Shield of the Avatar MTG Card


Shield of the Avatar - Magic 2015
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2015
Set codeM15
Number230
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byVolkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts creature survivability through damage reduction, enhancing your board position during games.
  2. Instant-speed activation introduces unpredictability against opponent strategies.
  3. Limited to white mana decks, with a higher mana investment compared to similar cards.

Text of card

If a source would deal damage to equipped creature, prevent X of that damage, where X is the number of creatures you control. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

We are made stronger by those we fight for. Designed by Richard Garriott


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shield of the Avatar offers unique protection that provides a consistent edge during prolonged games. It allows you to maintain a superior board state by safeguarding your key creatures from targeted removal or damage, ensuring your resources remain on the battlefield and keeping you ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: This equipment does more than just protect; it accelerates your resources by effectively saving mana you might otherwise spend on regenerating or recasting creatures. By reducing the need for protective spells and abilities, you can allocate mana to further your board development and strategic plays.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Shield of the Avatar can be activated at instant speed. This feature adds a layer of unpredictability and strategic depth, as you can adjust the Shield’s protection dynamically in response to your opponent’s actions, ensuring that your creatures remain a step ahead of threats and combat tricks even during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Shield of the Avatar itself doesn’t have a discard requirement, piloting a deck where this card is included may dictate a particular strategy where card discard could play a part. Having to discard valuable resources in such scenarios can put a player at a disadvantage, especially when faced with hand disruption tactics from opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Shield of the Avatar requires a very specific mana cost to cast — one white mana. This limitation may restrict its inclusion only to decks that can reliably produce white mana, potentially leaving out a variety of builds that could benefit from its protective abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an equipment card, Shield of the Avatar’s mana cost might be considered on the higher side when compared to other protective gear in MTG. The initial investment to cast and then the additional cost to equip could set back a player’s board development, especially in faster-paced games where tempo is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Shield of the Avatar’s ability to increase toughness based on the number of equipped artifacts and enchantments offers a dynamic addition to decks that are artifact-heavy or have an enchantment theme, allowing creatures to become formidable defenders quickly.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Shield of the Avatar opens the door for potentially powerful synergies. It can work exceptionally well with strategies that maximize the number of artifacts or enchantments on the field, turning even the most unassuming creatures into threats.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating meta, having flexible defense options can be crucial. Shield of the Avatar provides that versatility, offering a consistent way to protect key creatures from common removal spells in various competitive environments.


How to Beat

The Shield of the Avatar is an intriguing artifact in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, providing a defensive boost that scales with the number of creatures you control. To effectively counteract this card, it’s essential to limit your opponent’s creature count, consequently minimizing the shield’s effectiveness. Strategies that prove beneficial against it include board wipes, which reset the playing field, and targeted removal spells, letting you navigate around the protection offered by the Shield of the Avatar. Also, playing cards that bypass creature defenses altogether, like those dealing direct damage to players or featuring the “cannot be blocked” ability, will undermine the shield’s purpose.

Control decks can particularly shine here, as their main goal is to keep the opponent’s threats at bay. Utilizing spells that cause your opponent to sacrifice creatures can also be a workaround, as the Shield does not provide protection from such effects. Managing the rhythm of your play, choosing the right moment to destabilize your opponent’s board presence before their defenses are solidified, is crucial when facing an opponent wielding the Shield of the Avatar.


Cards like Shield of the Avatar

Shield of the Avatar offers an intriguing layer of defense for creatures in your MTG deck. It draws parallels to classic protective equipment like Darksteel Plate, which also grants indestructibility. However, Shield of the Avatar takes a unique approach by reducing damage dealt to the equipped creature for each creature you control, making it particularly potent in decks with numerous creatures.

Another card worth comparing is Whispersilk Cloak, which not only protects a creature from being the target of spells or abilities but also makes it unblockable. While Shield of the Avatar does not make a creature untargetable or unblockable, the potential to greatly minimize incoming damage creates a different but equally effective form of protection.

Lastly, we can look at Lightning Greaves, a standby for swift protection through granting both hexproof and haste. Although it doesn’t absorb damage like Shield of the Avatar, the speed and security it provides are unmatched. Each of these equipment cards offer unique advantages, and Shield of the Avatar shines in scenarios where a wide board presence can lead to significant damage prevention. It stands out as a formidable option for defending your key creatures against a variety of threats.

Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions
Lightning Greaves - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Plate - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Whispersilk Cloak - Darksteel (DST)
Lightning Greaves - Mirrodin (MRD)

Cards similar to Shield of the Avatar by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Library of Leng - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Ivory Tower - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Triangle of War - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Crystal Rod - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Library of Leng - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Seventh Edition (7ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ivory Tower - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Triangle of War - Visions (VIS)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Crystal Rod - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield of the Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 the Avatar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield of the Avatar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-07-18 If multiple effects modify how damage is dealt, the player being dealt damage or the controller of the permanent being dealt damage chooses the order to apply the effects. For example, Dictate of the Twin Gods says, “If a source would deal damage to a permanent or player, it deals double that damage to that permanent or player instead.” Suppose the equipped creature would be dealt 3 damage while Dictate of the Twin Gods is on the battlefield and you control two creatures. You can either (a) prevent 2 damage first and then let Dictate of the Twin Gods’s effect apply, for a result of the equipped creature being dealt 2 damage, or (b) double the damage to 6 and then prevent 2 damage, for a result of the creature being dealt 4 damage.
2014-07-18 To determine how much damage to prevent, use the number of creatures you control when damage would be dealt, including the equipped creature. Notably, if damage would be dealt to multiple creatures at the same time, you’ll count the number of creatures you control before any of that damage is dealt.

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