Accorder's Shield MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Employs zero equip cost for strategic resource allocation, enabling more spells or board presence.
  2. Equipping at instant speed can surprise opponents, increasing a creature’s chances of survival.
  3. Although cost-free to play, the three mana equip cost may be steep in swift game scenarios.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +0/+3 and has vigilance. Equip

An Auriok shield is polished to a mirror finish even on the inside, enabling its bearer to watch foes ahead and behind.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Accorder’s Shield doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards but it does free up resources. By equipping a creature without paying mana, you effectively gain a cost advantage, allowing you to use your mana elsewhere. This economical use of resources can indirectly lead to card advantage as it enables you to play more spells or invest in more board presence over time.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact accelerates your resources not through additional mana but by its zero-cost equip feature. It means you can play Accorder’s Shield and immediately attach it to a creature without hindering your mana pool for that turn, promoting a faster, more resourceful game play.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Accorder’s Shield can be attached at instant speed if you have creatures like Puresteel Paladin with metalcraft active or any card that allows you to equip at instant speed. This capacity can catch an opponent off guard, significantly boosting a creature’s survivability mid-combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Accorder’s Shield does not have a discard requirement, players should be aware of other cards in their hand before equipping, as the action does not directly contribute to hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Accorder’s Shield requires no mana to play, which is an upside, but it often requires a specific type of creature, preferably one that benefits from vigilance, to maximize its value.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its free casting cost, the equip cost of 3 can be on the higher side for the effect it provides. In a fast-paced game, dedicating that amount of mana can be costly when other equip cards might offer more impactful benefits for a similar investment.


Reasons to Include Accorder’s Shield in Your Collection

Versatility: Accorder’s Shield is a versatile option, able to be slotted into a variety of deck types. Its ability to equip for zero mana means any deck looking to boost creature defenses can utilize it without a heavy investment.

Combo Potential: The shield has synergy with cards that benefit from equipment or artifact count. It can instantly empower creatures with abilities like metalcraft or inspire strategies around equipment-focused cards.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive decks prevail, the added toughness and vigilance Accorder’s Shield provides can turn the tide during combat, making it a relevant addition for defensive strategies.


How to beat

Accorder’s Shield is a well-known artifact in MTG, prized for its ability to bolster a creature’s defense without any mana cost after it’s cast. This characteristic makes creatures significantly tougher to take down in combat, as the Shield provides a boost of 0 defense and Vigilance, enabling creatures to attack without tapping. It’s a key piece in strategies aiming to outlast opponents through strong defenses.

To effectively tackle a creature equipped with Accorder’s Shield, one might consider using removal spells that bypass the creature’s enhanced toughness. Direct removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder are excellent options, as they eliminate the creature regardless of its defensive stats. Additionally, using board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear the board of creatures, regardless of any boosts they’ve received from artifacts like Accorder’s Shield. Alternatively, forcing opponents to sacrifice creatures can also negate the advantages provided by the Shield. Edict effects from cards like Diabolic Edict render the toughness irrelevant by not targeting the creature directly.

Adjusting your strategy to handle creatures fortified by Accorder’s Shield is crucial. Employing robust removal tools or changing your attack approach can neutralize the advantage it confers, maintaining the balance of the game in your favor.


Cards like Accorder's Shield

Accorder’s Shield joins a robust lineup of defensive artifacts within the Magic: The Gathering realm. Like the classic Bonesplitter, it’s a zero-cost equipment, but where it diverges is its focus on fortification rather than offense. Accorder’s Shield grants vigilance and buffs defense, unlike Bonesplitter, which boosts the creature’s attack power.

Exploring further, Darksteel Axe surfaces as a kindred spirit with its indestructibility and equipment theme. While not free to play, it shares the resilience characteristic, ensuring its longevity in the game. Yet, it again differs in priority, accentuating a creature’s offensive rather than protective attributes. Accorder’s Shield’s uniqueness is highlighted by its blend of cost-efficiency and defensive boost, particularly beneficial in decks emphasizing creature longevity over immediate striking power.

Scrutinizing these equipment cards within Magic: The Gathering exhibits Accorder’s Shield’s distinctive niche as a guardian tool in player arsenals, adeptly balancing cost with a decidedly defensive stance, invaluable for strategies that capitalize on enduring board presence.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Axe - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Darksteel Axe - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

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

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Welding Jar - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Spellbook - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Lotus Petal - MTG Card versions
Chimeric Mass - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Ornithopter - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Tormod's Crypt - Friday Night Magic 2008 (F08)
Jeweled Amulet - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Zuran Orb - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Phyrexian Marauder - Visions (VIS)
Claws of Gix - Urza's Saga (USG)
Mana Crypt - Eternal Masters (EMA)
Mox Opal - Double Masters (2XM)
Chalice of the Void - Judge Gift Cards 2019 (J19)
Welding Jar - Mirrodin (MRD)
Chrome Mox - Double Masters (2XM)
Orochi Hatchery - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Spellbook - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Mox Diamond - From the Vault: Relics (V10)
Everflowing Chalice - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Memnite - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
Engineered Explosives - Modern Masters (MMA)
Lotus Petal - The List (PLST)
Chimeric Mass - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Accorder's Shield MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Magic 2014, 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 Accorder's Shield and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Accorder's Shield Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2013-07-19. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 1362003normalblackAlan Pollack
22013-07-19Magic 2014M14 2042003normalblackAlan Pollack

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Accorder's Shield has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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