Ethersworn Shieldmage MTG Card

Ethersworn Shieldmage - Alara Reborn (ARB)

Alara Reborn (ARB)
2009-04-30 - Number 4

Archenemy (ARC)
2010-06-18 - Number 84

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Vedalken Wizard
Abilities	Flash
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Ethersworn Shieldmage excels in preserving creatures on the board and maintaining card advantage against opponents.
Its flash ability provides surprise defensive power, making resource allocation more resilient and strategic.
While potent, its specific mana cost and competition for deck slots can limit its flexibility in some strategies.

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash When Ethersworn Shieldmage comes into play, prevent all damage that would be dealt to artifact creatures this turn.

"See, children of metal? Already your bodies are rejecting harm. Continue on our path, and perfection will be yours."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ethersworn Shieldmage can play a crucial role in protecting your other creatures on the board, effectively preserving your card count while potentially causing your opponent to lose theirs in combat or through removals spells gone awry.

Resource Acceleration: By efficiently utilizing your mana to cast Ethersworn Shieldmage at a pivotal moment, you not only utilize resources effectively, but you’re also setting the stage for a swift counter-attack. Its ability doesn’t directly increase your mana pool, but by saving your creatures, you maintain the advantage of not needing to spend additional resources later.

Instant Speed: Ethersworn Shieldmage’s flash ability means you can cast it anytime you could cast an instant, allowing for surprise defenses and making your opponent think twice about when to engage. Being able to deploy a protective mage at instant speed gives you the tactical edge, adapting to threats as they arise.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ethersworn Shieldmage may not have a direct discard requirement, but its artifact and multicolor nature means it could potentially compete for slots in a deck with other cards that do require discards, affecting your hand balance.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Ethersworn Shieldmage demands both white and blue mana, which makes it less flexible and can be a hindrance in decks that are not geared towards a Esper or artifact synergy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Ethersworn Shieldmage requires three mana, which is a significant investment for a card whose primary role is to provide a situational protective ability. In fast-paced games, players might opt for lower-cost creatures or more versatile protection spells.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ethersworn Shieldmage fits a variety of decks, serving as a protective measure against board wipes or damaging spells, making it a staple for decks that prioritize the safety of their creatures.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy potential, particularly in decks focusing on artifact and multicolored strategies. Its flash ability allows for unexpected defensive plays, turning the tide in complex board states.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s heavy on sweepers and combat tricks, Ethersworn Shieldmage’s ability to give other creatures you control a shield against harm is incredibly relevant. This can make it a key player in your lineup against many of today’s common strategies.

How to beat Ethersworn Shieldmage

Ethersworn Shieldmage presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to safeguard artifacts and artifact creatures. Encountering this card in Magic: The Gathering can seem daunting given the instant speed of its protective ability. The key to countering this spell lies in timing and card selection. Prioritize removal spells that can circumvent its shield, such as those that cause loss of life rather than direct damage.

Consider using split second spells, which can be cast when other abilities can’t, to efficiently deal with the Shieldmage before its ability is activated. Alternately, taking advantage of board wipes that don’t target individual creatures can outmaneuver the mage’s protective capability. Targeted discard can also be quite effective, allowing you to remove Ethersworn Shieldmage from an opponent’s hand before it can be played.

Ultimately, conquering this MTG card demands foresight and strategy. By effectively timing your spells and employing non-targeted removals, the potent defense of Ethersworn Shieldmage becomes much less intimidating, ensuring your path to victory remains clear.

Cards like Ethersworn Shieldmage

Ethersworn Shieldmage acts as a utility and protection card in MTG, particularly effective in multiplayer formats like Commander. It shines in decks that focus on artifacts and creatures with its flash ability, allowing you to cast it unexpectedly and protect your key pieces from damaging spells or effects. For comparison, consider the card Aviary Mechanic, which serves a different purpose by allowing you to return another permanent you control to your hand, potentially reusing enter-the-battlefield effects.

Another somewhat parallel card is Selfless Spirit. Like Ethersworn Shieldmage, it provides protection to your creatures; however, instead of granting shield-like protection until end of turn, it sacrifices itself to give your creatures indestructible until end of turn. Also of note is the Leonin Abunas, who gives your artifacts blanket protection from opponents’ targeting spells, but lacks the flash and surprise factor of the Shieldmage.

Through comparing these mechanics, Ethersworn Shieldmage finds its unique spot in any MTG player’s arsenal for its mix of artifact synergy, creature protection, and tactical timing, giving it a place in decks that prioritize instant-speed interaction and defense over other forms of board manipulation or permanent protection.

Cards similar to Ethersworn Shieldmage by color, type and mana cost

Fieldmist Borderpost - MTG Card versions

Goldbug, Humanity's Ally // Goldbug, Scrappy Scout - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ethersworn Shieldmage MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Archenemy, 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 Ethersworn Shieldmage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ethersworn Shieldmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2010-06-18. Illustrated by Daarken.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-04-30	Alara Reborn	ARB		4	2003	Normal	Black	Daarken
2	2010-06-18	Archenemy	ARC		84	2003	Normal	Black	Daarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ethersworn Shieldmage has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-05-01	When Ethersworn Shieldmage’s triggered ability resolves, it doesn’t lock in which permanents will be affected. For the rest of the turn, any time damage would be dealt to a permanent, check whether it’s an artifact creature at that time. If it is, that damage is prevented.