Wall of Shards
~$5.97 low · ~$10.06 high
White. Snow Creature — Wall
Coldsnap #23 · Illustrated by Alex Horley-Orlandelli
Coldsnap #23 · Illustrated by Alex Horley-OrlandelliWhat is Wall of Shards worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
Defender, flying
Cumulative upkeep—An opponent gains 1 life. (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)
1/8
Format legality
All 2 printings of Wall of Shards
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The List plst #CSP-23· 2020uncommon· Cardmarket €3.40 foil | uncommon | No non-foil printing | $5.97 | €3.40 foil | |
 Coldsnap csp #23· 2006uncommon· Cardmarket €3.20 · €4.93 foil | uncommon | $6.34 | $10.06 | €3.20€4.93 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Wall of Shards
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Card details
- First printed
- 2006
- Printings
- 2
- Mana value
- 2
- EDHREC rank
- #8,770 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Keywords
- Cumulative upkeep, Flying, Defender
- Artist
- Alex Horley-Orlandelli
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Coldsnap card (#23).
23
- 23Collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
Cards from 1998 to mid-2014 print the collector number over the set's card count (like 90/383) next to the copyright line. They have no rarity letter, set code or language code: the set symbol and its colour show the set and rarity.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Wall of Shards, read from the Coldsnap printing. How to read any Magic card.
- Name
- Wall of Shards. Rules use the English name in every language.
- Mana cost
- Mana value 2: the total mana in the cost, colors ignored.
- Type line
- Snow is a supertype. Creature is the card type. Wall is the subtype, after the dash.
- Text box
- What the card does. Italic text in brackets is reminder text: it explains a rule and has no effect on the game.
- Power / toughness
- 1/8: power is the combat damage it deals; toughness is how much damage destroys it.
- Illustration
- By Alex Horley-Orlandelli. The art has no effect on the game.
- Set symbol
- Coldsnap. Silver means uncommon.
- Collector number
- 23 = collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
- Artist
- Alex Horley-Orlandelli, after the paintbrush.
- Copyright
- Wizards of the Coast's copyright notice, with the year.
Keywords
- DefenderCR 702.3
- It can't attack.
- FlyingCR 702.9
- It can be blocked only by creatures with flying or reach.
- Cumulative upkeepCR 702.24
- Each upkeep, add an age counter, then pay the cost once for each age counter or sacrifice it.
Rule numbers from the Magic Comprehensive Rules, version of September 25, 2026.
Rulings (2)
2006-07-15
When paying Wall of Shards’ cumulative upkeep, you may choose a different opponent for each age counter, or you can choose the same opponent multiple times.
2008-10-01
Paying cumulative upkeep is always optional. If it’s not paid, the permanent with cumulative upkeep is sacrificed. Partial payments of the total cumulative upkeep cost can’t be made. For example, if a permanent with “cumulative upkeep
” has three age counters on it when its cumulative upkeep ability triggers, it gets another age counter and then its controller chooses to either pay 
or sacrifice the permanent.
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