Inkshield MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Inkshield converts damage into creature tokens, effectively swinging game momentum in your favor.
  2. Instant speed allows for unexpected defense and counterattack during critical combat phases.
  3. The card’s specific mana cost and high investment require strategic deck construction and mana management.

Text of card

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to you this turn. For each 1 damage prevented this way, create a 2/1 white and black Inkling creature token with flying.

Silverquill's elite know how to offer a scathing rebuttal without uttering a word.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Inkshield boasts a unique ability to turn potential damage into a swarm of creature tokens. This potent defensive spell can create an army in a flash, outmatching your opponent’s forces and stacking the deck in your favor. The creature tokens generated can represent significant card advantage, capable of overwhelming adversaries or fortifying your defenses.

Resource Acceleration: The card doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration in the traditional sense of ramping mana, but it accelerates your board presence. Each point of damage prevented can equate to a speed boost in deploying threats, effectively bypassing the need for extensive mana resources to build your army.

Instant Speed: Inkshield’s instant speed is its ace in the hole, allowing for a strategic surprise that can turn the tide of battle. It can be deployed in response to an opponent’s attack, negating what might have been crippling damage and instead supplying you with a ready-made offensive force. This reactive capability makes it a powerful tool for seizing control of the game at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Inkshield necessitates having cards in hand to maximize its surprise factor. In situations where your hand is empty, its surprise defensive power is nullified, putting you at a disadvantage if you can’t follow up with additional plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Featuring both white and black mana in its casting cost, Inkshield demands a dedicated color commitment, making it less flexible in decks that don’t run both colors or have a reliable mana base to support such costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five mana, which includes two specific colors, Inkshield is an expensive combat trick. Its cost is substantial, and while its effect can be game-changing, the investment can be prohibitive especially when cheaper alternatives for protection or board presence might be more appropriate in certain deck strategies.


Reasons to Include Inkshield in Your Collection

Versatility: Inkshield isn’t just a defensive spell. Its capability to turn damage into an army of tokens makes it a strong addition to decks that focus on token strategies or need a surprise swing in power.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders with effects that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or dying. Coupling it with cards that buff tokens or with sacrifice outlets can yield significant benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by aggressive decks, Inkshield shines by offering a potential board swing. It acts as a deterrent against overwhelming attacks, making it a wise choice for control or midrange decks facing a creature-heavy meta.


How to beat

Inkshield is one of those cards in Magic: The Gathering that can turn the tide of battle unexpectedly. When defending against this card’s effects, one strategy stands out: avoidance of single, overwhelming attacks. Since Inkshield creates 1/1 Soldier tokens equal to the damage prevented, spreading your assault over multiple turns or diversifying your attack strategy minimizes the card’s impact. Utilizing spells or abilities that restrict your opponent’s ability to cast during your turn can also be beneficial, as Inkshield is cast as an instant.

Moreover, cards that prevent token generation or impair the use of instants play a pivotal role as well. Focusing on such preemptive measures, like deploying Rule of Law to cap the number of spells your opponent can cast, can make it difficult for them to use Inkshield effectively. And remember, direct removal of those tokens post-creation with board wipes or damage spells like Pyroclasm helps manage the aftermath of a successfully cast Inkshield.

Adapting your gameplay style to emphasize constant pressure while being wary of overcommitting to a single attack will help you navigate around Inkshield and maintain an advantage over your opponents during keenly fought games.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic uses of Inkshield and add new dimensions to your MTG gameplay. With its robust ability to convert potential damage into an instantaneous army, you’ll need creative strategies and a discerning eye for the opportune moment to turn the tables in your favor. Adapt to the evolving battlefield and utilize the surprise element to outmaneuver opponents. Continually expand your arsenal with cards that complement or counter Inkshield, ensuring you’re prepared for whatever comes your way. For an in-depth guide on optimizing Inkshield’s potential and integrating it seamlessly into your collection, join us for further insights.


Cards like Inkshield

Inkshield stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a clever defensive tactic with a twist. This card is a unique fusion of damage prevention and creature generation that makes it a staple in Commander decks. When compared to cards like Teferi’s Protection, Inkshield offers a different approach. While Teferi’s Protection grants complete invulnerability for a turn, Inkshield prevents damage and creates attacking opportunities with the token army it produces.

Comparably, Aetherize is another reactive card that can turn the tides of combat. However, Aetherize doesn’t prevent damage or create tokens; it simply returns attacking creatures to their owner’s hand. For those looking for both protection and a counterattack, Inkshield provides a dual advantage. Another card to consider is Settle the Wreckage, which exiles attacking creatures. It helps control the battlefield but unlike Inkshield, does not offer the benefit of adding creature tokens to your side of the field.

The context of commander engagements brings out the true power of Inkshield, where the token army can be absolutely game-changing. The capacity to create an army while nullifying an opponent’s attack can quickly shift the game in your favor, making it more than just a protective spell but also a strategic pivot for offense.

Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Aetherize - MTG Card versions
Settle the Wreckage - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Aetherize - Gatecrash (GTC)
Settle the Wreckage - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)

Cards similar to Inkshield by color, type and mana cost

Profit // Loss - MTG Card versions
Closing Statement - MTG Card versions
Profit // Loss - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Closing Statement - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Inkshield MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Inkshield and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Inkshield Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Jarel Threat.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 901802015normalblackJarel Threat
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 712015normalblackJarel Threat
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3982015normalblackJarel Threat

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Inkshield has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-04-16 If multiple damage prevention effects would apply to combat damage that would be dealt to you, you get to choose the order the prevention effects are applied in.

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