Angelic Shield MTG Card


Angelic Shield adds combat resilience, potentially shifting battle dynamics without direct hand advantage. Despite specific mana requirements, its low cost harmonizes with efficient strategies, reinforcing defenses. While resource-intensive, its unique attributes affirm its worth in tactical defense-oriented decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Creatures you control get +0/+1. Sacrifice Angelic Shield: Return target creature to its owner's hand.

"If only an angel's wings could shelter us all." —Barrin


Cards like Angelic Shield

Angelic Shield stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a versatile card, offering both a defensive boost and a bounce mechanic. In the sphere of enchantments that protect and empower creatures, Ghostly Prison is worth mentioning. It demands that opponents pay mana to attack you, making it a passive defensive option that differs from Angelic Shield’s creature-centric approach.

Furthermore, there’s Favorable Winds, another enchantment that buffs creatures, but it specifically targets those with flying, offering a static power and toughness increase without the bounce action that Angelic Shield provides. Contrasting with these is the card Glorious Anthem, which simply provides a global increase to your creatures’ power and toughness, lacking the defensive mechanism against attacking forces inherent to Angelic Shield.

Evaluating the different facets of these enchantments shows that Angelic Shield is unique in its dual capacity to enhance creature resilience while offering a strategic advantage through its bounce effect. These distinct characteristics make it a valued card for players who favor dynamic defense strategies within their decks.

Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Favorable Winds - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Favorable Winds - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions

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

Staggering Insight - MTG Card versions
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Staggering Insight - MTG Card versions
Wings of Aesthir - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Pride - MTG Card versions
Wings of Hope - MTG Card versions
Curse of Chains - MTG Card versions
Monk Class - MTG Card versions
A-Dorothea, Vengeful Victim // A-Dorothea's Retribution - MTG Card versions
Dorothea, Vengeful Victim // Dorothea's Retribution - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Strengthening your creatures with a defensive boost, Angelic Shield can reverse the flow of battle. While not directly providing cards in hand, the Shield’s ability to return to your hand when destroyed can elongate its beneficial effects across multiple encounters.

Resource Acceleration: Although Angelic Shield doesn’t generate additional mana, its low casting cost complements a mana-efficient strategy, seamlessly fitting into your curve and leaving resources available for other spells.

Instant Speed: The Shield’s reactionary potential is a strategic asset. Castable at instant speed, it can be deployed just as your opponent commits to an unfavorable attack, turning the tide of combat in your favor and protecting your valuable creatures from unexpected threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Angelic Shield offers a bolster to your defense, it does come at a subtle cost. To play this enchantment, you need to have a specific set of mana available, which could force you to discard other valuable cards in your hand to make room for the correct mana, ultimately draining your resources quicker than you might like.

Specific Mana Cost: Angelic Shield’s effective use is somewhat restricted by its mana cost that requires both white and blue mana. This specific requirement means that it fits best within certain two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility and how easily it can be incorporated into a wide array of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though the protective abilities of Angelic Shield can be useful, the enchantment carries a combined mana cost that is somewhat elevated when compared to other cards with similar protective effects. For those players looking to maintain a lean and efficient deck, the mana investment in Angelic Shield may be seen as too steep for the benefits it provides.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Angelic Shield offers a strong defensive and offensive utility by boosting the toughness of your creatures while also potentially deterring attacks from opponents. It’s a great addition to a variety of decks, including those that focus on creature survivability and battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: Pairing the Shield with creatures that have abilities triggered upon entering the battlefield or leaving it can create powerful synergies. It can also be a tactical asset in bounce strategies, where returning creatures to hand is a recurring theme.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Angelic Shield’s ability to bolster your creatures’ defenses could be pivotal. The flexibility to counteract both ground and aerial threats gives this card a potentially strong standing in diverse matchups.


How to beat

Angelic Shield is a versatile enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, offering both defense and a boost to creature toughness. It poses a notable obstacle by increasing the survivability of your opponent’s creatures against damage and reducing the effectiveness of your removal spells. To tackle this white and blue enchantment, it’s crucial to adopt strategies that can bypass these buffs.

Direct enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize are straightforward solutions, cleanly dealing with Angelic Shield without any fuss. Counter spells also prove effective, preventing the enchantment from hitting the battlefield altogether. This pre-emptive strike ensures that the shield never gets to fortify your opponent’s defenses. Another approach is to use cards that can reduce the toughness of your opponent’s creatures, such as Massacre Wurm or Toxic Deluge, bypassing the Shield’s ability to protect.

To summarize, although the Angelic Shield can provide your opponent’s creatures significant advantages, it is far from unbeatable. With targeted enchantment removal, strategic counters, and alternative cards that circumvent the boost in toughness, you can dismantle your opponent’s defense and pave the way for victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

The enchantment that is Angelic Shield stands out in MTG for its unique blend of creature protection and strategic bounce mechanics. Crafting a deck that harnesses these abilities can give you an edge in battles, especially against aggressive playstyles. When considering your collection, this card offers not just a shield but a sword against opponents, reinforcing your creatures while keeping opponents on their toes. Dive deeper into the synergy possibilities and enhance your gameplay by adding Angelic Shield to your arsenal. For a broader understanding of how to integrate this enchantment and wield its full potential, connect with us and expand your MTG prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angelic Shield MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Angelic Shield and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Angelic Shield Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by Adam Rex.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 2281997NormalBlackAdam Rex
22012-03-30Duel Decks: Venser vs. KothDDI 272003NormalBlackAdam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Angelic Shield has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Angelic Shield card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2009-10-01 Angelic Shield goes to the graveyard when you activate the ability, but the targeted creature does not get returned until the ability resolves. All your creatures lose the bonus while the ability is on the stack which may result in the targeted creature being destroyed before the return can take effect.