Shadowmoor set symbol
To spot Shadowmoor, start with the expansion glyph (code SHM) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols.
Set code
shm
Released
May 2008
Cards
302
Type
Expansion
Lookalikes & traps
Borderless and showcase frames of Shadowmoor / Painter's Servant still need the SHM line; a fancy frame is not a different set by itself. Also watch foil vs nonfoil: sheen does not change which set Shadowmoor is.
Confirm after the icon
Bottom information line should show collector number + set code SHM (and usually a C/U/R/M rarity letter). On Shadowmoor / Painter's Servant, mismatch between listing title and SHM is the usual bait-and-switch.
How to identify Shadowmoor cards
- 1
Locate the Shadowmoor set mark (SHM) before you trust the card name — reprints reuse names across products.
- 2
Read black / silver / gold on the Shadowmoor symbol for common / uncommon / rare — mythic orange is not in this era.
- 3
Verify SHM on the bottom line; listings that only show the card name are where Shadowmoor get mixed with siblings.
- 4
If icon and SHM still disagree with a marketplace title, scan with Tappr rather than guessing from art.
Rarity by symbol color
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Shadowmoor symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic SHM rule.
Legend shows the modern post-Exodus palette. Pre-Exodus sets and special rarities (for example Time Spiral purple timeshifted) follow the rarity reading above — not this swatch row alone.
FAQ
What does the Shadowmoor set symbol look like?
To spot Shadowmoor, start with the expansion glyph (code SHM) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols. Reprints of Shadowmoor / Painter's Servant under other codes keep different glyphs — match the icon, then SHM.
What is the Shadowmoor set code?
The set code is SHM. It appears with the collector number on modern cards. If you see a different code, you are not holding the Shadowmoor printing even when the name matches.
How do I read rarity on a Shadowmoor card?
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Shadowmoor symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic SHM rule.
How do I confirm a Shadowmoor card quickly?
Icon match → rarity reading for this era → SHM + collector number. Borderless and showcase frames of Shadowmoor / Painter's Servant still need the SHM line; a fancy frame is not a different set by itself.. Tappr can finish the printing match when the listing is ambiguous.
Identify Shadowmoor cards instantly
Get Tappr free. Identify any Magic: The Gathering card and see what it is worth in seconds.
No credit card. No signup. Just scan.
Scan to download
Point your phone camera at a code
- Free on iOS & Android
- No account required