Wing Shards MTG Card
2003-05-26 - Number 25
2003-08-07 - Number dz25sb
2004-09-01 - Number jn25
2014-11-07 - Number 97
2017-08-25 - Number 79
2017-11-17 - Number 38
2019-06-14 - Number 38
2019-11-07 - Number 278
2002-06-24 - Number 35156
2020-09-26 - Number IMA-38
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Storm |
Text of card
Target player sacrifices an attacking creature. Storm (When you play this spell, copy it for each spell played before it this turn.)
Cards like Wing Shards
Wing Shards is a standout instant in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, known for its ability to disrupt opponent strategies by forcing them to sacrifice attacking creatures. It shares strategic traits with cards like Celestial Flare, which operates similarly by targeting active attackers. Yet, Wing Shards edges out by potentially removing multiple attackers, escalating in impact with each spell or copy played before it within a turn.
Looking to other cards, Gideon’s Reprisal enters the fray, affecting all attacking creatures but at a higher mana cost. Wing Shards excels with its lower cost and instant speed, allowing reactive play to surprise opponents. Furthermore, when compared to the sorcery speed Retribution of the Meek, Wing Shards offers a more targeted approach, making sure you can respond effectively without having to wait for your turn.
Therefore, when evaluating similar cards for your deck, Wing Shards maintains its appeal, coupling its mana efficiency with the tactical advantage of instant speed, making it a formidable choice for players looking to keep the battlefield under their control.
Cards similar to Wing Shards by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Wing Shards. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rogue Decklists | Legacy | Azorius Control | Legacy Etapa #01-2024 - Liga Curitibana de Legacy |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Wing Shards doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it can effectively reduce your opponent’s board presence, ensuring they lose more resources than you. This card shines in situations where you’re up against creature-heavy strategies, potentially clearing multiple attackers with a single spell and tilting the card economy in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Wing Shards doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration in the traditional sense. However, its ability to remove multiple threats without the need for additional mana investment beyond its initial casting cost provides a different kind of resource efficiency. This in turn can leave you with more mana available for further plays within your turn or protection during your opponent’s turn.
Instant Speed: The real tactical edge of Wing Shards comes from its instant speed, allowing you to wait until your opponent declares attackers. In combination with the Storm mechanic, you can orchestrate scenarios to maximize its impact, potentially clearing out several creatures and disrupting combo plays or aggressive strategies without telegraphing your intention until the last possible moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Wing Shards doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, it can indirectly lead to card disadvantage. Triggering its Storm ability to its full potential often requires casting multiple spells in one turn, which can deplete your hand quickly.
Specific Mana Cost: Wing Shards comes with a mana cost that includes two white mana symbols, which can be restrictive. This specific mana cost may not seamlessly fit into all decks, particularly those with a more diverse color palette or multicolored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of one generic and two white mana, some players may find Wing Shards expensive for its base effect. In formats where tempo plays a critical role, the card’s cost might seem steep compared to other lower-cost removal options.
Reasons to Include Wing Shards in Your Collection
Versatility: Wing Shards is an instant that can be slotted into various deck builds, particularly those looking to control the battlefield. Its ability to force an opponent to sacrifice an attacking creature makes it a useful tool in multiple game situations.
Combo Potential: This card shines in scenarios where you can trigger its storm ability, allowing you to remove multiple attackers and disrupt your opponent’s strategy. It works well with spells that let you cast multiple cards in one turn, multiplying its impact.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where combat-heavy decks prevail, Wing Shards becomes a highly valuable card. It can effectively counter strategies reliant on powerful creatures and turn the tide of battle in your favor with its scalable effect.
How to beat
Wing Shards is an impactful Instant in the realm of MTG that can turn the tide of battle with its storm ability, potentially foiling an opponent’s offensive strategy. This card forces the targeted opponent to sacrifice an attacking creature, and with each spell cast before it in a turn, it replicates that effect. Therefore, Wing Shards is particularly formidable in situations where multiple spells are played in succession.
To effectively counter Wing Shards, one strategy is to diversify your threats across the battlefield rather than leaning on a single, formidable attacker. Cards like Blossoming Defense, which can grant hexproof, are invaluable as they can protect key creatures from being targeted. Additionally, maintaining a backup plan after the combat phase can mitigate the impact of the card. Cards offering undying or persist abilities help ensure that even if Wing Shards forces a creature to be sacrificed, it won’t be the end of your battlefield presence.
Ultimately, being mindful of Wing Shards when planning attacks and conserving resources to rebuild after it’s been played is crucial. This approach minimizes its potential to disrupt your game and allows you to outmaneuver opponents relying on this defensive strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wing Shards MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Scourge, 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 Wing Shards 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 Wing Shards Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35156 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | ||
| 2 | 2003-05-26 | Scourge | SCG | 25 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | dz25sb | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Daren Bader | |
| 4 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | jn25 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Daren Bader | |
| 5 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 97 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 6 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 79 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 7 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 8 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 278 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 10 | The List | PLST | IMA-38 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wing Shards has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wing Shards card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | An “attacking creature” is one that has been declared as an attacker or put onto the battlefield attacking during a turn’s combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be an attacking creature through the end of combat step, even if the player it was attacking has left the game or the planeswalker it was attacking has left combat. |
| 2019-06-14 | If you cast Wing Shards after combat damage has been dealt, only creatures that survived combat can be sacrificed. |
| 2019-06-14 | Storm counts spells cast before the spell with storm was cast. Spells cast after the spell with storm was cast but before the storm ability resolves aren’t counted. |
| 2019-06-14 | The copies storm creates are created on the stack, so they’re not cast. Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell (such as storm) won’t trigger. |
| 2019-06-14 | The storm ability and the copies it creates all resolve before the spell with storm. They resolve even if the spell with storm is countered. |
| 2019-06-14 | Wing Shards doesn’t target the creature to be sacrificed. The target player chooses the creature as it resolves. |