Shatter the Source MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Convoke |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Number | 164 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Artur Nakhodkin |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage by removing multiple artifacts, pivotal for control in extended gameplay.
- Instant speed offers adaptability and response to threats, ensuring upper hand during crucial turns.
- Despite its strengths, necessitates strategic hand management and specific mana accessibility.
Text of card
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) Choose one — • Shatter the Source deals 6 damage to target creature, planeswalker, or battle. • Destroy target artifact.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shatter the Source offers a decisive edge by potentially removing multiple key artifacts from the game. By disrupting your opponent’s strategic setup, you maintain the upper hand, crucial for outpacing the competition in longer matches.
Resource Acceleration: While this card does not directly accelerate resources, it effectively does so by setting your opponent back, making your resources comparatively more valuable. This indirect acceleration could be the pivotal point in a game where tempo is king.
Instant Speed: The power of acting at instant speed cannot be overstated. With Shatter the Source, you can navigate complex battlefield states and assert control at the most opportune moment. This flexibility grants you the advantage of adaptability, allowing strategic responses to imminent threats or unfavorable plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Shatter the Source necessitates discarding a card from your hand, which can be detrimental when your hand is already depleted or the card options to discard are critical to your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a distinct color alignment, Shatter the Source’s casting cost requires both white and blue mana, potentially restricting the card’s inclusion to only decks that can support these colors effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Shatter the Source competes with other impactful spells in the same range. Players might opt for alternatives that provide either cheaper disruption or more notable board presence for the same investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shatter the Source is a flexible addition to any deck that seeks to manage the battlefield. Its ability to neutralize problematic permanents provides a strategic advantage in a variety of game scenarios.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can be a cornerstone for powerful combos, clearing the way for game-winning moves by efficiently dealing with threats or resetting the board.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves and new deck archetypes emerge, having Shatter the Source in your arsenal ensures you’re prepared to disrupt key pieces of popular strategies, maintaining relevance as the meta shifts.
How to beat
Shatter the Source presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. This card has the potential to significantly disrupt an opponent’s strategy by targeting and eliminating their crucial artifacts. The key to overcoming Shatter the Source lies in diversification and timing. By not overly relying on artifacts or by deploying them when your opponent lacks the mana or opportunity to cast such a spell, you can mitigate the impact of Shatter the Source. Moreover, countering it with instant spells that negate targeted removal can safeguard your valuable artifacts. Alternatively, using cards that can quickly recover artifacts from the graveyard can help bounce back from this disruption. Always consider the pace at which you play your artifacts and be mindful of the current mana pool your opponent has available.
Recasting artifacts from your hand or other zones is another effective tactic to counteract the card’s effect. Cards with Flashback or Retrace allow you to play around removal by using your graveyard as a resource. Additionally, introducing redundancy in your deck can also alleviate the potential loss, ensuring that the loss of one artifact won’t completely derail your game plan.
In essence, when facing down Shatter the Source, flexibility, foresight, and smart deck construction are your best tools to safeguard your assets and maintain your strategy under pressure.
Cards like Shatter the Source
Shatter the Source is an intriguing spell whose strategic value comes into focus when placed alongside its peers in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It’s often measured against cards like Naturalize, a staple that efficiently targets artifacts and enchantments for destruction. What sets Shatter the Source apart is its potential to purify the field of multiple threats, provided you have the threshold of mana to activate its full might.
Disenchant is another card that often finds itself in the company of spells like Shatter the Source. While Disenchant’s lower mana cost offers a swift answer to individual targets, it lacks the extensive reach Shatter the Source provides against a wider array of objects. Then comes Creeping Corrosion—a formidable option that wipes out all artifacts without discrimination. This card sweeps clean, but Shatter the Source offers more nuance, allowing players to retain control over their valuable artifacts while disrupting opponents.
Methodically evaluating these options, it’s evident that Shatter the Source holds a unique place. For players seeking a more selective yet wide-impacting removal tool, this card is unmatched in its class, granting both adaptability and power in gameplay scenarios brimming with enemy artifacts and enchantments.
Cards similar to Shatter the Source by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shatter the Source MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 the Source and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shatter the Source has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |