Shatterstorm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Shatterstorm generates substantial card advantage by decimating artifact-heavy board states.
  2. Its mana demands can challenge multicolored decks or players in need of fast responses.
  3. When artifacts define the meta, Shatterstorm’s value as a disruptive card skyrockets.

Text of card

All artifacts in play are discarded. Artifact creatures cannot be regenerated.

Chains of leaping fire and sizzling lightning laid waste the artificers' handiwork, sparing not a single device.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shatterstorm decimates multiple artifacts in one sweep, effectively dismantling your opponent’s board presence. This can lead to a significant card advantage, especially in matchups where artifacts play a key role.

Resource Acceleration: By removing artifacts that might be used for mana production or to enable combos, Shatterstorm can slow down your opponents’ game plan, hindering their resource acceleration while leaving yours unaffected.

Instant Speed: While Shatterstorm is a sorcery, its impactful nature means that timing it right after your opponent has committed to the board can be as devastating as playing an instant. Optimizing the moment to cast Shatterstorm can be game-changing, ensuring you leverage your resources when they’re most effective.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Shatterstorm doesn’t ask for a card discard, it’s a sweeping effect that doesn’t discriminate, potentially destroying your own artifacts which can set you back if you rely on them.

Specific Mana Cost: As a spell that requires both red and generic mana, Shatterstorm can be restrictive in multicolored decks that might struggle with the needed mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that involves four mana, two of which must be red, some players might find it challenging to cast Shatterstorm at a critical moment, especially when faster low-cost options are necessary to respond to opponents’ threats.


Reasons to Include Shatterstorm in Your Collection

Versatility: Shatterstorm serves as a powerful tool in decks that aim to disrupt opponents’ artifact strategies. It can be pivotal in games where artifacts dominate the board, offering a sweeping solution that can clear multiple threats at once.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from artifact destruction or those that penalize opponents for losing artifacts, Shatterstorm can turn the tide by providing an unexpected burst of advantage.

Meta-Relevance: This card shines in environments where artifact-based decks are prevalent. As metagames shift towards artifacts, Shatterstorm’s value increases, proving to be a formidable inclusion in your arsenal against such strategies.


How to beat

Confronting the Shatterstorm MTG card in a match requires a strategic approach to mitigate its impact. Shatterstorm, treasured for its artifact obliteration abilities, can wreak havoc on artifact-centered decks. To counteract this destruction, one should consider diversifying the deck’s composition beyond artifacts to lessen vulnerability. Incorporating enchantments, creatures, and other non-artifact card types provides a safeguard against this card’s sweeping effect.

Furthermore, cards with counterspell capabilities are crucial in your arsenal, allowing you to negate Shatterstorm before it can resolve. Blue spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can effectively intercept this threat at a relatively low cost. Also, running cards with hexproof or indestructible attributes can ensure your key assets remain on the battlefield even after a Shatterstorm sweeps through. If you’re committed to an artifact strategy, employing cards that can quickly rebuild your board presence post-destruction, such as Open the Vaults or Roar of Reclamation, is a wise contingency plan.

Ultimately, creating a resilient and flexible deck, prepared with counters and recovery options, is the essence of outlasting Shatterstorm’s impact in Magic: The Gathering. Taking these preemptive steps builds a foundation not easily shaken by this powerful sorcery.


Cards like Shatterstorm

Shatterstorm, a powerful spell in Magic: The Gathering, stands out within the realm of artifact destruction. A close counterpart is Vandalblast, another red spell known for its ability to wipe out multiple artifacts. However, Vandalblast offers versatility through its Overload mechanic, which can be a game changer depending on the board state. Unlike Shatterstorm, which removes all artifacts without exceptions, Vandalblast can be cast for a single red mana to destroy just one, or for its Overload cost to mimic Shatterstorm’s effect.

Creeping Corrosion is another spell that echos the sweeping destruction of Shatterstorm, but it’s exclusive to green decks. It also destroys all artifacts but lacks the guarantee of affecting players equally, unlike the equitable annihilation caused by Shatterstorm.

Much like Shatterstorm, By Force allows for targeted artifact elimination but gives the player control over the number of artifacts destroyed, tied to the amount of mana invested. While it doesn’t have the potential for a board-wide clean sweep inherently, it’s possible to reach a similar outcome with enough mana.

The strategic choice between Shatterstorm and its counterparts often depends on the deck’s colors and the player’s tactical needs during a game. But undeniably, in a world full of intricate artifact combos, Shatterstorm remains a formidable option for players seeking decisive and absolute artifact control.

Vandalblast - MTG Card versions
Creeping Corrosion - MTG Card versions
By Force - MTG Card versions
Vandalblast - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Creeping Corrosion - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
By Force - Amonkhet (AKH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shatterstorm MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Revised Edition, 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 Shatterstorm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shatterstorm Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 281993normalblackMark Poole
21994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1761993normalwhiteMark Poole
31994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1761993normalblackMark Poole
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1761993normalwhiteMark Poole
51997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2661997normalwhiteJames Allen
61999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2051997normalwhiteJames Allen
72007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 2292003normalblackPaolo Parente
82017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 482015normalborderlessJohann Bodin
92020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1742015normalblackJohann Bodin
102020-09-26The ListPLST 10E-2292003normalblackPaolo Parente

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shatterstorm has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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