Beskir Shieldmate MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Beskir Shieldmate offers dual creatures for one card, enhancing board state and card efficiency.
  2. Its after-death token generation provides resourcefulness in various deck strategies.
  3. Counterintuitive instant speed ability grants unexpected combat or removal responses.

Text of card

When Beskir Shieldmate dies, create a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token.

"If we fall today, let us fall with honor, defending our realm from the horrors that would defile it. Forward, shieldmates! To Starnheim!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Beskir Shieldmate not only provides a solid body on the battlefield upon being cast, but it also creates an additional creature token when it dies. This means getting two creatures for the cost of one card, effectively bolstering your board presence and maintaining card parity.

Resource Acceleration: While Beskir Shieldmate itself doesn’t directly produce additional resources, the creature token it leaves behind can be utilized for various synergies within a deck, including sacrificing it for mana with other card interactions or using it as an additional asset for convoking spells into play faster.

Instant Speed: Although Beskir Shieldmate is a creature spell typically played at sorcery speed, its secondary ability that creates a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token triggers upon death, providing strategic advantage. This can incidentally happen at instant speed during combat or in response to removal, subtly shifting the pace in your favor without consuming additional turns or requiring separate instant speed cards.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Beskir Shieldmate requires you to have another card in hand to trigger its “Raid” ability, making it less appealing for players running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: The Shieldmate demands a white mana to play, which can restrict its inclusion in multi-colored or colorless decks that may not always have white mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a 2/2 creature, the mana cost of the Beskir Shieldmate is somewhat steep. There are potential alternatives offering more substantial board presence or additional abilities at a similar, if not lower, cost.


Reasons to Include Beskir Shieldmate in Your Collection

Versatility: Beskir Shieldmate is a flexible card that can seamlessly fit into a variety of decks, particularly those that favor a more aggressive approach or seek to benefit from having additional creatures on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: With its ability to leave behind a 1/1 token after death, Beskir Shieldmate pairs well with decks that take advantage of token generation strategies or those that require creature sacrifice for larger payoffs, thus maximizing board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board presence and early aggro strategies are prevalent, including Beskir Shieldmate can be particularly effective. It enhances your ability to maintain a robust lineup of creatures, ensuring that even if it is removed from play, you still retain some battlefield influence.


How to Beat Beskir Shieldmate

Beskir Shieldmate stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a reliable creature with an afterlife ability, bestowing a modest bonus when it leaves the battlefield. In games, the key to overcoming a card like Beskir Shieldmate is to disrupt the player’s strategy and mitigate the impact of the card’s death trigger.

One effective method is utilizing exile removal spells. Exiling Beskir Shieldmate ensures that its death trigger doesn’t activate, denying your opponent that extra 1/1 human warrior token. Be mindful of timing your removal spells to either preempt strategic blockings or react to your opponent’s attack declarations. In addition, targeted discard can disrupt plans by removing Beskir Shieldmate from your opponent’s hand before they ever get a chance to cast it.

Overall, the strategy lies not just in removing the Shieldmate, but also in managing the board to nullify the benefits your opponent gets from its ability. By denying resources and keeping the battlefield under control, you can diminish the impact of Beskir Shieldmate and maintain the upper hand throughout the duel.


Cards like Beskir Shieldmate

Beskir Shieldmate stands in the vanguard of protective creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card finds parallels with other creatures that also bring a defensive edge to your battlefield, such as Gallant Cavalry. With Gallant Cavalry, you not only get a knight but also a 2/2 knight token with vigilance, resembling the protective role Beskir Shieldmate plays. However, Beskir Shieldmate has the added benefit of bolstering another creature with a +1/+1 counter upon its demise, carving a niche for itself within the cohort of Guardian cards.

Another close compatriot in the realm of creature defense is the Omenpeaker. While primarily used for setting up your draw with scrying action, Omenpeaker brings along a 1/3 body that can serve as an early blocker, akin to the early defensive play Beskir Shieldmate offers. Yet, it lacks the subsequent ability to empower your forces, an aspect where Beskir Shieldmate shines by tipping the scales during combat trade-offs.

Summing up, Beskir Shieldmate not only holds the line against advancing threats but also passes its mantle through the +1/+1 counter, making it a card that punches above its weight in creature-oriented strategies within Magic: The Gathering, ensuring its relevance beyond its presence on the battlefield.

Gallant Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Gallant Cavalry - Core Set 2019 (M19)

Cards similar to Beskir Shieldmate by color, type and mana cost

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Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
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Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Beskir Shieldmate // Beskir Shieldmate MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim Art Series and Kaldheim, 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 Beskir Shieldmate // Beskir Shieldmate and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Beskir Shieldmate // Beskir Shieldmate Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Manuel Castañón.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-02-05Kaldheim Art SeriesAKHM 12015art_seriesborderlessManuel Castañón
22021-02-05KaldheimKHM 42015normalblackManuel Castañón

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Beskir Shieldmate has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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