Szarel, Genesis Shepherd — ruling 1

Szarel’s second ability doesn’t change the times when you can play those land cards. You can still play lands only during your main phase when you have priority and the stack is empty.

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd — ruling 2

Szarel’s second ability doesn’t allow you to activate abilities (such as cycling) of land cards in your graveyard.

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd — ruling 3

If Szarel leaves the battlefield at the same time as you sacrifice one or more other nontoken permanents during your turn (probably because you also sacrificed Szarel), its last ability triggers for each of those other nontoken permanents.

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd — ruling 4

If Szarel leaves the battlefield before its last ability resolves, use its power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how many +1/+1 counters to put on the target creature.

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd 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 You may play lands from your graveyard. Whenever you sacrifice another nontoken permanent during your turn, put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to Szarel's power on up to one other target creature.

How it works : Szarel, Genesis Shepherd

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1July 25, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Szarel’s second ability doesn’t change the times when you can play those land cards. You can still play lands only during your main phase when you have priority and the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2July 25, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Szarel’s second ability doesn’t allow you to activate abilities (such as cycling) of land cards in your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3July 25, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If Szarel leaves the battlefield at the same time as you sacrifice one or more other nontoken permanents during your turn (probably because you also sacrificed Szarel), its last ability triggers for each of those other nontoken permanents.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4July 25, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If Szarel leaves the battlefield before its last ability resolves, use its power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how many +1/+1 counters to put on the target creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.