by Can Tran

Created on: November 05, 2009   Last Updated: March 12, 2012

"Shriekmaw" is a 3/2 black elemental printed as an uncommon for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Lorwyn." This is a type of creature that seems to go good against decks that have no black or artifact creatures. In a sense, you may be able to have a few good runs with the Shriekmaw for the most part. Depending on how you use the Shriekmaw, you can definitely get a lot of play with the card.

The converted mana cost for Shriekmaw is five. You will need one black mana and four colorless mana to play Shriekmaw onto the battlefield. For what Shriekmaw can do, the converted mana cost seems to be worth it for the most part. However, there is an alternative Evoke cost of one black mana and one colorless mana that can be paid instead of the actual converted mana cost. By paying the Evoke cost, you have to sacrifice Shriekmaw when it enters the battlefield. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

What does Shriekmaw do in the first place?  The first ability of Shriekmaw is Fear. Creatures with Fear can attack and can only be blocked by black and/or artifact creatures. If you attack with Shriekmaw and your opponent has neither a black nor an artifact creature, s/he is taking three points of combat damage. This is good against non-black decks. As long as your opponent has neither black nor artifact creatures, you can keep attacking him/her with Shriekmaw.

The main ability lets you destroy a target nonartifact and nonblack creature when Shriekmaw comes onto the battlefield. This ability is the main reason that an opponent may pay the Evoke cost instead of the main converted cost. Whichever mana cost is paid, Shriekmaw enters the battlefield and destroys a target nonblack and nonartifact creature. Make sure the target creature has neither Shroud nor Protection from Black.

In a five color elemental deck, you can combine this with "Horde of Notions." Should Shriekmaw be in the graveyard, you can pay one mana of each color to use the main ability of Horde of Notions. Doing so allows you to play Shriekmaw from the graveyard. As soon as Shriekmaw enters the battlefield, you get to destroy a creature provided it is nonblack and/or nonartifact.

Overall, Shriekmaw is a great card to have simply for the sake of destroying creatures. If you have cards such as Horde of Notions on the battlefield, you can keep bringing Shriekmaw back. Doing so allows you to constantly destroy your opponent's creatures.

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