Shield Sphere MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Wall
Abilities Defender
Power 0
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Shield Sphere provides robust defense, seamlessly fitting into decks without affecting mana curves.
  2. The card’s artifact synergies and zero cost enable rapid gameplay and combo potential.
  3. While limited in offense, its defensive utility makes it a crucial gameplay element.

Text of card

Counts as a wall If Shield Sphere is assigned as a blocker, put a -0/-1 counter on it.

"My Soldiers know that they need never fear for their protection." —King Darien of Kjeldor


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Shield Sphere itself doesn’t draw cards directly, its zero mana cost allows you to deploy other threats or answers from your hand more efficiently. This can help maintain pressure on opponents or improve defensive stands without losing momentum in card play.

Resource Acceleration: As a zero-cost artifact creature, Shield Sphere can be particularly potent in decks that utilize artifact synergies. It effectively accelerates your resources by providing a creature on the battlefield, potentially enabling combos or enhancing strategies involving affinity, improvise, or convoke mechanics, all without tapping into your precious mana reserves.

Instant Speed: Although Shield Sphere isn’t an instant, its zero mana cost effectively gives it flash-like utility. You can deploy it at any time you could cast an instant, allowing for surprise blocks. This can disrupt your opponent’s calculations during combat and help you absorb damage that could have been lethal or otherwise detrimental, keeping your life total safe and your position in the game secure without needing to reserve mana specifically for this task.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Shield Sphere itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, its effectiveness can be limited in decks that could make better use of card hand presence rather than a defensive creature.

Specific Mana Cost: Shield Sphere can be cast for free, which might seem advantageous at first. However, this characteristic can be a double-edged sword in formats where the cost of a card can impact strategic plays, especially those involving mana curve considerations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its zero cost, the defensive value of Shield Sphere may not always justify a card slot in a deck where other zero-cost artifacts or low-cost creatures could offer more utility or aggressive options.


Reasons to Include Shield Sphere in Your Collection

Versatility: Shield Sphere stands out as an adaptable addition to any deck requiring strong defense without incurring mana costs. It’s zero-cost to cast makes it a fit for a multitude of strategies, especially those that need to deploy a blocker without setting back their mana curve.

Combo Potential: With its ability to reduce incoming damage, Shield Sphere acts as an efficient piece in various combo and synergy-based strategies. It pairs particularly well with effects that capitalize on the number of creatures you control or abilities that require creature sacrifice, opening up avenues for inventive gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: As games evolve and adapt, so does the utility of Shield Sphere. In an environment where aggressive, fast-paced decks are prevalent, the Sphere serves as a crucial bulwark, effectively thwarting early onslaughts and preserving your life total at no cost.


How to Beat Shield Sphere

Shield Sphere is a unique zero-cost artifact creature within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to reduce combat damage by blocking is what makes it so unique. At first glance, it seems nearly impervious within the battlefield due to its zero casting cost and the fact that it can absorb hits without costing its controller any life points.

However, key strategies can effectively overcome this defensive bulwark. For one, employing cards that require creatures to tap can neutralize Shield Sphere, as it must be untapped to block. Additionally, spells that deal direct damage or those that cause creatures to sacrifice can bypass Shield Sphere’s protective capability. Cards such as Wrath of God can clear the board including untouchable creatures like Shield Sphere without targeting them directly. Enchantment-based removals or exiling effects present themselves as potent tools in dismantling the apparent invincibility of Shield Sphere. By integrating these strategies, players can easily contain and surpass the challenges posed by Shield Sphere, turning the tide of the game back into their favor.


Cards like Shield Sphere

Shield Sphere stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a zero-cost artifact creature, offering players a defensive option without tapping into their mana reserves. This characteristic is rare and valuable, similar to Ornithopter, another creature that flies onto the battlefield for free. While Ornithopter can be an offensive asset courtesy of its flying trait, Shield Sphere is dedicated entirely to defense with its ability to absorb incoming damage without any cost.

Memnite shares the same mana-free deployment benefit but instead of serving purely defensive purposes, it adds an aggressive one-power punch. Shield Sphere differs by having no power but compensates with a sturdier toughness, making it a better blocker in most scenarios. Phyrexian Walker is another card often paralleled to Shield Sphere, also boasting the ability to be played for zero mana. However, it has a lesser toughness, leaving it less capable of withstanding assaults as reliably as Shield Sphere does in strategic defensive plays.

Analyzing the unique zero-mana cost category, Shield Sphere undoubtedly holds its ground among other costless creatures due to its exclusive blend of impressively high toughness and defensive utility, contributing to its niche appeal in Magic: The Gathering decks focusing on defense over offense.

Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Walker - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - Antiquities (ATQ)
Memnite - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Phyrexian Walker - Visions (VIS)

Cards similar to Shield Sphere by color, type and mana cost

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Fountain of Youth - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Welding Jar - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Spellbook - MTG Card versions
Lotus Petal - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - Alchemy: Dominaria (YDMU)
Ornithopter - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tormod's Crypt - Friday Night Magic 2008 (F08)
Jeweled Amulet - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Zuran Orb - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Fountain of Youth - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Phyrexian Marauder - Visions (VIS)
Claws of Gix - Urza's Saga (USG)
Mana Crypt - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Mox Opal - Double Masters (2XM)
Chalice of the Void - Judge Gift Cards 2019 (J19)
Welding Jar - Mirrodin (MRD)
Chrome Mox - Double Masters (2XM)
Orochi Hatchery - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Spellbook - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lotus Petal - The List (PLST)
Mox Diamond - From the Vault: Relics (V10)
Everflowing Chalice - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Memnite - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
Engineered Explosives - Modern Masters (MMA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield Sphere MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Masters Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Shield Sphere and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shield Sphere Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Alan Rabinowitz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-06-10AlliancesALL 1291993normalblackAlan Rabinowitz
22007-09-10Masters EditionME1 1661997normalblackAlan Rabinowitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield Sphere has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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