Pariah's Shield MTG Card

Pariah's Shield - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
2005-10-07 - Number 267

Pariah's Shield - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 264

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 393

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 393z

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number RAV-267

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Key Takeaways

Pariah’s Shield’s versatility allows redirection of damage, strategically protecting players and creatures.
Its synergy with indestructible partners offers powerful combo potential and board dominance.
The shield’s meta relevance counters direct damage and aggressive strategies effectively.

Text of card

All damage that would be dealt to you is dealt to equipped creature instead. Equip

To bear the shield of the pariah is the highest honor a Boros can receive—and the last.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pariah’s Shield offers significant defensive value, allowing you to redirect damage from your creatures or yourself to a creature equipped with the shield. This creates a tactical advantage, as you effectively negate damage that could be detrimental to your board state.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, Pariah’s Shield can prevent resource loss by protecting your valuable creatures. This enables you to maintain a strong presence on the board without needing to expend additional cards or mana to recover from damage.

Instant Speed: While Pariah’s Shield itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it has synergies with instant-speed spells that can alter board dynamics mid-combat. Instant speed interaction with Pariah’s Shield means you can adapt unexpected plays, effectively turning an opponent’s attack into a strategic disadvantage for them.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pariah’s Shield necessitates keeping a creature on the board to be effective as it redirects damage to the equipped creature. In a situation where your board is cleared or you’re unable to maintain a creature presence, this card loses its value significantly.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring white mana for its activation, Pariah’s Shield is more restricted in its deck inclusion. This can be a deterrent for players running multicolor decks with a tight mana base that cannot reliably produce white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana and an additional cost to equip, this artifact can be a heavy investment in the early to mid-game. Players might opt for other protection strategies or defensive measures that are more mana-efficient and offer more immediate board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pariah’s Shield is a multi-use artifact that can be slotted into various MTG decks. Its ability to redirect damage to a creature of your choice makes it a strategic addition for decks emphasizing durability and protecting valuable creatures or planeswalkers.

Combo Potential: This card is known for its incredible synergy, especially with creatures that are indestructible or have damage-prevention abilities. By combining Pariah’s Shield with the right creatures, you can establish an almost unbreakable defense line, turning potential weakness into a fortress-like strength.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where direct damage and creature-based aggression are prevalent, Pariah’s Shield provides a unique countermeasure. It can turn the tables on your opponent’s strategy, giving you a distinct edge in matches where staying power and surprise defensive shifts can make all the difference.

How to beat Pariah’s Shield

Pariah’s Shield is a unique artifact that can shift the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering. When equipped, it redirects any damage that would be dealt to you to the enchanted creature instead. This effect can create seemingly impenetrable defenses, but beating it is not impossible. There are a few strategies that can help you dismantle this wall of protection.

One approach is to use removal spells that target artifacts directly, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, efficiently disposing of Pariah’s Shield before its effect becomes problematic. Another method is to remove the creature it’s attached to, through spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile. Alternatively, you can focus on overwhelming your opponent with multiple threats, diluting the effectiveness of the shield’s redirection ability.

Outpacing the equipment is also viable; since equipping Pariah’s Shield requires a sizable investment of five mana initially and then three to attach to a creature, this can be exploited. Playing aggressively in the early game can put opponents behind before they can fully utilize the shield. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll increase your chances of overcoming the defense that Pariah’s Shield provides to your adversaries.

Cards like Pariah's Shield

Pariah’s Shield is an intriguing artifact in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that finds close similarities with the card Pariah. Both create a cushion against damage by redirecting it, but Pariah’s Shield offers greater versatility by being equipable to any creature. Unlike Pariah, which enchants a single creature, the shield can be reassigned if the creature it protects is removed from the battlefield.

Delving into the arsenal of damage prevention, we see Darksteel Plate with its indestructible keyword ensuring the equipped creature avoids fatal blows. However, the Plate does not prevent damage to your life points as Pariah’s Shield can. Another notable mention is Indestructibility, an aura that grants indestructible to the enchanted creature. Still, it doesn’t offer the broad protection against all damage directed to you that qualifies Pariah’s Shield as a defensive keystone.

Each of these cards provides a unique defensive angle, but Pariah’s Shield stands out with its transferable shield ability. This adaptability makes Pariah’s Shield a distinctive choice for players looking to fortify key creatures or strategically divert damage, fortifying its position in defensive MTG strategies.

Cards similar to Pariah's Shield by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pariah's Shield MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and The List, 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 Pariah's Shield and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pariah's Shield Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Doug Chaffee.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2005-10-07	Ravnica: City of Guilds	RAV	267	2003	Normal	Black	Doug Chaffee
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	RAV-267	2003	Normal	Black	Doug Chaffee
3	2024-01-12	Ravnica Remastered	RVR	264	2015	Normal	Black	Doug Chaffee
4	2024-01-12	Ravnica Remastered	RVR	393	1997	Normal	Black	Doug Chaffee
5	2024-01-12	Ravnica Remastered	RVR	393z	2015	Normal	Black	Doug Chaffee

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pariah's Shield has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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