Wall of Shards MTG Card


Flying and high toughness make Wall of Shards a solid defensive creature in MTG games. The life-gain aspect from its cumulative upkeep can be creatively utilized or mitigated. While strong, its specific mana cost and upkeep can influence its deck compatibility.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSnow Creature — Wall
Abilities Cumulative upkeep,Defender,Flying
Power 1
Toughness 8

Text of card

Defender, flying Cumulative upkeep— An opponent gains 1 life. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)


Cards like Wall of Shards

Wall of Shards stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful defensive tool. This Ice Age-aligned card brings unique advantages similar to cards like Propaganda and Ghostly Prison. These cards all serve to deter attacks, but Wall of Shards presents an intriguing aspect with its cumulative upkeep cost which gives opponents life. Propaganda and Ghostly Prison require mana payments from the attacker, thus preserving the player’s life total without directly aiding the opponent, forging distinct paths to protection.

On the defensive spectrum, we also have Fog Bank, which, like Wall of Shards, can thwart many attacks due to its prevention of all combat damage. Still, Fog Bank doesn’t have the sheer size that Wall of Shards offers on the battlefield. Moreover, Wall of Shards has the potential to be more than just a defensive mechanism—the life it grants opponents can synergize with strategies designed to capitalize on high opponent life totals.

Assessing the variety of defense cards in Magic: The Gathering, Wall of Shards is a considerable option. Its unique blend of high toughness and strategic life gain sets it apart in games focused on stalling tactics and building towards a powerful late-game.

Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Fog Bank - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Fog Bank - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Wall of Shards by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
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Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Aspirant - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Royal Falcon - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Soltari Priest - MTG Card versions
Luminarch Aspirant - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wall of Shards comes with an impressive flying body, making it a formidable defensive asset that also contributes to your card advantage by potentially drawing out multiple removal cards from your opponents as they try to deal with its presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card can unexpectedly accelerate your board state by forcing opponents to plan around its cumulative upkeep, thereby diverting resources they might have allocated elsewhere, while you continue to develop your side of the battlefield unimpeded.

Instant Speed: Although Wall of Shards does not act at instant speed itself, its cumulative upkeep of having an opponent gain life could be strategically paired with instant speed interactions from your deck that benefit from life gain triggers or aim to mitigate the downside of your opponent’s increasing life total.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The cumulative upkeep cost of gaining your opponent’s life could eventually outweigh the defensive benefits, essentially forcing your hand to deal with an exponentially growing liability.

Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Shards has a purely white mana cost requirement, which may not integrate well in multi-colored decks or those that rely on colorless mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a two-mana 1/8 defender is a formidable obstacle, there are other cards at similar or lower mana costs that may offer additional abilities or synergize better within certain deck strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Shards offers a unique mix of strong defense with its high toughness, while also providing an unusual life-gain mechanic for opponents. This makes it a strategic fit in Ice Age themed decks or in any deck that requires a sturdy defender with a twist.

Combo Potential: The cumulative upkeep cost of Wall of Shards can be exploited in combos, particularly in decks that manipulate or benefit from life total changes. It can be an asset in decks that aim to weaponize life gain or leverage it for certain victory conditions.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts towards aggressive strategies, Wall of Shards can be an unexpected roadblock. Its significant presence can detour enemy creatures and provide a barrier, making it relevant in matches against heavy creature-based decks.


How to beat Wall of Shards

Wall of Shards has a unique place in Magic: The Gathering as an efficient defense creature. It boasts a high toughness, making it a formidable obstacle against opponents’ creatures. Its cumulative upkeep cost, requiring you to give an opponent life, adds a layer of complexity to its long-term usefulness on the battlefield. While this may seem discouraging at first, several strategies can effectively counter this icy barrier.

Using removal spells is a straightforward tactic to dismantle this wall. Spells that can exile or destroy regardless of toughness, such as Path to Exile or Murder, bypass the high defense. Moreover, effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature evade Wall of Shards’ high toughness and are not hindered by its potential shroud or hexproof abilities. Beyond direct removal, transforming the life gain into a weapon with cards like Tainted Remedy can turn Wall of Shards’ upkeep into a disadvantage for your opponent.

When managing a match involving Wall of Shards, it is vital to evaluate the overall state and determine if its presence materially impacts your winning strategy. If necessary, utilize targeted removal or turn the table with life gain conversion effects to negate the advantage it gives your opponent.


BurnMana Recommendations

For stalwarts at the MTG table, Wall of Shards represents a blend of strong defense and strategic depth. Embrace its potential as a bulwark against aggressive decks, or integrate it into high-concept strategies that leverage opponent’s life totals. While its cumulative upkeep presents a tactical challenge, it can be turned to your advantage with the right synergies. Consider adding Wall of Shards to your collection, and explore new dynamics in your game plan. Visit BurnMana for a deep dive on optimizing this unique defender and discover how it can become a cornerstone in your icy fortress.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Shards MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils, 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 Wall of Shards and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wall of Shards Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2020-03-08. Illustrated by Alex Horley-Orlandelli.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 232003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli
22020-03-08Mystery Booster Retail Edition FoilsFMB1 182003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli
32020-09-26The ListPLST CSP-232003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Shards has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2006-07-15 When paying Wall of Shards’ cumulative upkeep, you may choose a different opponent for each age counter, or you can choose the same opponent multiple times.
2008-10-01 Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep ” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay or sacrifice the permanent.