Waxen Shapethief
Creature — Shapeshifter
Flash
You may have this creature enter as a copy of an artifact or creature you control.
Cycling 
(, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Aetherdrift
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #6695
Waxen Shapethief enters as a copy of any creature with an even mana value on the battlefield — a flexible clone effect that costs two mana less than most of its competition. The catch is the restriction to even-CMC targets, but in the right shell, Gyruda, Doom of Depths being the prime example, that constraint is a non-issue.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Gyruda, Doom of Depths
Gyruda, Doom of Depths runs an all-even-CMC deck by construction, which means Waxen Shapethief has a full board of legal copy targets at all times and slots in as a cheap, redundant clone piece to extend the Gyruda loop.
Aang, at the Crossroads
Aang, at the Crossroads builds around cycling and casting spells of multiple types, and Waxen Shapethief's low cost makes it an efficient shapeshifter that copies whatever threat or utility creature is most relevant on the spot.
Gavi, Nest Warden
Gavi, Nest Warden decks lean on cycling to churn through the library and generate value, and Waxen Shapethief offers a cheap clone that can replicate the best even-CMC creature on the table without disrupting the cycling gameplan.
Sharuum the Hegemon
Sharuum the Hegemon is itself a six-mana even-CMC creature, so Waxen Shapethief can copy Sharuum directly to trigger the legend rule and generate enter-the-battlefield loops with the right graveyard support.
Hidetsugu and Kairi
Hidetsugu and Kairi rewards stacking the top of the library and dealing damage on attack, and Waxen Shapethief fills the clone slot cleanly at two mana while remaining an even-CMC permanent that plays well with the deck's constraints.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Waxen Shapethief is legal in every major constructed format but sees essentially no play outside Commander — clone effects at this cost simply don't fit the tempo demands of Modern, Pioneer, or Legacy. In Commander it occupies a real niche: a two-mana clone is rare, and the even-CMC restriction is a soft cost that dedicated even-CMC shells like Gyruda pay without noticing. Outside those shells, the restriction is real enough to push most players toward unrestricted clones, so Waxen Shapethief's home is narrow but genuine.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Waxen Shapethief isn't currently available, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for the latest figures before buying. Given its narrow application and the specificity of the even-CMC requirement, it's unlikely to carry a significant premium outside of Gyruda spike demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Gyruda, Doom of Depths
- Aang, at the Crossroads
- Gavi, Nest Warden
- Sharuum the Hegemon
- Hidetsugu and Kairi
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.