Shattered DreamsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Shattered Dreams is a targeted discard spell that specifically hunts for artifact cards. When you cast it, you target an opponent. As it resolves, that opponent must reveal their entire hand, allowing you to see every card they are holding. From that revealed hand, you choose one card that has the 'artifact' type, and the opponent must put it into their graveyard.

How it Resolves Step by Step

First, you pay the mana cost of one black mana and choose an opponent as the target. Once the spell resolves, the targeted player reveals their hand to all players. You then inspect the cards and identify any that are artifacts. If there are multiple, you choose one; if there are none, the spell finishes resolving with no discard, but you still gain the benefit of seeing their hand. Finally, the chosen card is placed in that player's graveyard.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is attempting to discard a card that is not an artifact. Unlike more broad discard spells, if your opponent's hand contains only creatures, sorceries, and lands, you cannot force them to discard anything. Additionally, remember that because this is a sorcery, you can only play it during your main phase when the stack is empty.

When to Play It

This card is best played in the early turns of the game to snag an opponent's setup pieces or powerful utility artifacts. Because it only costs one mana, it allows you to maintain tempo while gaining vital information about what your opponent is planning to play in the coming turns.

Interaction examples

Searching for Answers

Demonic Tutor

If your opponent has used Demonic Tutor to search their library for a powerful artifact, you can use Shattered Dreams on your next turn to force them to discard that specific card before they have the mana to cast it, effectively neutralizing their search.

Graveyard Setups

Reanimate

While Shattered Dreams usually targets opponents, in a pinch you could target yourself if an effect allowed it, though it specifically says 'target opponent.' However, if you use it on an opponent to discard an artifact creature, you can then follow up with Reanimate to put that artifact creature onto the battlefield under your own control.