Staunch Shieldmate MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dwarf Soldier |
| Released | 2020-07-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2021 |
| Set code | M21 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 39 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bartłomiej Gaweł |
Key Takeaways
- Offers solid early defense, indirectly leading to a more sustainable card presence.
- Efficient mana use with Staunch Shieldmate can accelerate deploying key strategies.
- Limited versatility and combat presence might outweigh its defensive utility.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Staunch Shieldmate may not directly offer card draw, yet its steadfast presence on the battlefield can deter opponents from attacking. This approach helps retain your other valuable cards in play, ultimately maintaining your board’s state and indirectly contributing to card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although Staunch Shieldmate doesn’t produce mana or tokens, its low-cost nature allows players to deploy it early in the game. This efficient mana allocation can lead to more significant plays in subsequent turns, thus accelerating the overall resource availability and strategy execution.
Instant Speed: Staunch Shieldmate operates at sorcery speed; however, its role in gameplay is to serve as a reliable defender. By providing solid defense when summoned, it can free up mana in later turns for you to cast instant-speed spells with less concern over leaving your guard down.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Staunch Shieldmate requires no discard upon casting, having it in your hand could limit your options, especially when you need to hold onto key spells for the right moment or if faced with opponent’s discard effects.
Specific Mana Cost: Staunch Shieldmate’s mana cost is purely white, which means it slots exclusively into mono-white or multi-color decks that include white mana, potentially restricting its versatility across various formats.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a one-mana 1/3 creature, Staunch Shieldmate offers decent stats. However, despite this, other one-mana creatures can offer additional abilities or benefits that might be more impactful on the game state, making the mana investment into Staunch Shieldmate seem less efficient in contrast.
Reasons to Include Staunch Shieldmate in Your Collection
Versatility: Staunch Shieldmate is a resilient card, easily slotted into various white decks. Because of its low casting cost, it’s a great early-game play that can hold the line and lay the foundation for a stronger mid-game.
Combo Potential: With its defender trait, Staunch Shieldmate is a prime choice for synergies with cards that benefit from having multiple creatures on the field or those that tap creatures for advantages. This sets the stage for various combo possibilities, fortifying your board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive early plays are common, including this card offers you a steadfast blocker to protect your life total, maintaining a balanced stance against the onslaught of quick enemy creatures.
How to Beat
The Staunch Shieldmate card is a reliable foot soldier in MTG, offering solidarity in early defense strategies with its decent toughness. To overcome this steadfast common, you’ll want to focus on removal options that outpace its defensive capability. Direct damage spells or those that allow you to bypass blockers can quickly render Shieldmate ineffective. Consider sweepers that clear out multiple creatures at once. Cards like Shock or Lightning Bolt are perfect for swift elimination of low-cost creatures like Staunch Shieldmate.
Additionally, engaging in combat tricks to weaken Shieldmate or lure it into unfavorable battles will break down your opponent’s early defenses. Using creatures with higher power can force a trade or employing spells that reduce Shieldmate’s toughness makes it vulnerable. Flying creatures are also an excellent choice as they can soar over the Shieldmate, putting pressure directly on your opponent’s life total. Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of simply outpacing the Shieldmate with stronger, faster creatures that demand more immediate attention from your opponent.
Overall, while Staunch Shieldmate can provide a solid defense in the early game, it has its vulnerabilities. Leveraging these will help tilt the battlefield in your favor.
Cards like Staunch Shieldmate
Staunch Shieldmate is a solid pick for decks that are in need of reliable defensive creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its similarity lies with cards such as Concordia Pegasus and Ironclad Krovod, both of which offer defense-oriented stats. However, Staunch Shieldmate, a steadfast wall in your line-up, provides a reliable 1/3 body for just one mana, making it an excellent early-game presence.
Other creatures like Alseid of Life’s Bounty offer not only a defensive body for one mana but also bring additional abilities like protection for key creatures. In contrast, Staunch Shieldmate’s focal point is its simplicity and the durable stat line it presents without any additional complexities. Elite Vanguard, another comparable card, has an aggressive 2/1 stat line for the same mana cost but lacks the staying power that Staunch Shieldmate’s extra toughness provides.
When considering the full spectrum of similar cost and role creatures, Staunch Shieldmate can be valued for its straightforward design and its ability to impact the board early, making it a fine inclusion in any MTG deck focused on fortification and defense.
Cards similar to Staunch Shieldmate by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Staunch Shieldmate MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Staunch Shieldmate and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Staunch Shieldmate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
