Mind Shatter MTG Card
2008-02-01 - Number 66
2009-07-17 - Number 106
2010-06-04 - Number 28
2017-03-17 - Number 77
2019-11-07 - Number 714
2020-09-26 - Number MM3-77
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Target player discards X cards at random.
Dark thoughts hatch and twist within the mind, straining to take wing.
Cards like Mind Shatter
Mind Shatter is a potent spell in MTG that epitomizes the power of hand disruption. It finds its kin in Mind Rot, another card capable of depleting an opponent’s options. Mind Rot, however, affects only two cards at a fixed cost, while Mind Shatter scales with the mana invested, potentially clearing out an opponent’s entire hand.
Distressing and unyielding, thoughtseize invites comparison as it lets you peel away a nonland card of your choice from an opponent’s hand while giving you a glimpse at their strategy. But unlike the scalability of Mind Shatter, thoughtseize has a fixed effect and comes with the downside of life loss to the caster. Then there’s Hymn to Tourach, famous for its randomness and efficiency, discarding two at a lower cost without targeting but lacking the scalability that sets Mind Shatter apart.
Ultimately, Mind Shatter’s ability to upset an opponent’s gameplan escalates with the game’s progression, making it a formidable tool for control decks aimed at dominating the late stages. Each card has its context, but for an overarching strategic sweep, Mind Shatter reigns with its adaptable might.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mind Shatter presents a unique opportunity for disrupting your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to discard multiple cards. This can often lead to a significant card advantage, as you can potentially remove key pieces from your opponent’s hand, leaving them at a strategic loss.
Resource Acceleration: While Mind Shatter itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it effectively slows down your opponent’s plan. This can give you more time to develop your board and find the resources you need to execute your strategy more efficiently than your opponent.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Mind Shatter can’t be cast at instant speed, but its power lies in the ability to strategically plan the best moment during your turn to leave your opponent with the least advantageous hand possible. Timing the cast of Mind Shatter after an opponent has drawn cards but before they’ve had a chance to play can be particularly devastating, ensuring they discard freshly drawn options.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A drawback of Mind Shatter is its compulsory discard effect, requiring your opponent to lose cards which might be beneficial in some scenarios but counteractive if your opponent benefits from having fewer cards in hand, such as with mechanics that operate on a lower card count.
Specific Mana Cost: Mind Shatter’s black mana requirement can be restrictive. It’s solely situated in black’s slice of the mana pie, meaning it can’t be included in decks without access to black mana, limiting its versatility across multiple deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s escalating cost, based on the number of cards you wish to discard from your opponent’s hand, can be quite steep. As the game advances, allocating enough mana to impact your opponent’s hand size significantly can be challenging, especially when considering the cost-effectiveness of alternative disruption or control spells.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mind Shatter offers a flexible disruption tool capable of adapting to various playstyles, efficiently stripping opponents of their hand regardless of the type of deck you are facing.
Combo Potential: This card seamlessly integrates with strategies focused on leveraging an opponent’s empty hand, synergizing with cards that punish low hand counts or those that benefit from discard effects.
Meta-Relevance: Within a meta-game dominated by intricate strategies and high-value hands, Mind Shatter can be a game-changing play; removing key pieces from your opponent’s arsenal could pivot the game in your favor.
How to Beat
Mind Shatter is a potent tool in the MTG arsenal, often turning the tide of a game by depleting an opponent’s hand. It’s akin to targeted discard spells but scales to a potentially devastating level. Navigating around this card requires strategic foresight and proper resource management. To outmaneuver Mind Shatter, one should prioritize playing key spells before the opponent accumulates enough mana to cast it.
Similarly, cards like Duress and Thoughtseize can preemptively remove Mind Shatter from the opponent’s hand, mitigating its impact. Additionally, leaning on instant spells or abilities that draw or recover cards can replenish a hand quickly, minimizing the disruption caused. Holding onto cards with flash can also be a clever ploy, allowing you to cast spells in response, and thus reducing the potential loss from a Mind Shatter. Lastly, employing strategies that capitalize on graveyard retrieval can turn a would-be setback into a setup for your comeback.
Ultimately, while Mind Shatter can derail an unprepared player, diligent playstyle adjustments and card choices can ensure that its influence on the game state is more of a minor inconvenience than a definitive endgame move.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mind Shatter MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and Magic 2010, 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 Mind Shatter and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Mind Shatter Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Michael Sutfin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-02-01 | Morningtide | MOR | 66 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 2 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 106 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 3 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 28 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 4 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 77 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 714 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | MM3-77 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Shatter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |