Thousand-Faced Shadow 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
Ninjutsu(
How it works : Thousand-Faced Shadow
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You choose which opponent or opposing planeswalker the token is attacking as you put it onto the battlefield. It doesn't have to be the same player or planeswalker Thousand-Faced Shadow is attacking. (Remember that the rules for ninjutsu specify that a creature that enters the battlefield attacking because of a ninjutsu ability attacks the same player or planeswalker the returned unblocked creature was.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Although the token is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature has any counters on it or Auras and/or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on. Notably, it doesn't copy any effects that may have turned a noncreature permanent into a creature. If the token isn't a creature as it enters the battlefield, it won't be attacking.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature had
in its mana cost, X is 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature was copying something else, the token enters the battlefield as whatever that creature was copying.
Card named in this ruling
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature is a token, the token created by Thousand-Faced Shadow copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that put it onto the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “As [this creature] enters the battlefield” or “[This creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the copied creature will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja card stays revealed and isn't put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won't enter the battlefield at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature's controller chooses which player or planeswalker it's attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. In most cases (see below), if you wait until the combatdamage step or end of combat step, it will be after combat damage has been dealt, so the Ninja won't deal combat damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
Puff of smoke not included.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Peregrine Drake + Silver-Fur Master
- 1Declare Peregrine Drake and Silver-Fur Master as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to five lands you control by tapping them, adding at least
. - 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Silver-Fur Master from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Peregrine Drake that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Peregrine Drake token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to five lands.
- 6Activate Silver-Fur Master's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Silver-Fur Master onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Peregrine Drake tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Peregrine Drake + Moon-Circuit Hacker
- 1Declare Peregrine Drake and Moon-Circuit Hacker as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to five lands you control by tapping them, adding at least
. - 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Moon-Circuit Hacker from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Peregrine Drake that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Peregrine Drake token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to five lands.
- 6Activate Moon-Circuit Hacker's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Moon-Circuit Hacker onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Peregrine Drake tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Peregrine Drake + Mistblade Shinobi
- 1Declare Peregrine Drake and Mistblade Shinobi as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to five lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Mistblade Shinobi from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Peregrine Drake that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Peregrine Drake token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to five lands.
- 6Activate Mistblade Shinobi's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Mistblade Shinobi onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Peregrine Drake tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Great Whale + Silver-Fur Master
- 1Declare Great Whale and Silver-Fur Master as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Silver-Fur Master from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Great Whale that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Great Whale token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
- 6Activate Silver-Fur Master's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Silver-Fur Master onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Great Whale tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Cloud of Faeries + Sakashima's Student + Thousand-Faced Shadow + Silver-Fur Master
- 1Declare Silver-Fur Master, Cloud of Faeries and an additional creature as an attacker.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to two lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Sakashima's Student's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning the additional creature from the battlefield to your hand, putting Sakashima's Student from your hand on the battlefield tapped and attacking as a copy of Cloud of Faeries.
- 4When Sakashima's Student enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to two lands.
- 5Activate up to two lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 6Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Sakashima's Student from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Silver-Fur Master that is tapped and attacking.
- 8Repeat steps 3 through 5 one additional time, returning Thousand-Faced Shadow to your hand instead.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Peregrine Drake + Skullsnatcher
- 1Declare Peregrine Drake and Skullsnatcher as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to five lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Skullsnatcher from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Peregrine Drake that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Peregrine Drake token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to five lands.
- 6Activate Skullsnatcher's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Skullsnatcher onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Peregrine Drake tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow + Thousand-Faced Shadow + Great Whale
- 1Declare Great Whale and Yuriko as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Yuriko from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Great Whale that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Great Whale token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
- 6Activate Yuriko's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Yuriko onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Great Whale tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Thousand-Faced Shadow + Palinchron + Silver-Fur Master
- 1Declare Palinchron and Silver-Fur Master as attackers.
- 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Silver-Fur Master from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Palinchron that is tapped and attacking.
- 5When the Palinchron token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
- 6Activate Silver-Fur Master's ninjutsu ability by paying and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Silver-Fur Master onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
- 8Deal combat damage using the Palinchron tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
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Meta decks with Thousand-Faced Shadow
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.