Shield Wall MTG Card

Shield Wall boosts multiple creatures, providing significant card advantage in one sweep. Its instant speed usage can unexpectedly shift the momentum during battle. Though potent, the card’s discard requirement and color specificity are notable constraints.

Legends (LEG)
1994-06-01 - Number 36

Chronicles (CHR)
1995-07-01 - Number 12

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 63

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 44★

Seventh Edition (7ED)
2001-04-11 - Number 44

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Text of card

All your creatures gain +0/+2 until end of turn.

Cards like Shield Wall

Shield Wall stands as an iconic spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, bolstering your creatures’ defense with a versatile and instantaneous effect. Its primary trait is the temporary +0/+2 boost it grants, akin to spells like Fortify. While Fortify offers a similar immediate defensive increase, it diverges by allowing a player to choose between boosting either the attack or defense of their creatures. This adaptability can turn the tides of battle, yet it lacks the sheer defensive focus of Shield Wall.

Among parallels, Holy Day also comes to mind, yet instead of strengthening creatures, it prevents all combat damage that would be dealt for a turn, embodying a different strategic approach to safeguarding one’s life total. Conversely, Shield Wall’s fortification enables creatures to endure combat, potentially influencing board presence beyond just preserving life points.

Viewing Shield Wall within the spectrum of protective MTG spells, its edge lies in simplicity and cost-efficiency, conveniently fitting into various deck constructions aimed at enduring an opponent’s onslaught. The card demonstrates its unique value through its ability to transform any creature lineup into an imposing barrier, not just for a turn, but by potentially dictating combat outcomes.

Cards similar to Shield Wall by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shield Wall gives boost to your entire army, enhancing the value of all creatures on your battlefield in a single move. This multi-creature support means you’re effectively using one card to improve several, thereby maximizing the utility of your cards in play.

Resource Acceleration: While Shield Wall itself doesn’t produce additional resources directly, by bolstering your creatures’ toughness, it helps ensure they stay on the board. This stability can lead to maintaining your board state without having to expend additional resources on re-casting creatures, thus indirectly contributing to resource savings over time.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Shield Wall at instant speed is incredibly advantageous. It allows you to wait until the most critical moment—such as during combat or in response to an opponent’s spell—to surprise your opponent, potentially swinging the tide of battle in your favor without telegraphing your strategy in advance.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shield Wall demands a card to be discarded as part of its casting cost. For players running low on cards in hand, this additional cost can significantly hamper their ability to maintain card advantage, a critical aspect of winning matches.

Specific Mana Cost: Shield Wall’s casting cost requires white mana, which can be restrictive. Players with multicolored decks might find it challenging to consistently produce the required mana, limiting Shield Wall’s inclusion to mainly mono-white or heavily white-focused strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a steeper mana cost for its defensive effect, Shield Wall may not be as mana-efficient compared to other options. In fast-paced games, the mana could potentially be allocated towards more impactful spells or creatures that offer immediate board presence or utility.

Reasons to Include Shield Wall in Your Collection

Versatility: Shield Wall offers great flexibility for defensive tactics. It’s an instant that boosts your creatures’ toughness, helping you to survive powerful sweeps and combat phases regardless of your deck’s theme.

Combo Potential: This card can be combined seamlessly with strategies emphasizing creatures’ toughness. This interaction opens up pathways to exploit cards that rely on high toughness for activation or enhanced effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board presence is crucial, Shield Wall steps up by preserving your forces against aggressive decks. It reinforces your battlefield position, making it a relevant player in many meta scenarios.

How to beat

Shield Wall proves to be a solid defensive spell in Magic: The Gathering, elevating the toughness of your creatures and potentially turning the tide during combat. Reminiscent of other contingency spells like Rootborn Defenses, Shield Wall has the unique ability to bolster your entire front line, making it much more challenging for opponents to break through. Unlike Rootborn Defenses, Shield Wall does not confer indestructibility but offers a blanket increase which could be the difference between life and death on the battlefield.

Overcoming Shield Wall requires strategic plays that don’t rely solely on combat damage. Board wipes like Day of Judgment which can bypass toughness increases by destroying all creatures could be the key to dismantling a Shield Wall defense. Additionally, spells that reduce toughness, or effects that change combat math, such as flanking, can effectively negate the Shield Wall’s buff, making your opponent’s creatures susceptible once again. Planeswalkers offering unblockable creature abilities or evasion can also serve to sidestep the bolstered lines. It’s critical to adapt your approach and employ these strategies to successfully navigate past the stalwart defense that Shield Wall presents.

In essence, while Shield Wall can create formidable barriers for creature-based attacks, diverse decks with a mix of creature removal, evasion tactics, and board reset abilities can adeptly nullify its advantages and maintain control over the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield Wall MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Wall and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shield Wall Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-06-01	Legends	LEG	36	1993	Normal	Black	Douglas Shuler
2	1995-07-01	Chronicles	CHR	12	1993	Normal	White	Douglas Shuler
3	1997-03-24	Fifth Edition	5ED	63	1997	Normal	White	Scott Kirschner
4	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	44★	1997	Normal	Black	Adam Rex
5	2001-04-11	Seventh Edition	7ED	44	1997	Normal	White	Adam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield Wall has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal