Horrid Shadowspinner 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
Lifelink Whenever this creature attacks, you may draw cards equal to its power. If you do, discard that many cards.
Complete guide
Horrid Shadowspinner is a versatile Dimir Horror that provides both life total stabilization and aggressive hand filtering. Its ability to churn through your deck makes it a powerful engine for finding key answers or filling your graveyard while maintaining pressure on the battlefield.
Sifting Through Darkness
The core mechanic of Horrid Shadowspinner is its attack trigger. When it attacks, you have the option to draw a number of cards equal to its power; however, this is a 'loot' effect on a large scale, requiring you to discard the same number of cards immediately afterward. Because it has Lifelink, it also ensures that any damage it deals results in a health cushion for you.
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, declare Horrid Shadowspinner as an attacker. This puts its triggered ability on the stack. When the ability resolves, you check the Shadowspinner's current power. You then choose whether to draw that many cards. If you choose to draw, you must then discard an equal number of cards. The number of cards discarded is locked to the power at the time the choice was made, even if an external effect modified the number of cards actually drawn.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming you can draw the cards and then wait to discard until your second main phase. The draw and discard happen as part of the same resolution; you cannot cast spells or activate non-mana abilities between drawing and discarding. Additionally, if Horrid Shadowspinner leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, use its last known power to determine how many cards are drawn and discarded.
Strategic Timing
Play Horrid Shadowspinner when you have redundant cards in hand or need to find specific combo pieces. Since the ability triggers on attack, it is most effective when you can safely send it into combat. It pairs exceptionally well with effects that trigger when you draw or discard cards, as it can trigger those effects multiple times in a single turn.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf Roaming Throne is on the battlefield with 'Horror' chosen as the type, Horrid Shadowspinner's ability triggers twice when it attacks. You will resolve the first trigger to draw and discard cards equal to its power, and then resolve the second trigger to do it again, allowing you to dig significantly deeper into your library.
If Horrid Shadowspinner attacks as a 2/3 creature, its ability triggers. Upon resolution, you may draw two cards. If you do, you must then discard two cards. This allows you to keep the best cards in your hand while fueling graveyard strategies.
Solemn SimulacrumWhile attacking with Horrid Shadowspinner allows you to filter your hand, you might discard Solemn Simulacrum to set up for a reanimation spell. If Solemn Simulacrum was already on the battlefield and dies during the same combat, you can stack your triggers to draw a card from its death, potentially giving you more options to discard when the Shadowspinner's ability resolves.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Horrid Shadowspinner
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The number of cards you discard is equal to Horrid Shadowspinner's power at the time you chose to draw cards, even if another effect changed the number of cards you drew or in the unusual case where Horrid Shadowspinner's power has changed since you chose to draw cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Horrid Shadowspinner
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.