Shared AnimosityHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Tribal Bonus

Shared Animosity features a triggered ability that fires off for each creature you control that is declared as an attacker. It checks for shared creature types among your attacking army. It is important to note that this ability counts individual creatures, not the number of different types they share; even if two creatures share multiple types, like 'Goblin Warrior', they only count as one creature for the bonus calculation.

Resolution and Timing

The triggers go on the stack as soon as you finish declaring attackers. Each creature's trigger resolves independently. When a specific trigger resolves, the game checks how many other currently attacking creatures share at least one type with the creature that triggered it. If an attacking creature is removed from combat before its trigger resolves, the trigger still functions, using the state of the battlefield at that moment to determine the bonus.

Common Mistakes and Strategic Tips

A common mistake is forgetting that 'attacking' is a specific state. Creatures entered onto the battlefield already attacking (via certain abilities) do not trigger Shared Animosity themselves, though they are counted for the bonuses of other creatures that were declared as attackers. Additionally, remember that the bonus is +X/+0, meaning it increases your damage output but does not help your creatures survive blockers with high power.

When to Play Shared Animosity

This enchantment is best suited for aggressive 'Go-Wide' decks. It is most effective when you have three or more creatures of the same type ready to swing. Because it costs only three mana, it can be dropped the same turn you plan to attack, often surprising opponents who didn't account for the massive power boost your board is about to receive.

Interaction examples

Scaling Power with Impact Tremors

Impact Tremors

If you have Impact Tremors on the field and cast several Goblins, you will chip away at your opponent's life total immediately. When you later attack with those Goblins while Shared Animosity is active, each Goblin will receive a power boost based on its friends. This combination attacks the opponent's life total from two different angles: direct damage on entry and massive combat damage.

A Second Chance with Underworld Breach

Underworld Breach

If your Shared Animosity was destroyed or discarded earlier in the game, Underworld Breach allows you to cast it from your graveyard for its escape cost. This is particularly useful in the late game after a board wipe; you can recast your creatures, then bring back Shared Animosity to ensure your next swing is lethal, provided you have enough cards to exile for the escape cost.

Multiple Tribal Triggers

Suppose you attack with three Goblins and one Human. Shared Animosity triggers four times. Each of the three Goblins will see two other attacking Goblins and get +2/+0. The Human, seeing no other attacking Humans, will get +0/+0. If one of those Goblins was also a Human, it would count for both types, but still only provide a +1/+0 bonus to the other Goblins.