Evernight Shade is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Complete guide
Evernight Shade is a resilient threat that perfectly captures the flavor of a lingering shadow. With the ability to pump itself up and return from the grave via Undying, it represents a difficult obstacle for any opponent to permanently remove. Understanding how its activated ability interacts with its triggered ability is key to mastering this card.
Scaling Power and Resilience
Evernight Shade features two distinct abilities: an activated pump ability and the Undying keyword. For just one black mana, you can increase its power and toughness by +1/+1 until the end of the turn. Crucially, the Undying ability ensures that if this creature dies while it has no +1/+1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield immediately with a +1/+1 counter, effectively giving it a second life.
Resolution and Timing
When you activate the pump ability, it goes on the stack and, once resolved, increases the Shade's stats. This is not a counter. If the Shade is destroyed later that turn, the game checks if it had any +1/+1 counters on it at the moment it left the battlefield. If it had no counters, Undying triggers. Upon resolution, the Shade returns to the battlefield as a new object, meaning previous temporary stat boosts from its activated ability will no longer apply.
Common Mistakes
A frequent point of confusion is the difference between the +1/+1 granted by the activated ability and the +1/+1 counter from Undying. The activated ability does not place a counter; therefore, pumping Evernight Shade ten times in a turn will not prevent Undying from triggering if it dies. However, once Undying has brought it back once, it will have a permanent +1/+1 counter. Unless you find a way to remove that specific counter, Undying will not trigger a second time.
Strategic Implementation
Evernight Shade is best used in decks that can generate large amounts of black mana to threaten lethal damage. Because it has Undying, it serves as an excellent blocker or sacrifice fodder, knowing it will return stronger. It is particularly effective against 'destroy' effects, though players should be wary of 'exile' effects which bypass Undying entirely.
Interaction examples
You control Evernight Shade with no counters. You spend three black mana to give it +3/+3. Your opponent plays a spell to destroy it. Because the +3/+3 was a temporary effect and not a counter, Undying triggers. Evernight Shade returns to the battlefield with a single +1/+1 counter on it.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Shade', Evernight Shade dies while having no +1/+1 counters. Roaming Throne causes the Undying ability to trigger an additional time. The first Undying trigger resolves, returning Evernight Shade to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter. The second trigger then resolves, but since the Shade is already on the battlefield, it does nothing.
Solemn SimulacrumIf an opponent uses a mass destruction spell while you control both creatures, you can order the triggers so that you draw a card from Solemn Simulacrum and return Evernight Shade to the battlefield via Undying. This allows you to maintain board presence while replenishing your hand.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Evernight Shade
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Evernight Shade's ability doesn't put +1/+1 counters on it; it just gives Evernight Shade +1/+1 until end of turn. If Evernight Shade has no +1/+1 counters on it and dies after its ability has resolved, undying will still return it to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Viscera Seer + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Viscera Seer ability.
- 4Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Viscera Seer ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Ashnod's Altar + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 4When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 5Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 6Repeat from step 3.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Carrion Feeder + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Carrion Feeder by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Carrion Feeder ability.
- 4Activate Carrion Feeder by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Carrion Feeder ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Umbral Collar Zealot + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Umbral Collar Zealot ability.
- 4Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Umbral Collar Zealot ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Bartolomé del Presidio + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Bartolomé del Presidio by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Bartolomé del Presidio ability.
- 4Activate Bartolomé del Presidio by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Bartolomé del Presidio ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Phyrexian Altar + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 4When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 5Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 6Repeat from step 3.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Woe Strider + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Woe Strider by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Woe Strider ability.
- 4Activate Woe Strider by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Woe Strider ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Altar of Dementia + Evernight Shade
- 1Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 2When Evernight Shade dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Resolve the Altar of Dementia ability.
- 4Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Evernight Shade
- 5When Evernight Shade dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 6Evernight Shade enters and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness. Its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Resolve the Altar of Dementia ability from step 4.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Evernight Shade
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.