Shields of Velis Vel MTG Card


Shields of Velis Vel - Lorwyn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeTribal Instant — Shapeshifter
Abilities Changeling
Released2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameLorwyn
Set codeLRW
Number39
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRalph Horsley

Key Takeaways

  1. Shields of Velis Vel provides multi-creature enhancement, often leading to advantageous board states.
  2. It’s castable at instant speed, offering surprise plays and flexible combat strategies.
  3. Despite benefits, color-specific mana and temporary effects may limit its utility in some decks.

Text of card

Changeling (This card is every creature type at all times.) Creatures target player controls get +0/+1 and gain all creature types until end of turn.

Changelings can alter shape based on what the beings around them desire most.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Shields of Velis Vel card offers a multi-faceted boost, potentially turning creatures you control into more formidable threats. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it creates a situation where your enhanced creatures can potentially take down multiple opponents’ creatures, effectively working as card advantage by improving your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While the Shields of Velis Vel don’t directly generate mana or increase your resources, its low casting cost is a form of acceleration. It allows you to deploy your strategy quickly or use your mana efficiently on subsequent plays, helping to keep up the tempo in fast-paced matches.

Instant Speed: One of Shields of Velis Vel’s strengths is its ability to be cast at instant speed, which offers tactical flexibility. You can cast it during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their combat calculations or saving your creatures from removal spells. This timing can also be used to surprise an opponent, turning an unassuming board state into a lethal situation unexpectedly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Shields of Velis Vel does not specifically require discarding as part of its cost, it’s essential to identify when these types of additional costs exist since they can set you back in card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Shields of Velis Vel has a color-specific mana cost, demanding both hybrid and colorless mana. This characteristic might restrict its integration into decks that cannot reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be high relative to its temporary effect, players could argue that Shields of Velis Vel requires a significant investment. In a game where efficiency is prized, there are alternatives that offer enduring benefits or more impactful board presence for a similar cost.


Reasons to Include Shields of Velis Vel in Your Collection

Versatility: Shields of Velis Vel is a card that accommodates several strategies with its instant speed and changeling ability. It can support tribal synergies across all creature types, making it an adaptable choice for various deck themes.

Combo Potential: This card can be used to activate tribal-specific bonuses or enable surprise defensive strategies. It pairs well with effects that key off of certain creature types, amplifying the possibilities during gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment fluctuates, Shields of Velis Vel remains pertinent. It can be a tool against decks that target specific creature types, protecting and enhancing your creatures in response to threats or during crucial combat phases.


How to beat

Shields of Velis Vel presents an unusual challenge in MTG due to its instant-speed tribal versatility. This card can unexpectantly turn an entire creature set into a chosen tribal type, often enabling surprise synergies or protecting creatures from targeted removal not sharing that specific type. Beating this card requires foresight and multi-layered strategy.

One effective approach is to manage the threats at their source — the creatures themselves. Utilizing sweepers that disregard creature types, like Wrath of God or Doomskar, can neutralize the benefit of Shields of Velis Vel. Likewise, focusing on non-creature-specific removal, such as Assassin’s Trophy or Beast Within, can disrupt your opponent’s game plan without playing straight into Shields of Velis Vel’s strengths.

It’s also beneficial to limit the targets Shields of Velis Vel can affect. Efficient creature control, counterspells for key creatures, or even using disruption like Thoughtseize to preemptively remove the Shields from your opponent’s hand, ensures it has minimal impact on the game. Careful play and resource management are crucial in outmaneuvering this instant and keeping your opponent’s tribal strategies at bay.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the world of MTG, Cards like Shields of Velis Vel exemplify the fine balance between tactical flexibility and strategic depth. Enhancing your gameplay encompasses understanding such cards’ potential in various scenarios, from instant-speed skirmishes to unlocking new avenues for tribal synergies. Allowing your creatures to dominate the battleground with an unexpected boost can be the turning point your deck needs. Master the intricacies of MTG and enrich your collection with versatile cards that align with your unique approach to the game. Delve deeper into the realms of MTG with us; perfect your deck and embrace the wisdom of adaptation and foresight in your next duel.


Cards like Shields of Velis Vel

Shields of Velis Vel weaves its own unique tapestry in the fabric of tribal enchantments within Magic: The Gathering. This instant-speed tribal instant not only boosts creatures’ toughness and power but also extends its influence by granting all creature types. This is akin to cards like Mirror Entity, which also has the power to transform your existing army into any creature type, yet allows for a scalable effect based on the mana pumped into it.

Comparatively, we see Ghostly Changeling as a creature that shares this theme of versatility, but it stands apart as it individually morphs to suit your tribal needs, turn after turn. Both cards embrace the changeling characteristic, but Shields of Velis Vel offers a one-time blast of tribal unity unlike the continuous adaptability provided by Ghostly Changeling’s mana-based ability.

Next in line is Wings of Velis Vel, another card with a similar tactic of temporary creature type altering, though it also grants flying, adding a layer of aerial advantage. Shields of Velis Vel, however, stands its ground without the mobility boost, focusing solely on the all-encompassing tribal aspect. Choices between these cards often revolve around the strategic depth required for a player’s specific tribal deck.

With a nuanced examination, Shields of Velis Vel showcases its strengths in uniting diverse creatures under one banner swiftly and unexpectedly, a tool that can turn the tides of tribal matchups within MTG’s intricate play dynamics.

Mirror Entity - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Changeling - MTG Card versions
Wings of Velis Vel - MTG Card versions
Mirror Entity - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Changeling - MTG Card versions
Wings of Velis Vel - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shields of Velis Vel by color, type and mana cost

Sarah's Wings - MTG Card versions
Sarah's Wings - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shields of Velis Vel MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Shields of Velis Vel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shields of Velis Vel has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-07-01 Examples of creature types include Sliver, Goblin, and Soldier. Creature types appear after the dash on the type line of creatures.

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