of those creatures is almost worth his 2 CMC on its own.
Layk
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0) (2 votes)
*salivates* SO FLAVORFUL!!!!!!!!!!!
WhiteWizard42
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0) (5 votes)
Alextfish: "That said, there is one great way to use his abilities to make him a 4/4 flying trampler: Rings of Brighthearth!"

Nope. It's a modal ability, you choose which it is on activation. And if you copy it, just like copying Cryptic Command or some kind of Charm, you copy the choice of mode. So he would just become a 4/4 trampler twice.
Thornhillforge
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Tree powers, activate!
*pop*
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wish he could change multiple times, mostly for the image of a man turning into a bird to hop over his enemies then falling back to earth as a rhino to hit the planeswalker; or a knight charging into a plant, lance and all, then the plant turns into a rhino-man and crushes him.

One can dream.
evenblackerlotus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
looks a lot like thomas lennon the cop with the short shorts from reno 911
patronofthesound
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well hullo Green Deck Wins.

Was insane in its standard, used it to great effect with captive and mayor of avabruck in a wg weenie build. Often it was easy to win with shifter alone, because no one was expecting beatstick aggro that quick ca. the time this came out. Taking a temporary 1 turn hit to your curve is very worth it for a 4/4 trampling 2 drop.

Unspeakably awesome foil, btw
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Really cool card. Obviously not tarmagoyf power level, but being a 2 drop that can be a 4/4 trample could have hit some formats. I really like his abilities. He is a really well-designed card. 5/5
Xineombine
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Combat tricks incarnate!
5/5
Fiery_Artificer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love his options! He Looks WAYY TO MUCH like Joe Lo Truglio though! Seriously, go look it up.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Doran. Have fun with your 8/8 for 2.
Goatllama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That face just screams "Why yes, I do play me some D&D."