Shield of the Ages MTG Card
1995-06-03 - Number 335
2007-09-10 - Number 165
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
: Prevent 1 damage to you.
"This shield is a true rarity: an artifact whose purpose is obvious." —Arcum Dagsson, Soldevi Machinist
Cards like Shield of the Ages
Shield of the Ages stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a protective artifact designed to fortify a player’s defenses. This colorless card offers a similar function to Guardian Idol, which can become a creature or add mana to your pool, but lacks Shield of the Ages’ direct damage prevention capability. Another comparable relic is Crawlspace, limiting the number of creatures that can attack you, though again, it does not provide on-demand damage prevention in the way Shield of the Ages does.
Wall of Tanglecord is also worthy of comparison. It’s a creature that can dynamically guard you from attacks, similarly to Shield of the Ages’ damage prevention. Whereas Wall of Tanglecord offers a physical barrier against creatures, our shield can nullify the damage outright, albeit with a cost. Ensuring differences are noted, such as Shield of the Ages being an artifact, capable of avoiding sorcery-based removal that affects creatures.
Analyzing these options, Shield of the Ages has a specialized role within Magic: The Gathering. It offers a unique type of defense that when used strategically, can significantly influence the flow of a game, demonstrating its distinct place among other defensive cards.
Cards similar to Shield of the Ages by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Shield of the Ages doesn’t directly provide card draw, but its ability to protect your key permanents can be seen as a form of card advantage. Keeping crucial cards on the field longer ultimately means you are gaining value over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Though Shield of the Ages itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its low casting cost enables you to deploy other strategies sooner. By investing only a small amount of mana to protect your assets, you can accelerate your game plan efficiently.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Shield of the Ages at instant speed grants tremendous flexibility. You can respond to threats immediately and efficiently, safeguarding your most valuable cards without missing a beat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Shield of the Ages is its discard requirement. This card asks players to discard another card, which could be a tactical disadvantage, especially when you have a lean hand and need to retain all your resources for strategic plays.
Specific Mana Cost: The Shield of the Ages card comes with a mana cost that is specific and may not always align with your deck’s color scheme. It demands a precise combination of mana types, which may not be readily available at all times, potentially causing delays or even preventing the card from being played when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to mana efficiency, the cost of using Shield of the Ages is on the higher end. This makes it less appealing compared to other options that could provide similar benefits or better versatility for a lower mana investment, thus affecting its inclusion in cost-conscious deck builds.
Reasons to Include Shield of the Ages in Your Collection
Versatility: Shield of the Ages can be a valuable addition to a wide range of decks, offering protection and endurance in battle. It’s a steadfast artifact that can safeguard your creatures or fortify your defenses, adapting to whatever the game throws at you.
Combo Potential: Its artifact nature means it has significant combo potential in decks that capitalize on synergies with artifacts. The Shield can activate abilities, fuel improvise spells, or even be repurposed by cards that utilize artifacts for alternative effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggro decks are prevalent, the added layer of defense provided by Shield of the Ages can be crucial for stalling the opponent and gaining the upper hand. This card becomes increasingly valuable when facing strategies that rely on dealing rapid combat damage to win.
How to Beat Shield of the Ages
Shield of the Ages emerges as a defensive artifact in the realm of MTG, offering players a sturdy blockade against damage. Much like its predecessors in the protective gear category, this card allows a player to prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to them this turn for each 1 mana spent. Its resilience is comparable to that of cards like Healing Salve, with the added benefit of being a repeatable effect, though it requires a steady mana investment each time it’s used.
To strategize against Shield of the Ages effectively, consider employing enchantment removals like Disenchant, which removes the artifact from the battlefield at a low cost. Direct artifact destruction spells like Shatter also serve as capable counters. If your strategy revolves around dealing massive damage, it can outpace the Shield’s prevention capability, rendering it insufficient as your opponent would require excessive amounts of mana to prevent all incoming harm. In this case, pressure with heavy hitters or damage spells can overwhelm the defensive utility of Shield of the Ages.
Overall, beating Shield of the Ages necessitates a blend of direct artifact removal or old-fashioned brute force in terms of overwhelming damage potential, thereby challenging its viability as a protective measure in the current MTG meta.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Shield of the Ages MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Masters Edition, 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 Shield of the Ages and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Shield of the Ages Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 335 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 165 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Shield of the Ages has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |