Burning-Tree Shaman
Creature — Centaur Shaman
Whenever a player activates an ability that isn't a mana ability, this creature deals 1 damage to that player.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- GR
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Guildpact
- Price
- $0.33
- EDHREC rank
- #21321
Burning-Tree Shaman taxes every activated ability your opponents use — mana abilities included — which turns creature-heavy or combo-reliant tables into a constant drain engine. The cost is a three-mana 3/4 with no evasion, so it wins through persistence, not speed; Klothys, God of Destiny decks want exactly this kind of slow-burn pressure.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Klothys, God of Destiny
Klothys, God of Destiny already punishes opponents for existing, and Burning-Tree Shaman extends that punishment to every tap, equip, and crack — the two cards together make paying for anything feel expensive even before combat damage lands.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Burning-Tree Shaman is at its best: four opponents running activated abilities means the damage adds up fast, and it taxes mana dorks, Equipment, and fetchland cracks simultaneously. In Legacy and Vintage, faster formats where activated abilities often win the game on turn one or two, it arrives too late at three mana to matter against the decks it most wants to punish. Modern is theoretically legal territory but the competition at three mana is fierce, and without a critical density of activated-ability decks in a given meta, the Shaman is too slow to slot into serious lists. Stick to Commander, where the multiplayer math makes every ping count.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.33 bulk tier
At $0.33, Burning-Tree Shaman is deep bulk — you're paying almost nothing for a card that pulls real weight in the right shell. Bulk rares rarely climb unless a format shift or staple reprint puts them in the spotlight, so treat this as a low-risk pickup rather than a hold.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.