Shatter MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 34 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Instant |
Text of card
Shatter destroys target artifact.
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.
Cards similar to Shatter by color, type and mana cost
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.
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:
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- 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 Shatter Magic the Gathering card was released in 28 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 9 different artists.
Show/hide all sets# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 173 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 174 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 174 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 174 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 174 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 175 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 175 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 175 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 219 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 219 | 1993 | Normal | White | Amy Weber | |
11 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 216 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Bryon Wackwitz | |
12 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj219 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Amy Weber | |
13 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | mj219sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Amy Weber | |
14 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | gb219sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Amy Weber | |
15 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 265 | 1997 | Normal | White | Hannibal King | |
16 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 203 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
17 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 204 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
18 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 217 | 1997 | Normal | White | Michael Koelsch | |
19 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 217★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Michael Koelsch | |
20 | 2001-12-01 | Deckmasters | DKM | 20 | 1997 | Normal | White | Bryon Wackwitz | |
21 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 220★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
22 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 220 | 2003 | Normal | White | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
23 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 105 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tim Hildebrandt | |
24 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 218★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
25 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 218 | 2003 | Normal | White | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
26 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 155 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tim Hildebrandt | |
27 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 103 | 2003 | Normal | Black | jD | |
28 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros | |
29 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 159 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason Alexander Behnke | |
30 | 2018-01-19 | Rivals of Ixalan | RIX | 114 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
31 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1055 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
32 | The List | PLST | RIX-114 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | ||
33 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 466 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
34 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 169 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shatter has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
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.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | Regenerating artifacts can regenerate from this. |