Shattered AngelHow it works & interactions with other cards

Divine Life Gain

Shattered Angel features a triggered ability that watches for lands entering the battlefield under your opponents' control. Whenever an opponent plays a land or puts one onto the battlefield via a spell or ability, Shattered Angel triggers. Note that this is a 'may' ability, meaning you must choose to gain the life as the ability resolves.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control. Second, Shattered Angel's ability triggers and is put onto the stack. Third, players have a chance to respond with spells or abilities. Finally, as the ability resolves, you choose whether or not to gain 3 life. If multiple lands enter simultaneously, the ability triggers once for each of those lands.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Shattered Angel triggers on any land, not just those played during the main phase. It triggers for lands brought out by fetch lands, ramp spells, or creature abilities. Also, remember that since it is a triggered ability, your opponent can respond to the trigger before you actually gain the life.

Strategic Timing

This card is most effective in multiplayer formats like Commander where multiple opponents are likely to be playing lands every turn. It acts as a passive source of sustainment that can quickly pull your life total out of reach for aggressive decks while you build your own board presence.

Interaction examples

Punishing the Golem's Search

Solemn Simulacrum

If your opponent casts Solemn Simulacrum and uses its triggered ability to put a basic land onto the battlefield, Shattered Angel will trigger. You will have the option to gain 3 life once that land enters, effectively negating some of the value your opponent gained from their creature.

Double Divine Blessing

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Angel' or 'Phyrexian' as it entered, Shattered Angel's ability will trigger an additional time. Now, whenever an opponent has a land enter the battlefield, you can gain a total of 6 life (two separate triggers of 3 life each).

The Flight of the Angel

Even without other cards, Shattered Angel is a 3/3 creature with Flying. This means it can attack over grounded blockers to deal damage directly to your opponent while simultaneously keeping your life total high whenever they try to develop their own mana.