White Shield Crusader MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Released | 2006-07-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Coldsnap |
| Set code | CSP |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 24 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeff Easley |
Text of card
Protection from black : White Shield Crusader gains flying until end of turn. : White Shield Crusader gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
"Honor your steed and it will carry you to great deeds—and bring you home to tell of them."
Cards like White Shield Crusader
White Shield Crusader is an intriguing creature card that finds its place among the powerful knights of Magic the Gathering. This card offers players protection from black, a quality it shares with cards like Paladin en-Vec, making it a formidable blocker and attacker against decks heavy in black spells. However, the Crusader provides additional flexibility with its ability to gain flying until the end of a turn, making it a more elusive threat compared to the steadfast Paladin en-Vec.
Another card to consider is Silver Knight. Similar to White Shield Crusader, it provides protection from black and carries first strike, allowing it to deal combat damage before creatures without first strike. While Silver Knight remains on the ground, the Crusader can adapt to air combat, presenting a dual threat in the right circumstances. This aspect of versatility can be a game-changer, allowing for more dynamic strategies depending on the state of play.
Overall, the White Shield Crusader stands out with its unique combination of protection, potential for evasion, and combat utility. In the ranks of knight cards within Magic the Gathering, it shines as a versatile option for players crafting a white-based deck with protection strategies in mind.
Cards similar to White Shield Crusader by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the right synergies, the White Shield Crusader can provide a substantial advantage by protecting key creatures or making strategic blocks. Its ability to gain protection from a color of your choice can be pivotal in maintaining board presence against targeted removal or unfavorable matchups.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana acceleration, the White Shield Crusader can contribute to resource acceleration by allowing for efficient trades and preserving life totals. This enables players to deploy their hand more effectively, making each spell and land drop more impactful over the course of the game.
Instant Speed: The adaptability of the White Shield Crusader’s protection ability is enhanced at instant speed, permitting defensive adjustments mid-combat or in response to opponent’s spells. This flexibility can favorably alter the state of the game, turning potential threats into manageable situations with smart timing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: White Shield Crusader requires discarding a particular card to activate its abilities. This can be a strategic setback when you are trying to maintain card advantage against an opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific combination of white mana, which could restrict its playability in multicolor decks that might struggle to consistently produce the necessary white mana symbols.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells in the same mana cost bracket offering potentially greater impact or versatility, White Shield Crusader’s mana efficiency can be questioned. This makes it less attractive in formats where mana curve and speed are crucial.
Reasons to Include White Shield Crusader in Your Collection
Versatility: White Shield Crusader allows for seamless integration into various strategies. Its protection from black makes it a formidable choice against decks heavy on removal, while its mana agility to grant itself flying lends excellent adaptability on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: With the ability to gain flying until end of turn, this card can synergize with equipment and enchantments that reward attacking with flying creatures. Its flexibility in offense and defense setups offers numerous combo avenues for players to explore.
Meta-Relevance: Given its resilience in the face of many common removal spells and the increased prevalence of black in competitive formats, adding White Shield Crusader to your deck gives you an edge in the current meta game. Its ability to adapt to evolving board states makes it a smart meta choice.
How to beat White Shield Crusader
White Shield Crusader stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a versatile white creature card with the useful abilities of protection from black and flanking. This can make the card a formidable opponent on the battlefield, especially for decks that rely on black creatures and combat strategies. The Crusader’s potential to become unblockable to black creatures can pivot a game in its controller’s favor, making it a card worth preparing for.
To counter White Shield Crusader effectively, it’s important to consider removal spells that aren’t color specific. Enchantment-based removal or board wipes like Wrath of God can bypass the protection ability, offering a reliable way to clear the Crusader from the board. Additionally, utilizing combat tricks to minimize the impact of flanking, or simply overwhelming the board with creatures can dilute the Crusader’s combat prowess. It’s also essential to have a diverse range of threats that aren’t solely reliant on black creatures to mitigate the protection the Crusader provides.
Understanding the strengths and limitations of White Shield Crusader allows players to anticipate and disarm the strategy it supports. Employing a mix of removal, combat strategy, and deck versatility is key to overcoming the challenges posed by this tenacious Knight and securing victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase White Shield Crusader MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 White Shield Crusader 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where White Shield Crusader has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |