Tzaangor Shaman 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 Sorcerous Elixir — Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, copy the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn when you cast it. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Complete guide
Tzaangor Shaman is a powerful flier that rewards aggressive play with magical duplication. By connecting with your opponent's life total, you set up a Sorcerous Elixir that doubles the impact of your next spell. This mutant shaman is a cornerstone for decks looking to maximize the value of every instant and sorcery.
What it Does
Tzaangor Shaman has Flying and an ability called Sorcerous Elixir. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player, it creates a delayed triggered ability that waits for you to cast your next instant or sorcery spell during that same turn. When you cast that spell, the ability triggers and puts a copy of that spell directly onto the stack.
How it Resolves Step by Step
First, Tzaangor Shaman must deal combat damage to a player; this places the 'Sorcerous Elixir' trigger on the stack. Once that resolves, the game state records that your next instant or sorcery will be copied. Later in the turn, when you cast an eligible spell, the delayed trigger fires immediately. You then choose new targets for the copy if you wish, and the copy resolves before the original spell does.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that the copy happens immediately when damage is dealt. In reality, the damage only 'primes' the effect. You must still cast an actual spell later in the turn to get the copy. Also, remember that if the Shaman deals damage multiple times (for example, via double strike), you will get multiple copies of the very next spell you cast, rather than one copy for each of your next few spells.
When to Play It
Tzaangor Shaman is best utilized in the mid-game when you have mana left over after combat to cast a high-impact spell. Because it requires combat damage, it pairs well with spells that clear blockers or protect the Shaman from removal before the damage step.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Mutant' or 'Shaman' chosen, Tzaangor Shaman's combat damage ability triggers twice. This means the next instant or sorcery you cast that turn will be copied twice, resulting in three versions of the spell on the stack.
Solemn SimulacrumWhile Tzaangor Shaman flies over the battlefield to trigger its ability, Solemn Simulacrum provides the necessary mana ramp to ensure you can afford a powerful spell to copy in your second main phase. If the Shaman hits the opponent, the land you fetched earlier helps fuel the big spell you are about to double.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Tzaangor Shaman
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Tzaangor Shaman deals combat damage to a player more than one time in a turn, perhaps because it has gained double strike, its delayed triggered ability will trigger that many times when you cast your next instant or sorcery spell this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Tzaangor Shaman
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