Shimian Specter — ruling 1

The cards you’re searching for must be found and exiled if they’re in the graveyard because it’s a public zone. Finding those cards in the hand and library is optional, because those zones are hidden (even if the hand is temporarily revealed).

Shimian Specter — ruling 2

If the player has no nonland cards in their hand, you can still search that player’s library and have them shuffle it.

Shimian Specter : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Shimian Specter 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 this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. Search that player's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles.

How it works : Shimian Specter

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
The cards you’re searching for must be found and exiled if they’re in the graveyard because it’s a public zone. Finding those cards in the hand and library is optional, because those zones are hidden (even if the hand is temporarily revealed).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2July 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
If the player has no nonland cards in their hand, you can still search that player’s library and have them shuffle it.
No other card is named in this ruling.