Shrapnel Blast
Instant
As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice an artifact.
Shrapnel Blast deals 5 damage to any target.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Magic 2015
- Price
- $0.23
- EDHREC rank
- #17633
Shrapnel Blast deals 5 damage for two mana — the most efficient direct damage spell in any format that permits it — but it costs you an artifact to get there. In decks built around expendable artifacts, that's a feature, not a drawback.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Modern and Legacy, Shrapnel Blast is a closing tool in Affinity and Hardened Scales shells, where sacrificing a Memnite or Ornithopter to dome an opponent for 5 ends games out of nowhere. Pioneer runs leaner artifact support, so Shrapnel Blast sees less play there but still fits aggressive artifact synergy lists. In Commander, the card is niche — 5 damage rarely kills a player at 40 life on its own — but sacrifice-matters commanders who also want artifact fodder can use it as targeted removal or a finisher off a combo turn.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.23 bulk tier
At $0.23, Shrapnel Blast is deep bulk — easy to pick up as a four-of without thinking about it. Demand from competitive Modern play keeps it from bottoming out entirely, so don't expect it to get cheaper.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.