Loan Shark 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
When this creature enters, if you've cast two or more spells this turn, draw a card. Plot(You may pay
Complete guide
Loan Shark is a clever Shark Rogue that rewards you for chaining spells together in a single turn. By utilizing its Plot ability, you can set up powerful plays that replace the card in your hand for free later in the game.
What it Does
Loan Shark features a triggered ability that checks how many spells you have cast during the current turn. If you have cast at least two spells, you draw a card. Crucially, the Loan Shark spell itself counts toward this total. It also has Plot, a mechanic that lets you pay its cost upfront to exile it and cast it for free on a future turn.
How it Resolves Step by Step
First, you must cast Loan Shark, either from your hand or from exile if it was previously plotted. When it enters the battlefield, the game checks the total number of spells you cast this turn. If that number is two or more, the 'enters' ability is put onto the stack. When the ability resolves, you draw a card. If you haven't cast another spell before Loan Shark entered, the ability will not trigger at all.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is trying to cast Loan Shark on the same turn you Plot it; however, the rules state you must wait until a later turn. Additionally, remember that Plotting is a special action that doesn't use the stack, so your opponent cannot discard it from your hand in response to you paying the Plot cost. Finally, don't forget that countered spells still count toward your total spells cast for the turn!
When to Play it
The best time to cast Loan Shark is when you have already cast a cheap spell earlier in the turn to ensure you get the card draw. Alternatively, Plotting it on turn four allows you to cast it for free on turn five, leaving all your mana open to cast a second spell first, guaranteeing the trigger.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Shark' or 'Rogue' chosen, Loan Shark's ability will trigger an additional time. If you have cast two spells this turn, you will draw two cards instead of one when Loan Shark enters.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have Loan Shark already plotted in exile, you can cast Solemn Simulacrum during your main phase. After the Golem resolves, you can then cast Loan Shark for free. Since Loan Shark is the second spell you cast this turn, its ability triggers and you draw a card.
PlotWhen you pay the Plot cost for Loan Shark, it is placed into exile. You cannot cast it until a future turn. When you do cast it from exile, it follows the same timing rules as a sorcery, meaning the stack must be empty during your main phase.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Loan Shark
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Loan Shark’s triggered ability will count any spells you’ve cast this turn, which may include Loan Shark itself. It doesn’t matter if the other spells resolved, didn’t resolve, were countered, or are still on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Plot abilities are written “Plot [cost],” which means “Any time you have priority during your main phase while the stack is empty, you may pay [cost] and exile this card from your hand. It becomes plotted.”
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Exiling a card using its plot ability is a special action. Once you announce you’re taking that action, no other player can respond by trying to remove that card from your hand.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t cast a plotted card on the same turn it became plotted. On any future turn, you may cast that card from exile without paying its mana cost during your main phase while the stack is empty.
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If you’re casting a plotted card from exile without paying its mana cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any other alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the plotted card has any mandatory additional costs, those must still be paid to cast the spell.
Card named in this ruling
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a plotted card has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.Card named in this ruling
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Meta decks with Loan Shark
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.