Shieldmage Elder MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Cleric Wizard |
| Released | 2002-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Onslaught |
| Set code | ONS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 54 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Christopher Moeller |
Key Takeaways
- Shieldmage Elder excels in giving control decks card advantage and tactical flexibility.
- Its dependency on discarding and specific mana costs can limit deck integration.
- Despite cons, Elder’s potent combos and meta relevance make it a valuable collectible.
Text of card
Tap two untapped Clerics you control: Prevent all damage target creature would deal this turn. Tap two untapped Wizards you control: Prevent all damage target spell would deal this turn.
"You may fight if I deem your cause worthy."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shieldmage Elder can be an invaluable asset when it comes to card advantage. By untapping your other Wizards, you effectively harness more utility and potential spells to cast, ensuring that you stay ahead in resources compared to your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: This card has the potential to serve as a form of resource acceleration. It does not directly provide mana but allows you to reuse abilities of your other Wizards as though you had additional resources at your disposal. This can lead to powerful combos and enable you to execute multiple strategies within a single turn.
Instant Speed: While Shieldmage Elder itself isn’t at instant speed, its ability to untap other Wizards can indirectly grant you instant-speed capabilities. Other Wizards with tap abilities can be used during your opponent’s turn, maximizing flexibility and your ability to respond to threats or opportunities as they arise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Shieldmage Elder demands players to discard a card in order to activate its ability. This could place you at a disadvantage, especially if you are running low on hand options and need to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Shieldmage Elder carries a mana cost that requires white mana, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that can produce this type of mana consistently. This limits the card’s versatility in multicolored or colorless decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its abilities, the Shieldmage Elder competes with other cards that could potentially provide a better return on that mana investment. This is especially relevant in formats where mana efficiency is crucial to staying ahead in the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Shieldmage Elder offers an ability to untap other clerics you control, enabling a variety of strategies. As a card with flexible uses, it can protect your key creatures or disrupt an opponent’s plans at crucial moments.
Combo Potential: This Elder can easily become a cornerstone in decks that harness the power of clerics. Its ability to safeguard creatures allows for multilayered combinations and can serve as an engine in synergy-driven cleric builds.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Shieldmage Elder’s protective capabilities gain prominence. Being able to shield your key pieces from targeted removal can tip the scales in your favor during intense gameplay scenarios.
How to Beat Shieldmage Elder
Shieldmage Elder may offer a significant strategic advantage in MTG by protecting key creatures from harmful spells. With the ability to tap and shield multiple creatures at once, it can be a troublesome card for opponents relying heavily on targeted removal. However, there are several reliable ways to counteract its protective skills.
Firstly, taking advantage of board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can bypass the Elder’s ability, as these spells do not target individual creatures. Additionally, cards that cause players to sacrifice creatures, like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil, can force the removal of the Elder or the creatures it aims to protect. Also, employing counter spells when the Elder attempts to use its ability disrupts the flow of the game for your opponent.
Ultimately, understanding the Elder’s strengths and preparing your deck with appropriate counters ensures you are not caught off guard. Maintaining a balance of removal and counter play is key when facing off against such a defensive powerhouse.
Cards like Shieldmage Elder
Shieldmage Elder serves a unique role in MTG, being a notable figure in the realm of creature-based control elements. Its ability to effectively “turn off” an opponent’s lands resembles the function of cards like Dwarven Blastminer, yet Shieldmage Elder can potentially lock multiple lands in a single activation, providing a broader influence over the game’s flow. Additionally, compared to creatures such as Hokori, Dust Drinker, which limits land use universally and symmetrically, the Elder offers targeted disruption, giving players more strategic control.
Analogous to the Elder is the card Patron Wizard. Both offer control through tapping other creatures, yet Patron Wizard sways the battle of spells specifically, as opposed to lands. Also sharing similar space is Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, who brings a different level of control to the table, making your opponent’s spells cost more rather than restricting their resources directly. While less aggressive in its approach, Shieldmage Elder can form alliances with other ‘tap to activate’ creatures, increasing its potential impact on a game.
Shieldmage Elder finds its strength in the selective nature of its ability, setting it apart from other control cards. Embracing the talent to manipulate the battlefield, it presents players with a powerful tool, providing a subtle yet potent authority over the game.
Cards similar to Shieldmage Elder by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shieldmage Elder MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Shieldmage Elder 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 Shieldmage Elder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Shieldmage Elder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | If the ability is activated targeting a spell that becomes a permanent, it also prevents any damage from that permanent this turn. |
| 2004-10-04 | It can tap itself but is not required to do so. |
| 2004-10-04 | Since the ability does not have the symbol, you can use the ability before this creature begins a turn under your control. |
