---
name: "Author of Shadows"
mana_cost: "{4}{B}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Creature — Shade Warlock"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "C21"
set_name: "Commander 2021"
collector_number: "35"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Alex Brock"
oracle_id: "8bad4e43-4375-4e7f-897e-d28be72308d7"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/author-of-shadows-c21"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Author of Shadows
- **Mana Cost:** `{4}{B}` (CMC: 5)
- **Type:** Creature — Shade Warlock
- **Power/Toughness:** 3/3

## Oracle Text
When this creature enters, exile all opponents' graveyards. Choose a nonland card exiled this way. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Shadow of the Enemy](/printing/shadow-of-the-enemy-hoc.md) — Sorcery
2. [Dauthi Voidwalker](/printing/dauthi-voidwalker-mh2.md) — Creature — Dauthi Rogue
3. [Misery's Shadow](/printing/miserys-shadow-bro.md) — Creature — Shade
4. [Faceless Devourer](/printing/faceless-devourer-tsr.md) — Creature — Nightmare Horror
5. [Young Necromancer](/printing/young-necromancer-j21.md) — Creature — Human Warlock
6. [Dawnhand Dissident](/printing/dawnhand-dissident-pecl.md) — Creature — Elf Warlock

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Commander 2021 (C21) #35
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Alex Brock
- **Total Printings:** 17 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`