Shark Shredder, Killer Clone

4cmc 4/4 first-strike legendary Shark Octopus Ninja that steals a creature card from an opponent's graveyard whenever it deals combat damage, entering tapped and attacking — a powerful snowballing threat that rewards connecting. The Sneak alternative cost (return an unblocked attacker to hand, this enters tapped and attacking) enables surprise deployment mid-combat. Signature in reanimator shells that fill opponent graveyards, and strong in midrange/control as a recursive threat. First strike makes combat damage much more reliable and pairs excellently with the combat-damage trigger, but the value is entirely attack-trigger-dependent and the 5cmc Sneak cost is steep.

• The stolen creature enters tapped and attacking the player whose graveyard it came from, which means it deals combat damage alongside Shark Shredder and can trigger its own attack-related abilities — a significant value escalation if the stolen creature has attack triggers.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• First strike synergizes mechanically with the combat-damage trigger: Shark Shredder deals first-strike damage before most blockers, then survives to trigger the reanimate effect, effectively making it very hard to trade out of the trigger in a clean block.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• When Sneak is paid, Shark Shredder enters already attacking mid-combat, meaning it can immediately trigger its combat-damage ability on the turn it's cast if it connects — making the 5-mana alternative cost a legitimate tempo play rather than just a combat trick.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• EDHREC rank: #9,714