Shield of Duty and Reason MTG Card


Shield of Duty and Reason - Apocalypse
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set nameApocalypse
Set codeAPC
Number16
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAnthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

  1. Protects creatures and strategically deters opponents with its instant speed response capability.
  2. Demands specific mana and a discard, possibly hindering some deck strategies.
  3. Provides strong defense against multicolored creatures, enhancing deck versatility.

Text of card

Enchanted creature has protection from green and from blue.

The duty: to defend. The reason: to survive.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The utility of Shield of Duty and Reason in MTG lies in its ability to protect a creature while potentially deterring opponents from attacking, indirectly maintaining card advantage by preserving your board state.

Resource Acceleration: Shield of Duty and Reason doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration in the traditional sense of providing additional mana, but it can be an enabler for strategies built around creature longevity and synergy, effectively accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed, Shield of Duty and Reason gives players the flexibility to respond to threats as they emerge, thus maximizing tactical options and the potential for advantageous interactions during crucial moments of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Shield of Duty and Reason involves a discard condition that can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already light on playable options.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact demands a precise mana alignment, which might restrict its inclusion to only certain deck builds that can comfortably accommodate its colorless and white mana stipulations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the four mana investment against other potential plays, this card comes with a relatively steep cost, possibly overshadowing alternative cards that could present a more economical approach to defending yourself in the game.


Reasons to Include Shield of Duty and Reason in Your Collection

Versatility: Shield of Duty and Reason is a well-rounded card that can serve multiple roles in your deck. It offers protection against multicolored creatures, which makes it a solid choice for decks looking to fortify their defenses against a variety of threats.

Combo Potential: As an Aura, this card can be part of enchantment synergies or be retrieved from the graveyard by effects that target enchantments. This opens up intriguing combinations and enhances strategies centered around Aura and graveyard interactions.

Meta-Relevance: With multicolored creatures commonly found in many popular deck archetypes, having Shield of Duty and Reason can give you an edge by nullifying key threats efficiently. It’s particularly effective if your current playing environment heavily features multicolored creature decks.


How to Beat

The Shield of Duty and Reason card in MTG can be a formidable barrier, offering a blend of protection and tactical advantages to your opponent. However, prepared players can deploy several strategies to effectively neutralize its influence on the game. For example, utilizing enchantment removal spells like Disenchant can dismantle the protective gear directly, stripping the opponent of their defense. Alternatively, cards that target a player, bypassing their creatures, negate the Shield’s damage prevention capabilities. Bypassing creature defenses with spells or abilities that cause loss of life can be another effective strategy, sidestepping the Shield’s protective scope entirely.

Additionally, if you can shift the battlefield’s dynamics to favor non-combat damage or provide creature buffs, the Shield’s specific prevention of 2 damage from blue and red sources becomes less meaningful. In essence, by broadening your tactical approach and considering the Shield’s limitations, you can turn its presence from an obstacle into an opportunity to recalibrate and launch countermeasures that align with your victory path.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on the strategic adventure of MTG offers boundless opportunities to fortify your gameplay with cards like Shield of Duty and Reason. Its protective prowess bolsters your deck against multicolored menaces, making it a tactician’s treasure. Whether sharpening your defense or building enchantment synergies, the Shield can become a cornerstone of your strategy, nullifying key threats. As you continue on your conquest for deck optimization, consider how Shield of Duty and Reason fits into your collection and could potentially sway the tide of battle in your favor. Curious about integrating this card into your arsenal? Discover the potential and elevate your game with us.


Cards like Shield of Duty and Reason

Shield of Duty and Reason presents a unique defensive role amongst cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its functionality might remind seasoned players of the enchantment Guard Duty, which similarly tethers a creature’s offensive functionality. Unlike Guard Duty, however, Shield of Duty and Reason adds an additional layer of protection — it prevents damage to the enchanted creature from a specific color.

Another card echoing similarities is Faith’s Fetters, which neutralizes an opponent’s card and even provides life gain. While it doesn’t offer color-specific damage immunity, its broader application across any nonland permanent gives it a versatile edge. Then, there’s Pacifism, a classic control piece. It similarly restricts a creature’s combat abilities, yet doesn’t shield against other sources of harm like Shield of Duty and Reason does.

Delving into these cards reveals Shield of Duty and Reason’s niche as a balance between creature-specific control and tailored protection, lending itself to strategic defenses against monochromatic decks. Its comparables indicate its unique position in the defender’s arsenal, adept at frustrating opponents playing within a stringent color identity.

Guard Duty - MTG Card versions
Faith's Fetters - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Guard Duty - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Faith's Fetters - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Pacifism - Mirage (MIR)

Cards similar to Shield of Duty and Reason by color, type and mana cost

White Ward - MTG Card versions
Green Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Strength - MTG Card versions
Lance - MTG Card versions
Consecrate Land - MTG Card versions
Animate Wall - MTG Card versions
Black Ward - MTG Card versions
Blue Ward - MTG Card versions
Holy Armor - MTG Card versions
Red Ward - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Brainwash - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Green Scarab - MTG Card versions
Blue Scarab - MTG Card versions
Armor of Faith - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Armor - MTG Card versions
Flickering Ward - MTG Card versions
Limited Resources - MTG Card versions
Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions
White Ward - Revised Edition (3ED)
Green Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Holy Strength - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Lance - Revised Edition (3ED)
Consecrate Land - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Animate Wall - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Black Ward - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Blue Ward - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Holy Armor - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Red Ward - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Land Tax - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Brainwash - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Spirit Link - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Green Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Blue Scarab - Ice Age (ICE)
Armor of Faith - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Kithkin Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Flickering Ward - Tempest (TMP)
Limited Resources - Exodus (EXO)
Mask of Law and Grace - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield of Duty and Reason MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 of Duty and Reason and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield of Duty and Reason has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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