Shake the FoundationsHow it works & interactions with other cards

Ground Tremors

When Shake the Foundations resolves, it identifies every creature currently on the battlefield that does not have the flying keyword. It deals exactly 1 damage to each of these creatures. This includes your own creatures, so be careful if you have low-toughness units you want to keep alive.

Resolving the Spell

The spell follows a specific sequence. First, the damage is dealt to all non-flying creatures simultaneously. Second, you draw a card. Even if there are no creatures on the battlefield to damage, you still draw a card as long as the spell resolves successfully.

Timing and Strategy

Because this is an instant, you can cast it during your opponent's turn to disrupt an attack or at the end of their turn to dig for answers. It is excellent against 'go-wide' strategies involving 1/1 tokens like Goblins or Soldiers that lack evasion.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that this spell does not target. Effects that grant 'Hexproof' or 'Shroud' will not protect a creature from the 1 damage, as the spell affects the board state generally rather than targeting specific permanents.

Interaction examples

Cycling for Value

If your opponent has an empty board, you can still cast Shake the Foundations during their end step. Since the spell does not require targets, it will simply deal 0 damage to the empty board and allow you to draw a card, effectively replacing itself in your hand.

The Redirect Trap

Deflecting Swat

If you cast Shake the Foundations, an opponent cannot use Deflecting Swat to save their creatures. Since Shake the Foundations does not have the word 'target' in its damage-dealing text, there are no targets for Deflecting Swat to change.

Responding to Shuffles

Chaos Warp

Suppose an opponent casts Chaos Warp on your favorite enchantment. You can cast Shake the Foundations in response. Shake the Foundations will resolve first, dealing its damage and drawing you a card, before the Chaos Warp resolves to shuffle your permanent into your library.