Shieldmage Advocate MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	1
Toughness	3
Number	22
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Moeller

Key Takeaways

Provides continuous card advantage by recovering spells or creatures from the graveyard to hand.
Instant speed action offers great flexibility and strategic reactions during an opponent’s turn.
Demands careful consideration of its discard requirement that may inadvertently benefit the opponent.

Text of card

oc T: Return target card in an opponent's graveyard to his or her hand. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn by a source of your choice.

"Our unity conquers all fears."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shieldmage Advocate lets you return a card from your graveyard to your hand, providing a continuous source of card advantage, ensuring you never run out of options.

Resource Acceleration: While Shieldmage Advocate might not directly produce additional mana, it does give you the ability to recover key spells or creatures, effectively accelerating your resource pool by giving you access to more of your deck’s content.

Instant Speed: This card operates at instant speed, affording you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This keeps your opponent guessing and allows you to make more informed decisions based on their actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its ability, Shieldmage Advocate requires you to return a card from your graveyard to an opponent’s hand. This can sometimes act as a setback, as it can give your opponent another chance to use an impactful card they’ve already played.

Specific Mana Cost: Shieldmage Advocate has a mana cost that includes white mana, which restricts its inclusion to decks that can produce white mana. For players running multicolored decks without white, this card might not fit their strategy or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While providing a decent utility, the cost of holding up three mana, especially in white, can be prohibitive. In that same mana range, players could deploy more proactive threats or broader-reaching removal spells, which might be more advantageous in a given match-up.

Reasons to Include Shieldmage Advocate in Your Collection

Versatility: Shieldmage Advocate offers a unique mix of defense and resource recovery, making it an asset in decks seeking to recycle key cards and maintain a steady board presence.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into strategies that capitalize on returning spells from the graveyard to hand, setting up powerful plays and recurring key pieces.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where graveyard interaction and efficient creature abilities are prized, Shieldmage Advocate can gain an edge by disrupting opponents and reclaiming valuable cards.

How to beat

Shieldmage Advocate is a unique creature in the world of MTG that offers players a strategic way to return cards from their graveyard to their hand. To effectively counter this card, you should focus on maintaining a graveyard-free zone. Utilize graveyard hate cards that can exile or restrict graveyard interactions, like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void. By doing so, Shieldmage Advocate’s ability becomes redundant, effectively neutralizing its impact on the game.

Another tactic to consider is leveraging creature removal spells. Since Shieldmage Advocate has to survive to use its ability, removing it from the battlefield as soon as it appears minimizes its effect. Instant-speed removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile work perfectly here, as they can be used before the Advocate’s ability is activated.

Ultimately, to defeat Shieldmage Advocate, prioritize controlling your opponent’s options and maintain pressure on their resources. Cards that can outpace the incremental advantage gained by Shieldmage Advocate, such as aggressive creatures or direct damage spells, will also contribute to your success against this tactical card.

Cards like Shieldmage Advocate

Shieldmage Advocate presents a unique role in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It stands parallel to cards like Nomad Mythmaker in the utility creatures’ lineup. Both establish their influence on the board by interacting with certain cards in the graveyard. Shieldmage Advocate allows you to return a card from an opponent’s graveyard to their hand to prevent damage to a player, mirroring the trading effect seen in cards like Pulsemage Advocate, yet with a distinct defensive twist.

Looking at Benevolent Bodyguard, we see a creature that also contributes to protection, albeit in a different fashion. It can sacrifice to give another creature protection from a color of your choice, providing a more targeted defense. In contrast, Shieldmage Advocate’s recurring defensive capability can make it a persistent barrier against damage-based strategies.

Assessing the role of Shieldmage Advocate in comparison with its kin, it becomes clear that this card offers a strategic advantage. It’s not just about defending; it’s about creating a situation beneficial to you by using your opponent’s resources, a tactic not commonly seen among its counterparts. This gives Shieldmage Advocate a strategic niche in Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature cards.

Benevolent Bodyguard - MTG Card versions

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

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shieldmage Advocate MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Shieldmage Advocate and other MTG cards: