Structural AssaultHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Structural Assault performs two sequential actions: first, it destroys all artifacts currently on the battlefield. Second, it calculates how many artifacts were put into graveyards from the battlefield during the entire turn and deals that much damage to every creature.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When Structural Assault resolves, all artifacts that do not have indestructible are destroyed and sent to the graveyard. After they are moved, the game checks the total count of artifacts that entered any graveyard from the battlefield since the turn began. This includes artifacts destroyed by this spell, artifacts sacrificed earlier in the turn, and artifact creatures that died in combat. Finally, Structural Assault deals that total damage to every creature remaining on the battlefield.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that this spell only counts artifacts it destroys itself. In reality, it counts every artifact that went to a graveyard from the battlefield this turn for any reason. Another important detail involves shield counters: if an artifact creature has a shield counter, the counter is removed during the destruction step to save it, but the creature will still take the subsequent damage since it remained on the battlefield.

When to Play It

This card is most effective in the post-combat main phase if artifacts have already been traded or sacrificed. It is particularly potent against Treasure-heavy decks, as each spent Treasure token contributes to the damage total, provided those tokens were put into the graveyard before the spell resolved.

Interaction examples

Powering the Assault

Mana Geyser

If your opponents have many tapped lands, you can cast Mana Geyser to generate a large amount of red mana. This allows you to cast Structural Assault and still have mana left over to protect your own creatures or cast follow-up spells after the board is cleared of artifacts and small creatures.

Chain Reaction of Destruction

Chandra's Ignition

If you cast Chandra's Ignition targeting an artifact creature, and that creature dies, it enters the graveyard. When you later cast Structural Assault in the same turn, that artifact creature counts toward the damage total. Structural Assault will destroy all remaining artifacts and then deal damage to every creature, including the damage contributed by the artifact that died earlier to Chandra's Ignition.

Total Turn Count

Imagine you sacrificed three Treasure tokens to cast Structural Assault. When the spell resolves, it destroys two artifact creatures on the board. The spell then counts all five artifacts (3 Treasures + 2 Creatures) that hit the graveyard this turn and deals 5 damage to every creature currently on the battlefield.