Wound Reflection MTG Card


Wound Reflection doubles damage dealt, pressuring opponents and accelerating your path to victory. This card demands specific mana and can restrict deck-building options due to its color identity. Despite its cost, it’s crucial in life-loss strategies and has significant combo and meta relevance.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the end of each turn, each opponent loses life equal to the life he or she lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)

The mission of the Nighthearth, Illulia's cult of murderous cinders, is to intensify every pain suffered in Shadowmoor.


Cards like Wound Reflection

Wound Reflection stands out in the realm of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. This black enchantment resonates with the likes of Exquisite Blood in the sense that both create a massive shift in life point dynamics. While Exquisite Blood triggers upon life loss by an opponent to give you an equivalent life gain, Wound Reflection delivers a different punch – it doubles the life loss that opponents experience in a turn. It’s this potential for exponential damage that sets it apart.

Dictate of the Twin Gods is another card that echoes Wound Reflection’s concept of damage amplification. However, Dictate applies its effect to all damage, not just life loss, and it affects all players, increasing the stakes for everyone involved. Archfiend of Despair operates similarly to Wound Reflection albeit as a creature. Its ability can stop opponents from gaining life and additionally, it doles out damage equal to an opponent’s life lost during their turn. It’s a multifaceted threat that, like Wound Reflection, can quickly close games.

Each of these cards brings its own strategic value to the table. Wound Reflection is specifically revered for its relentless, one-sided punishment, making it a critical component in decks aiming to decimate opponents through incremental life loss.

Exquisite Blood - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Despair - MTG Card versions
Exquisite Blood - MTG Card versions
Dictate of the Twin Gods - MTG Card versions
Archfiend of Despair - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Wound Reflection by color, type and mana cost

Yawgmoth's Bargain - MTG Card versions
Infernal Genesis - MTG Card versions
Murgish Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Caustic Tar - MTG Card versions
Null Profusion - MTG Card versions
Enslave - MTG Card versions
Gibbering Descent - MTG Card versions
Nettlevine Blight - MTG Card versions
Archetype of Finality - MTG Card versions
Thoughtrender Lamia - MTG Card versions
Over My Dead Bodies - MTG Card versions
Lich's Mastery - MTG Card versions
Curse of Fool's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Enemy of Enlightenment - MTG Card versions
The War in Heaven - MTG Card versions
Demon of Fate's Design - MTG Card versions
Genesis of the Daleks - MTG Card versions
Vault 12: The Necropolis - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Bargain - MTG Card versions
Infernal Genesis - MTG Card versions
Murgish Cemetery - MTG Card versions
Caustic Tar - MTG Card versions
Null Profusion - MTG Card versions
Enslave - MTG Card versions
Gibbering Descent - MTG Card versions
Nettlevine Blight - MTG Card versions
Archetype of Finality - MTG Card versions
Thoughtrender Lamia - MTG Card versions
Over My Dead Bodies - MTG Card versions
Lich's Mastery - MTG Card versions
Curse of Fool's Wisdom - MTG Card versions
Enemy of Enlightenment - MTG Card versions
The War in Heaven - MTG Card versions
Demon of Fate's Design - MTG Card versions
Genesis of the Daleks - MTG Card versions
Vault 12: The Necropolis - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wound Reflection shines in decks that aim to control the board. By essentially doubling the damage dealt to opponents each turn, this card amplifies the value of each damaging effect you employ. It doesn’t draw cards per se, but the symmetrical effect can often accelerate your path to victory, which is a subtle form of advantage over your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although Wound Reflection doesn’t directly accelerate mana resources, it can indirectly affect resource acceleration by halving the time opponents have to develop their board and stabilize. By pressuring opponents to respond or face lethal damage, you potentially accelerate the pace of the game to your benefit.

Instant Speed: Wound Reflection operates at a different speed from instant spells but its persistent effect on the battlefield creates a scenario where each spell or attack step that causes life loss is felt immediately. This passive advantage can disrupt opponent strategies and force immediate answers, thereby granting you the upper hand during the crucial moments of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wound Reflection doesn’t necessitate discarding directly, it does potentially conflict with cards in your hand which require you to hold back resources to capitalize on its end-of-turn damage doubling.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment has a demanding color identity, requiring not just one but two black mana, which can restrict its inclusion mainly to black-centric or two-color decks and complicates the mana base in multicolor configurations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of six, Wound Reflection can be a late game play, often coming into action after faster strategies have already established control or achieved victory. This cost becomes a hindrance especially in formats where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wound Reflection offers flexibility as it synergizes with a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those hinging on life point manipulation. Whether it’s in a casual setting where players enjoy unique win conditions or competitive formats that appreciate the card’s sweeping impact, Wound Reflection fits neatly across multiple builds.

Combo Potential: The card is notorious for its ability to close games swiftly when combined with damage doublers or life loss mechanisms. Its ability to apply pressure by doubling the damage dealt to opponents at the end of each turn allows for potent pairings, turning even minimal damage into a significant threat.

Meta-Relevance: In contexts where players are often racing to decrease life totals or employing strategies that deal indiscriminate damage, Wound Reflection shows its value. Its presence on the battlefield must be addressed by opponents, making it a relevant card that can steer the game’s tide in your favor.


How to beat

Wound Reflection stands out as a powerful enchantment in MTG, doubling the life loss opponents feel in a turn at the end of such turn, amplifying the potency of any damage-dealing strategy. To overcome this card, focus on enchantment removals such as Disenchant or Krosan Grip, which can nullify its effect before your life total is irreparably impacted. Another strategy is to employ counterspells, like Cancel or Negate, preventing Wound Reflection from entering the battlefield in the first place.

It’s also beneficial to adjust your playstyle. Prioritize preserving a higher life total and consider using life-gain spells or abilities to offset the potential damage. Cards like Heroes’ Reunion or life-link creatures can provide a buffer against the double life loss.

By staying vigilant and including enchantment interaction tools in your deck, you can effectively counteract the threat posed by Wound Reflection and protect your life total, steering the game toward victory even when facing such a formidable card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the delicate art of deck-building in MTG involves an astute balance of offensive and defensive strategies. Wound Reflection occupies a unique place in this dance—its ability to double down on damage transforms each of your maneuvers into a potentially game-ending power play. To adeptly incorporate this card into your arsenal, focus on understanding synergies and counteractions. Whether you’re tweaking your current deck or crafting an entirely new strategy centered around this imposing enchantment, there’s a wealth of insight to uncover. Embark on this deep dive into strategy optimization and let Wound Reflection guide you to your next overwhelming victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wound Reflection MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Double Masters, 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 Wound Reflection and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wound Reflection Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 812003NormalBlackTerese Nielsen & Ron Spencer
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1132015NormalBlackChris Seaman
32023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 2232015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
42023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8142015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
52023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 10622015NormalBlackKieran Yanner
62023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 4712015NormalBlackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wound Reflection has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 If Wound Reflection's ability resolves, then an opponent loses life later in the same turn, that life loss is never counted by Wound Reflection.
2020-08-07 Multiple Wound Reflections each trigger separately. For example, if an opponent lost 1 life, the first one's triggered ability to resolve causes them to lose another 1 life. Since they've now lost 2 life, the next triggered ability causes them to lose 2 life, and the next 4, and so on.
2020-08-07 When Wound Reflection's ability resolves, it checks how much life each opponent lost over the course of the turn, then it causes that opponent to lose that much life. It doesn't matter how the opponent lost life or who caused it. It also doesn't matter if Wound Reflection wasn't on the battlefield at the time some or all of the life was lost.
2020-08-07 Wound Reflection's ability checks only whether life was lost. It doesn't care whether life was also gained. For example, if an opponent lost 4 life and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with but Wound Reflection's ability will still cause that player to lose 4 life.