Stalwart Shield-Bearers MTG Card


Stalwart Shield-Bearers - Rise of the Eldrazi
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Abilities Defender
Released2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameRise of the Eldrazi
Set codeROE
Power 0
Toughness 3
Number46
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAustin Hsu

Key Takeaways

  1. Stalwart Shield-Bearers offers card advantage by strengthening your defenders, leading to favorable board states.
  2. Boosts defensive resources efficiently, enhancing your creatures’ toughness without additional mana or cards.
  3. It shapes the battlefield influence, deterring attacks and reducing the need for instant speed spells.

Text of card

Defender Other creatures you control with defender get +0/+2.

"Hold fast the line! Either we stop them here or we wake up in their guts!" —Tala Vertan, Makindi shieldmate


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stalwart Shield-Bearers may not directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to reinforce your defensive lines can indirectly lead to card advantage. By bolstering your other defenders, it helps maintain a board state that requires your opponent to commit more resources to break through, potentially leading to advantageous trades on your side.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens, it accelerates your defensive resources. By giving other defender creatures you control an additional +0/+1, Stalwart Shield-Bearers provides an economic way to enhance your creatures without the need for additional cards or mana investment.

Instant Speed: Although Stalwart Shield-Bearers itself does not operate at instant speed, its effect on the battlefield can be a deterrent for opponents. Creatures buffed by its static ability can be more ready to counter attacks, somewhat negating the necessity for instant speed interactions and therefore freeing up your mana for other instant speed spells in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stalwart Shield-Bearers do not directly instigate a discard, but they can encourage a defensive playstyle that may inadvertently lead to excess cards in hand, potentially resulting in a forced discard at the end of the turn.

Specific Mana Cost: As a white card, Stalwart Shield-Bearers demand white mana. This specificity requires players to have access to white mana sources, which can limit deck-building flexibility and may not align with all strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two mana isn’t typically considered high, in hyper-efficient or aggressive metagames, investing two mana on a creature that doesn’t impact the board immediately could be deemed costly. In such environments, players might find other cards at the same mana cost providing immediate board presence or other forms of value.


Reasons to Include Stalwart Shield-Bearers in Your Collection

Versatility: Stalwart Shield-Bearers has a place in decks built around defenders. It works exceptionally well in increasing the toughness of other defender creatures, which can be crucial for both offense and defense strategies.

Combo Potential: With the ability to boost other defenders, it pairs well with cards that capitalize on high toughness values, opening up possibilities for combo plays in both casual and competitive formats.

Meta-Relevance: If you find your local meta swarming with aggressive creature strategies, Stalwart Shield-Bearers can provide that necessary bulwark to fortify your defense and hinder opposing attacks.


How to beat

Stalwart Shield-Bearers is a card that reinforces defender decks in MTG, offering a solid boost to all defender creatures you control. But to dismantle the wall it creates, you need to look towards spells that don’t rely on combat. Direct removal spells are your best friend here, allowing you to bypass the buffed defenders. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can efficiently remove key defenders, weakening your opponent’s fortifications regardless of their power.

Board wipes are another effective strategy. A well-timed Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, clearing all creatures, including those buffed by Stalwart Shield-Bearers. For a less nuclear option, consider enchantment removals or bounce spells. Cards such as Disenchant or Cyclonic Rift can neutralize the defenders’ advantage without affecting your board state. Lastly, cards that prevent activations, like Pithing Needle, shut down any abilities your opponent’s defenders might have, making Stalwart Shield-Bearers less threatening.

By understanding its strengths and countering appropriately, you can circumvent the defensive prowess of Stalwart Shield-Bearers and maintain the upper hand in your MTG battles.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players know that each card can make or break their defense, and Stalwart Shield-Bearers is a testament to a strategic bulwark. Its unique ability to fortify your defenders makes it a formidable ally in any deck that values resilience and long game advantages. Whether you are buffering your defense against aggressive onslaughts or looking for synergy in your defender-centric builds, this card is a keystone for durability. Dive deeper into how Stalwart Shield-Bearers can serve as the linchpin in your deck’s defense system and find strategies that help turn the tide of battle in your favor. Step into the circle and armor up your collection with in-depth knowledge and tactics with us.


Cards like Stalwart Shield-Bearers

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Stalwart Shield-Bearers stands out for its niche role in boosting the defense of other creatures. Its defensive augmentation is reminiscent of cards like Bastion Protector, which also provides a toughness and indestructible advantage to your commander. Yet, unlike Bastion Protector, Stalwart Shield-Bearers extends its toughness increase to all other defenders you control, bolstering your battlefield’s resilience comprehensively.

Cards such as Veteran Armorsmith also share the characteristic of strengthening fellow creatures by increasing their toughness. However, Veteran Armorsmith is limited to Soldier-type creatures, whereas Stalwart Shield-Bearers affects any creature with the defender ability, showcasing its specialized utility in a defender-centric deck. Tower Defense is another contrasting card that gives a significant, albeit temporary, toughness boost to your creatures with an added reach ability, but it doesn’t offer the persistent presence that Stalwart Shield-Bearers promises.

These comparisons highlight how Stalwart Shield-Bearers can serve as a valuable fortification tool within MTG defensive strategies, setting itself apart from others by providing a durable, dependable enhancement to a deck’s defenses.

Bastion Protector - MTG Card versions
Veteran Armorsmith - MTG Card versions
Tower Defense - MTG Card versions
Bastion Protector - Commander 2015 (C15)
Veteran Armorsmith - Magic 2010 (M10)
Tower Defense - Gatecrash (GTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stalwart Shield-Bearers MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Stalwart Shield-Bearers and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stalwart Shield-Bearers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2010-06-15 Stalwart Shield-Bearers continually checks which creatures you control have defender and gives the bonus only to them. If an effect causes a creature with defender to lose defender (as Shoal Serpent does), Stalwart Shield-Bearers stops giving it the bonus for as long as it doesn’t have defender. On the other hand, if a spell or ability causes a creature to be able to attack as though it didn’t have defender (as Warmonger’s Chariot does), Stalwart Shield-Bearers continues to give it the bonus because it never actually loses the defender ability.

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