Everything You Need to Know About Shadows of the Past in Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered

Pedro Furtado (djorso) March 24, 2023 Collecting, MTG Arena, MTG Products, Set Overview

Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Judge Gift Promos) | Illustration by Howard Lyon

Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered just dropped on MTG Arena, and we’re getting a full release with two remastered sets, plus booster packs in the Store, lots of exciting new cards and Limited play. The Limited experience from Shadows over Innistrad Remastered will be a lot like the original Eldritch Moon and Shadows over Innistrad Draft. But there’s a twist; WotC is constantly innovating with Draft formats in MTG Arena, and this time they’ve come up with Shadows of the Past.

Not only are we drafting original SOI and EMN cards, we’ll also have access to original Innistrad block cards! There’s a lot to see and talk about, so let’s dive in!

Shadows of the Past vs. Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered

Angel of Flight Alabaster | Illustration by Howard Lyon

Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered is a set that was released to MTG Arena on March 21, 2023. The set is composed of cards from Shadows Over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon, which were released on MTG Arena to support formats like Explorer and Historic.

WotC is also adding 81 cards from the original Innistrad block which you’ll be able to get in Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered Store and Limited packs. Think of Shadows of the Past as a mini expansion. It’s being released alongside SIR and the full card list are available in Store packs. You’ll only be able to get them in Limited packs (i.e., when you play SIR Draft events) while the set’s Limited events are up (until April 18), and only the cards from that week’s Draft sheet.

What Sets Are Shadows of the Past Cards From?

The Shadows of the Past cards are all from the original Innistrad block. This includes cards from Innistrad, Dark Ascension, and Avacyn Restored. These cards aren’t Pioneer/Explorer legal, so they’ll only be legal in Historic formats.

It’s also worth noting that, although there were lots of different Innistrad-themed sets, the Shadows of the Past cards are all cohesive and you can bet they’ll blend well with the themes from SIR.

Shadows of the Past Sets and Schedule

Creature Type Terror!

Draft week: March 21 to 28, 2023

The Creature Type Terror! Draft sheet adds more tribal interaction. Shadows over Innistrad Remastered has tribal synergies in archetypes like Selesnya () humans, Dimir () zombies, or Gruul () werewolves. the addition of cards like Butcher's Cleaver, Diregraf Captain, and Immerwolf strengthens those archetypes.

The tribal archetypes supported are humans, spirits, vampires, zombies, and wolves/werewolves.

Fatal Flashback!

Draft week: March 28 to April 4, 2023

~~Spider spawning~~ flashback spells! Innistrad sets have always had a deep graveyard component, with Shadows over Innistrad Remastered including self-mill themes in Golgari () and Orzhov (), especially with the delirium mechanic. More flashback spells can help the Izzet () spells archetype, and we’re also getting powerful Constructed playable cards like Travel Preparations, Lingering Souls, and Faithless Looting.

Overall players will get more action with flashback spells as well as places to spend their mana.

Morbid and Macabre!

Draft week: April 4 to 11, 2023

The Morbid and Macabre! Draft sheet adds incentives to aristocrats and sacrifice strategies. We’re getting sacrifice outlets like Skirsdag Cultist, Falkenrath Aristocrat, and Bloodflow Connoisseur along with cards that want to die, like Young Wolf and Doomed Traveler. Cards that care about creatures dying are also added to the mix, including Requiem Angel, Murder of Crows, and Skirsdag High Priest.

Abominable All Stars!

Draft week: April 11 to 18, 2023

Abominable All Stars! Adds some ~~unbeatable bombs~~ cards aimed for Constructed play, really. You’ve got Avacyn, Angel of Hope and Griselbrand that you don’t really want to play against in Limited but are good in reanimator strategies. There’s also Sigarda, Host of Herons and Invisible Stalker which you really don’t want to play against in Limited. Throw in some Constructed staples like Snapcaster Mage, Geist of Saint Traft, and Garruk Relentless and you’re all set.

I expect this specific Draft format to be the most controversial because there will be a higher chance to draft and play with Constructed staples, but also a higher chance to face them in Limited.

Where Can You Get Shadows of the Past Cards?

Cards from Shadows of the Past are available in Shadows over Innistrad Remastered packs in both the MTG Arena Store and from SIR Limited events like Draft and Sealed.

In Limited events, each week will feature one of the different Draft sheets in the packs you open. But any card can appear when you open a Shadows over Innistrad Remastered pack bought from the Store, regardless of when you get it.

Can You Craft Shadows of the Past Cards?

Yes, you can craft Shadows of the Past cards using wildcards. All the cards are officially released in MTG Arena, and you can open them in SIR Limited events, Store SIR packs, or spend your precious wildcards on them if you want something specific.

How Does Shadows of the Past Work with Store Packs?

You can open the Shadows of the Past cards in normal Shadows over Innistrad Remastered booster packs available in the Arena Store. In fact, you’re guaranteed to get one Shadows of the Past card of any rarity in every Shadows over Innistrad Remastered pack bought from the Store.

It’s also important to note that Store packs are not restricted to the theme of the week, which only applies to boosters in Limited events. Shadows of the Past works similarly to Strixhaven’s Mystical Archive in this regard.

Are Shadows of the Past Cards Duplicate Protected?

According to WotC, rares and mythic rares from Shadows of the Past are duplicate protected and wildcards will not replace a Shadows of the Past card.

Shadows of the Past cards, like all MTG Arena rares and mythics, are only duplicate protected if they’re open in Store-bought packs. Draft and Sealed cards are not duplicate protected, so players will usually draft the set a ton before opening packs if the intention is to grind the collection.

Shadows of the Past Full Card List

White

Blue

Black

Red

Green

Multicolored

Colorless

Notable Cards

Avacyn, Angel of Hope is a big and beefy indestructible flying creature that gives your other permanents indestructible. Its casting cost usually restricts it to reanimation decks, unfortunately, and there are better targets.

Lingering Souls can create four flying Spirits if you can cast it normally and then flash it back. It’s also a nice card to discard since the flashback is very efficient.

Snapcaster mage

Snapcaster Mage is one of blue’s best creatures. Giving flashback to a spell already in your graveyard serves multiple purposes since you can suddenly cast an extra removal spell, draw a card, or even counter a spell.

Bump in the Night is a 3-damage aggro card for black and Rakdos () decks. A black Lava Spike, if you will.

Griselbrand is the premier reanimation target across all formats. Being able to reanimate it and immediately draw seven cards is worth it, and you can draw more and more cards if needed. There’s also the gigantic flying and lifelink body.

Speaking of Griselbrand, Unburial Rites is a good reanimation spell. You can cast it twice thanks to flashback, or discard it to use a turn earlier.

Faithless Looting is one of the premier red cantrips to play in spells-matter decks along with decks like Izzet Phoenix. You can discard phoenixes or madness spells to it, and there’s also flashback.

Past in Flames is a key spell in storm decks in lots of formats including Modern and Legacy. Just being able to Yawgmoth's Will your spells is very strong and usually leads to a storm win.

Zealous Conscripts is a key infinite combo piece with Restoration Angel, which is already on MTG Arena.

Garruk Relentless was the first transform planeswalker. Probably a little old by now since lots of powerful ‘walkers have been released, but notable nonetheless.

Mayor of Avabruck is a human lord that becomes a werewolf and gets even more powerful, becoming a wolf/werewolf lord that makes 2/2s. The catch is that all werewolves are also human, transformed or not, so either side of the mayor works.

Spider Spawning is one of the better payoffs for self-mill since you can fill the battlefield with lots of 1/2 reach Spiders. Also a good card for spider-themed Brawl decks.

Geist of Saint Traft is a beast when wearing auras in hexproof decks. Each attack from the Geist comes with a free 4/4 flying Angel body.

Huntmaster of the Fells used to be a premier midrange threat. You get a small benefit every time it transforms. I wouldn’t count Huntmaster out, but Arena has probably better midrange threats.

Sigarda, Host of Herons is a 5/5 flying and shroud creature that doesn’t allow you to sacrifice permanents. So players can’t easily deal with Sigarda outside a “destroy all creatures” effect.

Wrap Up

Mayor of Avabruck | Illustration by Svetlin Velinov

I’m very excited for this release, folks. I enjoyed the original Shadows over Innistrad and can’t wait to play Snapcaster Mage in MTG Arena. The themed Draft seems like a big win, and it’s a theme that I hope players will adopt more in their Cubes and whatnot.

Are you excited for this release? What are your favorite cards from Shadows of the Past? Which theme are you most looking forward to trying out? Let me know in the comments below or over on the official Draftsim Twitter. And if you want to get better fast at drafting the new format, make sure to check Arena Tutor to help you with your picks.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the Draft queues!

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Pedro Furtado (djorso)

Pedro started playing Magic way back when in Fourth Edition. After a long hiatus, he now plays mostly MTG Arena Standard and Limited. His biggest MTG regret is trading a bunch of Force of Wills for Serra Angels.