Mindclaw Shaman
Creature — Lizard Shaman
When this creature enters, target opponent reveals their hand. You may cast an instant or sorcery spell from among those cards without paying its mana cost.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Magic 2013
- Price
- $0.34
- EDHREC rank
- #10829
Mindclaw Shaman hits the table and immediately threatens to cast the best instant or sorcery in an opponent's hand — at five mana, that's a real rate when the average Commander table is stocked with Cyclonic Rifts and Demonic Tutors. Pair it with Delina, Wild Mage and each copy triggers independently, turning one shaman into a cascade of stolen spells.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Delina, Wild Mage
Delina, Wild Mage copies Mindclaw Shaman on attack, and every token that connects triggers the Shaman's ability separately — a single combat step can fire off three or four opponent spells if the dice rolls cooperate.
Feldon of the Third Path
Feldon of the Third Path recurs Mindclaw Shaman from the graveyard as a hasty token at the end of each opponent's turn, letting you probe a fresh hand every rotation around the table and never pay the five mana twice.
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 |
Commander is where Mindclaw Shaman earns its keep — three opponents means three hands to probe, and the odds that at least one is holding a haymaker are high enough to make the triggered ability feel broken on the right turn. In Legacy and Vintage it's a curio at best: five mana for a 2/2 that might steal a Brainstorm is well below the power threshold either format demands. Modern is theoretically legal but practically irrelevant for the same reason — the format's threats move faster than a five-drop that does nothing on entry if the opponent's hand is empty. Stick to Commander, where the card is cheap, impactful, and surrounded by juicy targets.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.34 bulk tier
At $0.34, Mindclaw Shaman is bulk, and the price reflects its narrow home rather than its ceiling — in the right Commander deck it routinely steals games, so there's no reason to wait for a lower entry point. Expect it to stay in this tier; it's been reprinted enough that supply keeps the floor flat.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.