Shabraz, the Skyshark 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
Partner with Brallin, Skyshark Rider Flying Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz and you gain 1 life.: Target Human gains flying until end of turn.
Complete guide
Take to the skies with Shabraz, the Skyshark, a legendary Shark Bird that grows stronger with every card you draw. Combined with its partner, Brallin, this creature provides a powerful engine for card advantage and life gain in Jeskai colors. Whether you are soaring over blockers or healing from early aggression, Shabraz is a formidable airborne threat.
Growing the Shark
Shabraz features a triggered ability that rewards you for drawing cards. Every time a card enters your hand via a draw action, Shabraz receives a +1/+1 counter and you gain 1 life. Note that this only applies to effects that use the word 'draw'; effects that 'put a card into your hand' from your library do not trigger this ability.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you draw a card, Shabraz's ability is placed on the stack. First, you draw the card as part of your turn or a spell's effect. Next, the triggered ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, you simultaneously put a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz and gain 1 life. If Shabraz is removed from the battlefield while the ability is on the stack, you still gain the 1 life, though the counter cannot be placed.
Supporting Your Human Partners
Beyond its size, Shabraz has an activated ability for one hybrid White/Blue mana that grants a target Human flying until end of turn. This is designed to help its partner, Brallin, Skyshark Rider, bypass ground blockers to deal combat damage. This ability can be activated multiple times in a turn to help any number of Humans you control.
Common Mistakes
A common error is assuming 'Partner with' functions exactly like standard 'Partner'. When Shabraz enters the battlefield, you may search your library for Brallin, Skyshark Rider and put him into your hand. This is a specific search effect, not just a deck-building rule. Additionally, remember that Shabraz triggers once for each individual card drawn; if a spell says 'draw two cards', the ability triggers twice.
Interaction examples
Brallin, Skyshark RiderWith both on the battlefield, you can pay one hybrid White/Blue mana to give Brallin flying. Conversely, you can pay one Red mana to give Shabraz trample. This synergy ensures that both the Shark and the Human can push through damage effectively.
Solemn SimulacrumWhen Solemn Simulacrum dies, its ability triggers, allowing you to draw a card. This draw then triggers Shabraz, the Skyshark. You gain 1 life and put a +1/+1 counter on the Shark Bird, turning a defensive trade into a permanent buff.
Roaming ThroneIf Roaming Throne enters the battlefield and you choose 'Shark', Shabraz's draw trigger will trigger an additional time. Every card you draw will now result in two +1/+1 counters and 2 life gained, significantly accelerating your clock.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Shabraz, the Skyshark
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability causes you to put cards into your hand without specifically using the word "draw," it's not a card drawn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Shabraz's middle ability has you gain 1 life even if you can't put a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz, most likely because Shabraz has left the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Drogskol Reaver + Shabraz, the Skyshark
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Shabraz triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself and causing you to gain 1 life.
- 3Drogskol Reaver triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2 until your library is empty.
- 5In response to the final Shabraz trigger, remove a combo piece or win the game to avoid losing by drawing from an empty library.
Marina Vendrell's Grimoire + Shabraz, the Skyshark
- 1Cast Marina Vendrell's Grimoire by paying
. - 2When Marina Vendrell's Grimoire enters the battlefield, its first ability triggers, causing you to draw five cards.
- 3Shabraz triggers five times.
- 4Resolve the first Shabraz trigger, causing you to gain 1 life and put a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 5Marina Vendrell's Grimoire's second ability triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 6Shabraz triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and put a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 7Repeat from step 5.
Shabraz, the Skyshark + Lich's Mastery
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Shabraz triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself and causing you to gain 1 life.
- 3Lich's Mastery triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel + Shabraz, the Skyshark
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Shabraz triggers, causing you to gain life and put a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Niv-Mizzet triggers, causing you to pay 1 life to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Sensei's Divining Top + Shabraz, the Skyshark + Bolas's Citadel
- 1Activate Sense's Divining Top's second ability by tapping it, causing you to draw a card and put Sensei's Divining Top on top of your library from the battlefield.
- 2Shabraz triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and put a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz.
- 3Cast Sensei's Divining Top from the top of your library by paying 1 life.
- 4Repeat.
Ketramose, the New Dawn + Toluz, Clever Conductor + Shabraz, the Skyshark
- 1Move to your cleanup step, causing you to discard cards down to your maximum hand size.
- 2Toluz's second ability triggers for each card discarded.
- 3Resolve the first trigger, exiling the discarded card from your graveyard.
- 4Ketramose triggers, causing you to draw a card and lose 1 life.
- 5Shabraz triggers, causing you to gain 1 life and putting a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz.
- 6Repeat from step 2 if needed for each remaining trigger.
- 7Discard down to your maximum hand size again, as you are still in your cleanup step.
- 8Repeat.
Sphinx of the Revelation + Mind Over Matter + Shabraz, the Skyshark
- 1Activate Sphinx of the Revelation by paying
, tapping it and paying at least 
, causing you to draw at least four cards. - 2Shabraz triggers for each card drawn this way.
- 3Resolve the first Shabraz trigger, causing you to gain 1 life and putting a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz.
- 4Sphinx of the Revelation triggers, causing you to get .
- 5Repeat from step 3 for each remaining Shabraz trigger.
- 6Activate Mind Over Matter by discarding a card, untapping Sphinx of the Revelation.
- 7Activate Mind Over Matter by discarding a card, untapping a mana-producing permanent that can produce at least or .
- 8Activate the permanent by tapping it, adding at least or .
Shabraz, the Skyshark + Nefarious Lich
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Shabraz triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself and causing you to draw a card due to Nefarious Lich.
- 3Repeat from step 2.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Shabraz, the Skyshark.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Shabraz, the Skyshark
