Spirit Shield MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	1994-11-01
Set symbol
Set name	Fallen Empires
Set code	FEM
Number	90
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Scott Kirschner

Key Takeaways

Spirit Shield offers crucial instant-speed protection, tipping the balance during pivotal game moments.
Its discard requirement and specific mana costs may limit its inclusion in varied decks.
Versatility and meta relevance make Spirit Shield a strategic pick for many deck types.

Text of card

, oc T: Target creature gets +0/+2 as long as Spirit Shield remains tapped. You may choose not to untap Spirit Shield as normal during your untap phase.

At times, survival must outweigh all other considerations.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spirit Shield’s capacity to protect a key creature or planeswalker can be pivotal in retaining board presence. In scenarios where board wipes or targeted removal are prevalent, Spirit Shield offers a layer of security that could potentially save a crucial piece, thereby maintaining the advantage in your card economy.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spirit Shield isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration like a mana rock or a ramp spell, the immediate protection it can provide to a mana dork or a creature that taps for mana is invaluable. This allows you to reliably plan future turns knowing your resources are safeguarded.

Instant Speed: The capability to activate Spirit Shield at instant speed creates strategic depth in your gameplay. You can adeptly respond to the evolving state of the match, activating the shield when most opportune. This flexible timing makes Spirit Shield an asset for unpredictability and can catch an opponent off guard, potentially nullifying their turn or causing them to misplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When you play Spirit Shield, you may find yourself in a position where you’re forced to discard a card. For players, this can be a challenging trade-off, particularly when every card in hand is crucial to their strategy. Discarding can inadvertently provide your opponent with an advantage, especially if you’re already behind in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Spirit Shield’s mana cost is not as flexible as some would prefer. The need for specific colors in its casting cost means that it may not seamlessly fit into all types of decks. This can be restrictive for players who are looking to include Spirit Shield in a multi-color deck that may not consistently produce the required mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to get Spirit Shield into play can be steep in terms of mana economy. For the effect it provides, there are other options in the MTG universe that might serve a similar purpose at a lower mana cost. Savvy players are always looking for the most efficient uses of their mana each turn, and Spirit Shield might not always represent the best value for its cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spirit Shield offers flexibility in deck building, serving as a proactive tool in defense-oriented decks or as a surprise element in more aggressive builds that may want that extra bit of protection during critical turns.

Combo Potential: This card can act as an important piece in decks that capitalize on artifacts or self-sacrifice mechanics, enabling a range of synergies and interactions that can catch opponents off guard or fortify your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: With a shift in the competitive landscape where direct removal and creature trades are prevalent, Spirit Shield can function as an insurance policy for your key creatures, preserving your board presence and maintaining momentum in your favor.

How to beat

Spirit Shield is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that can puzzle players with its defensive capabilities. Cornering a player behind this card requires strategic plays. Disenchant effects are your go-to tools; they can dismantle Spirit Shield with ease, bypassing its protective aura. Cards like Naturalize or Abrade can discreetly handle this task without much fuss.

Additionally, countering the spell as it’s cast proves effective. Forcing your opponent to waste resources on a card that never hits the battlefield can tilt the game in your favor. The key is timing; by keeping mana open, you ensure that spells like Negate or Disallow are ready to spring into action at the right moment.

A player adept at managing their artifact removal and counterspells can easily navigate around the otherwise troublesome Spirit Shield. It’s about maintaining control and being ready to respond, transforming what could have been a thorny obstacle into an opportunity to gain the upper hand in the match.

Cards like Spirit Shield

Spirit Shield proves to be an intriguing tool within Magic the Gathering’s array of equipment cards. It stands in line with other defensive equipment like the well-known Shield of the Realm. Like Spirit Shield, Shield of the Realm offers a protective boon to the creature it equips, reducing the damage the creature would take. However, Spirit Shield introduces an alternative twist – it grants the enchanted creature an additional layer of resilience with a toughness bonus.

Exploring comparable options, one could look at Accorder’s Shield which, similar to Spirit Shield, enhances a creature’s survivability. It excels in offering a higher toughness boost and the added advantage of the vigilance ability, though it lacks the incremental life gain feature that Spirit Shield provides. Another card worth mentioning alongside Spirit Shield is the Kite Shield, which offers a simple increase in toughness but doesn’t directly mitigate damage nor provide any life gain benefits.

Delving deeper, when we juxtapose the various features of related pieces of equipment, Spirit Shield offers a unique blend of defense and life gain, setting itself apart in MTG’s broad equipment category and providing tactical advantages that cater to specific deck strategies and game situations.

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

Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spirit Shield MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires, 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 Spirit Shield and other MTG cards: