Lumbering Lightshield MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Illusion |
| Released | 2021-08-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons |
| Set code | J21 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 5 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Leanna Crossan |
Key Takeaways
- Lumbering Lightshield provides defense, posing a challenge for opponents aiming to penetrate your creature line.
- Flash capability allows strategic deployment, offering surprise plays and enhancing battlefield adaptability.
- Despite its advantages, using Lumbering Lightshield may demand card sacrifice and careful mana management.
Text of card
When Lumbering Lightshield enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals a nonland card at random from their hand. It perpetually gains "This spell costs more to cast."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Lumbering Lightshield card offers strategic depth to your gameplay by providing a creature that can serve as a roadblock to opposing threats. Its presence on the board adds an element of defense, indirectly contributing to card advantage by potentially preserving your life total and other valuable creatures on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Lumbering Lightshield’s ability to be deployed at a low mana cost helps maintain resource parity. This conservation of resources helps in playing other high-impact cards sooner, which can accelerate your game plan.
Instant Speed: Lumbering Lightshield’s ability to flash onto the battlefield adds an element of surprise and adaptability to your strategy. Flash allows you to deploy Lumbering Lightshield when it is most tactically advantageous, such as during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions, giving you the upper hand in the exchange of resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To fuel Lumbering Lightshield’s abilities, you might have to discard a card which can set you back, especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost requires white mana, making it a potentially difficult fit for multicolored decks that might not consistently have the right mana available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a substantial amount of mana to deploy, Lumbering Lightshield might not compare favorably with other creatures or spells that can have an immediate impact on the game with a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lumbering Lightshield is a flexible addition to decks that seek defensive power-ups or require creatures with vigilance. Its adaptability extends to various formats, lending strength in both offensive and protective strategies.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to bolster your defense while potentially hindering your opponent’s plays can pair well with strategies that aim to outpace the adversary by building a sturdy board presence. Its synergy with cards that thrive on defense, like those that damage attackers or benefit from blockers in play, is also notable.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta heavy with aggressive tactics, Lumbering Lightshield can serve as a critical component to slow down onslaughts and maintain board control. It’s particularly impactful in games where maintaining life totals against quick strikes is essential for a long-term victory.
How to beat Lumbering Lightshield
Lumbering Lightshield presents a unique element of gameplay within Magic: The Gathering, primarily known for its potential as a defensive asset. The card brings a new dynamic to creature strategies, particularly in white-based defensive decks. The key to overcoming this force is to employ removal spells that can bypass its shield-like presence. Cards such as Murder or Doom Blade offer an efficient solution, as they remove creatures at a relatively low cost regardless of their defenses.
Another strategy would be to utilize spells that can reduce the creature’s power or toughness, such as Moment of Craving or Lignify, effectively neutralizing the threat before it becomes insurmountable. These targeted spells can serve as a cost-effective method to disassemble the protective barrier that Lumbering Lightshield aims to establish on the battlefield.
Additionally, one should consider taking advantage of flying creatures or those with unblockable abilities, as they can soar over or slip past the defense-oriented stature of Lumbering Lightshield. Incorporating such evasive tactics into your deck can ensure that your path to victory remains clear, even in the presence of robust defensive units.
Cards like Lumbering Lightshield
Lumbering Lightshield springs forth as a unique defender in the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering’s creatures. Its parallels can be drawn with another stalwart guardian, Wall of Runes. Wall of Runes offers both an initial scry and a lower casting cost, qualities that indeed complement different playstyles. However, Lumbering Lightshield separates itself with its added functionality to disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to mill three cards.
Venturing into the realm of enchantments, there’s an interesting contrast with Oblivion Ring. This classic spell also interferes with the battlefield by exiling another nonland permanent until the enchantment leaves play. Lumbering Lightshield, while a creature, exerts influence over the opponent’s deck rather than the board, planting seeds of uncertainty with its milling ability.
When softening enemy lines is the goal, both Jace’s Erasure and Lumbering Lightshield send opposing cards cascading into the graveyard. Jace’s Erasure’s appeal lies in its repeatable effect through card draw, but the Lightshield’s physical presence can deter attackers and mill without additional actions.
Decisively, Lumbering Lightshield stands out within MTG, showcasing a blend of defense and disruption, a testament to its versatility and intrigue for players who favor a more methodical approach to victory.
Cards similar to Lumbering Lightshield by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lumbering Lightshield MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Lumbering Lightshield and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lumbering Lightshield has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |