Shatter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 34 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Shatter provides targeted artifact removal, leveling the playing field against opponents.
  2. Instant speed gives tactical advantage to disrupt opponents’ plans at critical moments.
  3. Specific mana cost may limit Shatter’s use to certain deck types, affecting versatility.

Text of card

Shatter destroys target artifact.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shatter creates a one-for-one scenario by destroying an opponent’s artifact, potentially disrupting their game plan and evening out the playing field.

Resource Acceleration: While Shatter itself doesn’t accelerate resources, clearing the board of a key artifact can slow down an opponent’s momentum, indirectly benefiting your resource management.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Shatter at instant speed gives you flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn or in response to an activated artifact’s ability, keeping you one step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Shatter doesn’t have a discard requirement, having one could certainly deplete a player’s hand, especially if said player is attempting to maintain card advantage over the opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Shatter requires a precise combination of one red mana plus one of any color to cast. This can sometimes limit its integration solely to decks that run red mana, potentially sidelining this removal option in multicolored or non-red strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of two, including one red, Shatter’s cost to destroy an artifact may be higher than newer alternatives. As the game evolves, players often turn to more cost-effective spells, leaving cards with higher mana requirements less desirable in fast-paced and resource-conscious formats.


Reasons to Include Shatter in Your Collection

Versatility: Shatter serves as a useful addition to any deck that’s looking to deal with artifacts. With its straightforward destroy target artifact effect, it can be a simple yet effective response to artifact-heavy decks or key pieces that your opponent relies on.

Combo Potential: While it may not directly enable combos, Shatter can clear the way for your own combo pieces to operate without disruption by removing problematic artifacts. It’s a great support card, ensuring that your strategy can proceed unhindered.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts play a significant role, having Shatter on hand can turn the tables. Whether you’re facing off against aggressive artifact creatures or critical mana rocks, Shatter can provide that timely disruption to keep you in the game.


How to Beat Shatter

Shatter, a classic card in Magic: The Gathering, poses an intriguing challenge due to its straightforward approach to artifact destruction. This vintage red spell can dismantle strategies that heavily rely on artifacts for victory. To counter the destructive capability of Shatter, versatility in your deck building is key. It’s essential to diversify the threats within your arsenal rather than depending solely on artifact synergy. Incorporating robust creatures, enchantments, or non-artifact dependent combos can ensure that a single Shatter won’t seal your fate.

Another tactic involves the use of cards that protect your artifacts from being targeted or that can quickly replace any lost resources. Cards that grant indestructible status temporarily or artifacts that have built-in resilience against destruction effects can nullify the impact of Shatter. Also, keeping in mind Shatter’s limitations — such as its sorcery speed — allows for strategic outmaneuvering, by baiting out your opponent’s Shatter on less crucial artifacts before playing your key pieces when the coast is clear.

Overall, while Shatter has the potential to disrupt artifact-based strategies, with thoughtful deck construction and clever play, you can make Shatter’s potential impact on the game minimal. Adaptability and unpredictability are the keys to overcoming the hurdle that Shatter presents.


Cards like Shatter

Shatter is a classic spell in the realm of artifact destruction in Magic: The Gathering. It shares this space with other cards like Naturalize, which has a broader reach, being able to destroy both artifacts and enchantments. However, Shatter focuses purely on artifacts and is red, slightly limiting its versatility compared to Naturalize’s green scope, providing options for players aligned with different colors.

Inspecting further, we encounter Smash to Smithereens. This card delivers a similar effect by destroying an artifact, but it also packs an additional punch by dealing damage to the opponent, offering a two-in-one advantage for aggressive strategies. It’s slightly more costly than Shatter in terms of mana, yet the dual functionality often justifies the extra investment. Alternatively, there’s Abrade, which provides the flexibility of choice between shattering an artifact and dealing direct damage to creatures all with a single card. While it doesn’t affect players like Smash to Smithereens, its versatility in targeting makes it a powerful tool in player decks.

Ultimately, evaluating the effectiveness of these cards hinges on the specific game situation and the deck’s overarching strategy, but Shatter remains a solid and straightforward choice for players who need efficient and focused artifact removal in their arsenal.

Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions
Abrade - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - Onslaught (ONS)
Smash to Smithereens - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Abrade - Hour of Devastation (HOU)

Cards similar to Shatter by color, type and mana cost

Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Gorilla War Cry - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Blazing Shoal - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Incinerate - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Guerrilla Tactics - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Gorilla War Cry - Alliances (ALL)
Aleatory - Mirage (MIR)
Orcish Catapult - Astral Cards (PAST)
Blood Frenzy - Tempest (TMP)
Fling - Jumpstart (JMP)
Falter - Urza's Saga (USG)
Shattering Pulse - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Flowstone Strike - Nemesis (NEM)
Shrapnel Blast - Mirrodin (MRD)
Glacial Ray - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Smash to Smithereens - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Comet Storm - Commander 2017 (C17)
Starstorm - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
First Volley - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Blazing Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Surging Flame - Arena League 2006 (PAL06)
Psychotic Fury - Dissension (DIS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shatter MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Shatter and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Shatter Magic the Gathering card was released in 28 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 9 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1731993normalblackAmy Weber
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1741993normalblackAmy Weber
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1741993normalwhiteAmy Weber
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1741993normalblackAmy Weber
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1741993normalblackAmy Weber
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1751993normalwhiteAmy Weber
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1751993normalblackAmy Weber
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1751993normalwhiteAmy Weber
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2191993normalblackAmy Weber
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2191993normalwhiteAmy Weber
111995-06-03Ice AgeICE 2161993normalblackBryon Wackwitz
121996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj2191993normalgoldAmy Weber
131996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC mj219sb1993normalgoldAmy Weber
141996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC gb219sb1993normalgoldAmy Weber
151997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2651997normalwhiteHannibal King
161997-10-14TempestTMP 2031997normalblackJason Alexander Behnke
171999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2041997normalwhiteJason Alexander Behnke
182001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2171997normalwhiteMichael Koelsch
192001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 217★1997normalblackMichael Koelsch
202001-12-01DeckmastersDKM 201997normalwhiteBryon Wackwitz
212003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 220★2003normalblackJason Alexander Behnke
222003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2202003normalwhiteJason Alexander Behnke
232003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1052003normalblackTim Hildebrandt
242005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 218★2003normalblackJason Alexander Behnke
252005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2182003normalwhiteJason Alexander Behnke
262009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1552003normalblackTim Hildebrandt
272010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1032003normalblackjD
282014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 1202015normalblackZoltan Boros
292015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 1592015normalblackJason Alexander Behnke
302018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1142015normalblackJonas De Ro
312019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10552015normalblackJonas De Ro
322020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-1142015normalblackJonas De Ro
332022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4661997normalblackAmy Weber
342022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1692015normalblackAmy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shatter has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shatter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 Regenerating artifacts can regenerate from this.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks