Shattered Angel MTG Card


Shattered Angel provides life gain when opponents play lands, offering an ongoing strategic benefit. Demands diverse mana and strategic hand management, which can limit deck inclusion. Combines well with life gain triggers, enhancing its value in the right MTG deck.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Angel
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you may gain 3 life.

She preaches the blessings of the Machine Orthodoxy.


Cards like Shattered Angel

Shattered Angel stands as a unique card in the realm of life-gain creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It is often measured against other life-gain cards such as Serra Ascendant, which boasts an ability to not only gain life but also become a significant threat due to its power and toughness scaling with your life total. Unlike Shattered Angel, the Serra Ascendant offers immediate impact provided you meet its condition, whereas Shattered Angel steadily accrues advantages with each land your opponents play.

Another card that enters the discussion is Archangel of Thune. Although at a higher mana cost, this angel directly leverages life gain to strengthen your creatures, unlike Shattered Angel which is only focused on increasing your life total. Lastly, looking at Auriok Champion, we find a card that provides consistent life gain and protection from two colors. It’s a lower-cost option compared to Shattered Angel, making it more accessible early in the game but it lacks the potential for larger life swings.

The balance of cost to effect, lifegain potential, and utility in a variety of decks makes Shattered Angel a compelling card for players looking to incorporate steady life gain tactics into their MTG strategies.

Serra Ascendant - MTG Card versions
Archangel of Thune - MTG Card versions
Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions
Serra Ascendant - MTG Card versions
Archangel of Thune - MTG Card versions
Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shattered Angel by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shattered Angel affords players a unique form of card advantage by providing consistent life gain, potentially every turn, as opponents play lands. While it doesn’t draw cards directly, it grants a distinct, ongoing benefit that contributes to advantage over the course of the match.

Resource Acceleration: While not a conventional tool for resource acceleration, Shattered Angel can nevertheless be a part of a strategy that leverages life as a resource. This can enable certain cards or abilities that require a high life total to activate, functioning indirectly as an enabler for potent card interactions and plays.

Instant Speed: Although Shattered Angel itself must be cast at sorcery speed, the life gain effect occurs instantly whenever an opponent’s land enters the battlefield. This immediate response can disrupt an adversary’s calculations and strategies, especially in formats where lands can frequently hit the board during all phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike cards that can be cast without additional costs, Shattered Angel requires a strategic approach to hand management. This condition can be particularly taxing when the player is already at a card disadvantage or needs to maintain a robust hand to respond to other threats on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Shattered Angel’s mana cost is not only specific but also demands a diverse mana base. This necessitates that players running this card have access to white mana, which could potentially limit its inclusion to decks that adhere to a white or white-inclusive color scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana for a three-point life swing on creature deployment can be on the higher end, especially in formats where board state is quickly established through lower-costing creatures. There are other creatures and spells that could provide life gain, control, or create an impact on the board for a similar, if not lower, cost investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shattered Angel’s ability to gain you life whenever an opponent plays a land makes it a solid addition to various deck builds, particularly those that focus on life gain or punish landfall strategies. Its decent flying body serves as both offense and defense in the skies.

Combo Potential: This card provides consistent life gain, which can be exploited with cards that trigger on life gain or offer benefits for having higher life totals. Combining Shattered Angel with such mechanics can create powerful synergies in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of aggressive land-based ramp strategies in various formats, having a card that penalizes opponents for developing their mana base can be extremely useful. Including Shattered Angel in your collection ensures you have a counter-play ready, making it a strategic choice for diverse metagames.


How to beat

Shattered Angel is a unique creature that presents a strategic challenge in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to gain you life whenever an opponent plays a land, Shattered Angel can be a thorn in the side of many aggressive decks that rely on a quick land drop acceleration. The card shines in matches where opponents deploy lands frequently, turning their progress into your advantage.

To effectively overcome Shattered Angel, players should consider land plays carefully. Use spells or abilities that can bypass its triggered ability, or simply avoid rapid land deployment if possible. Spot removal spells are a direct answer to the Angel, as are cards that limit life gain for the opponent, ensuring that the angel’s presence on the battlefield is short-lived. In game formats that support it, cards like Torpor Orb or Hushbringer neutralize the triggered abilities of creatures like Shattered Angel, turning an otherwise problematic card into a benign presence.

Ultimately, understanding your opponent’s strategy and having the right counters on hand can nullify the benefits Shattered Angel brings to the battlefield, allowing you to maintain the upper hand in your MTG matchups.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Shattered Angel can be the difference between victory and defeat in your MTG journey. This card weaves together a landscape of life gain and strategy, proving its worth with each land your opponents play. However, it does come with a specific mana cost and higher investment than some alternatives. Deck builders should consider the angel’s full potential and drawbacks when crafting their arsenal. Embracing the tactics to counteract this card is just as crucial. Expand your MTG horizons and refine your collection with informed choices. Dive deeper into our strategic insights and bolster your gameplay now.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shattered Angel MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Commander 2011, 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 Shattered Angel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shattered Angel Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 232003NormalBlackKev Walker
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 312003NormalBlackKev Walker
32017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 232015NormalBlackKev Walker
42020-09-26The ListPLST NPH-232003NormalBlackKev Walker
52023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2062015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shattered Angel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal