Ledger Shredder 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
Flying Whenever a player casts their second spell each turn, this creature connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Complete guide
Ledger Shredder is a powerful Bird Advisor that excels at filtering your hand and growing into a massive threat. It rewards players for casting multiple spells, making it a cornerstone in strategies that value efficiency and card selection. Whether you are the one double-casting or your opponent is, this creature is always ready to work.
What It Does
Ledger Shredder has Flying and a triggered ability called Connive. This ability triggers whenever any player casts their second spell during a single turn. When it connives, you draw a card and then discard a card; if the discarded card was a nonland card, Ledger Shredder receives a +1/+1 counter.
How It Resolves
First, the game tracks how many spells a player has cast in a turn. When a player casts their second spell, the ability goes on the stack. Once it begins resolving, you draw and discard as a single action. Opponents cannot interrupt the process to remove the creature after they see what you discard but before the counter is placed. If the creature leaves the battlefield while the ability is on the stack, you still draw and discard, though no counter can be placed.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is forgetting that Ledger Shredder counts itself if it was the first spell you cast that turn. Also, remember that it triggers off of your opponents' second spells, not just your own. Lastly, if your hand is empty and an effect prevents you from drawing, you won't discard a card, and thus the creature will not receive a +1/+1 counter.
When to Play It
This card is best utilized in decks with low mana costs or cost-reduction effects that make casting two spells in one turn easy. It is particularly effective against 'storm' or 'spellslinging' decks that rely on casting many spells, as it will trigger on every one of their turns where they cast at least two spells.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you cast Ledger Shredder as your first spell of the turn, it is now on the battlefield. When you subsequently cast Ornithopter of Paradise, that is your second spell of the turn. This triggers Ledger Shredder, allowing it to connive immediately.
Foundry InspectorWith Foundry Inspector already on the battlefield, your artifact spells cost {1} less. You cast Ledger Shredder for {1}{U} as your first spell. Then, you cast Ornithopter of Paradise for {0} as your second spell. This efficiently triggers the connive ability for no additional mana, letting you filter your deck and grow the Shredder.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ledger Shredder
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Spells that were cast before Ledger Shredder entered the battlefield count. If Ledger Shredder was the first spell you cast this turn, the next spell you cast this turn is your second spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Don't play with this card near any important paperwork. We can't take responsibility for what happens.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If no card is discarded, most likely because that player's hand is empty and an effect says they can't draw cards, the conniving creature does not receive a +1/+1 counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. If you discard a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything. Abilities that trigger “when [that creature] connives” will trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Ledger Shredder
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.