Mirror Shield MTG Card


Mirror Shield - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Number234
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDan Scott

Key Takeaways

  1. The Mirror Shield offers not just protection from deathtouch, but also efficient mana use in early gameplay.
  2. Its low equip cost promotes tactical flexibility, allowing for quick adjustments to battlefield changes.
  3. While powerful in defense, it lacks discard synergy and can be mana-intensive compared to alternatives.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +0/+2 and has hexproof and "Whenever a creature with deathtouch blocks or becomes blocked by this creature, destroy that creature." Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Mirror Shield grants an equipped creature the ability to prevent damage dealt to it by creatures with deathtouch, effectively neutralizing one of the potential threats on the board without sacrificing card resources. This defensive attribute can help you maintain your creature-heavy strategy and deter opponents from attacking.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, Mirror Shield, being a low-cost artifact, ensures that your mana can be utilized efficiently in the early game. It can synchronize with strategies aiming to optimize the use of mana and deploy threats or defenses quickly on the field.

Instant Speed: While the Mirror Shield itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its low equip cost allows for flexibility in your gameplay. You can swiftly attach it to a creature in response to an evolving battlefield, potentially at instant speed if paired with other cards that facilitate such actions, thus adding a layer of surprise and adaptability during combat or in response to an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mirror Shield lacks a discard mechanic, which means it might not synergize well with strategies that benefit from discarding, such as those enabling graveyard play or madness abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring colorless mana for both casting and equipping can sometimes be a hurdle in decks that heavily rely on colored mana and have fewer sources of colorless mana available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined investment of three mana to both cast and equip, Mirror Shield may be less mana-efficient compared to other protective equipment in MTG, potentially delaying your game plan against fast-paced decks.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mirror Shield is adaptable to a variety of deck strategies, granting creatures both hexproof and the ability to deter opponents’ creatures through its unique reflective combat damage ability.

Combo Potential: Used wisely, the Shield synergizes well with creatures that have deathtouch or other abilities activated upon being targeted by spells or abilities, often creating an unfavorable scenario for your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given the frequency of targeted removal or spells that put creatures at a disadvantage in competition, Mirror Shield can offer a layer of protection, making key creatures in your deck tough to remove by typical means.


How to beat

Mirror Shield is a unique equipment card in Magic: The Gathering that not only boosts a creature’s defense but also comes with an ability to thwart creatures with deathtouch. Overcoming this protective item requires strategic play. One effective strategy is using artifact removal spells like Disenchant or Abrade, which can directly target and remove Mirror Shield from the battlefield. Alternatively, keeping creatures with flying or other evasion abilities can help bypass the buffed creature entirely, taking the fight directly to your opponent.

Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Shatter the Sky can clear the field, equipment and all, regardless of Mirror Shield’s protective qualities. Moreover, direct player damage spells such as Lightning Bolt remain unaffected by the shield’s powers, allowing one to target an opponent directly or take out creatures regardless of their equipped defenses. In short, while Mirror Shield can be a formidable card to face, there are numerous ways to tackle it and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.

Understanding the range of answers available within the game for opposing artifacts can turn a potential obstacle into an opportunity to seize the advantage, even against the durability of Mirror Shield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the dynamics of MTG gameplay and card utility reveals the significance of versatile artifacts like Mirror Shield in deck building. Whether you’re engaging in casual play or entering competitive grounds, understanding and incorporating such multifaceted cards can be pivotal. While its defensive prowess against deathtouch is clear, it’s essential to strategize its use within the broader context of your game. If Mirror Shield intrigues you, consider enhancing your collection and gameplay strategy with us. Dive deeper into MTG tactics and discover new ways to augment your deck’s effectiveness with Mirror Shield and other game-changing cards.


Cards like Mirror Shield

Mirror Shield is a unique equipment artifact that boosts the defenses of your creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When compared to other protective cards like Swiftfoot Boots, Mirror Shield adds a layer of resilience by granting hexproof and the ability to thwart creatures with deathtouch. Swiftfoot Boots offers hexproof as well and, unlike Mirror Shield, adds haste, but lacks the defensive capability against deathtouch that characterizes Mirror Shield.

Whispersilk Cloak is another card that can be juxtaposed with Mirror Shield. It not only provides shroud, preventing the equipped creature from being the target of any spells or abilities, but also makes it unblockable. However, Mirror Shield’s ability to deal damage back to creatures that are blocked creates a distinct tactical advantage in combat.

In examining the ins and outs of various equipments designed for creature protection and combat advantage, Mirror Shield distinguishes itself with a strategic niche against certain creature abilities. It’s specialized defense against deathtouch and its counter-damage feature make it a card worth considering for decks that aim to outmaneuver opponents in creature combat.

Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mirror Shield MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Mirror Shield and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mirror Shield has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 If a creature with deathtouch blocks the equipped creature and is then destroyed, the equipped creature remains blocked. Unless the equipped creature has trample, it won’t deal combat damage to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.
2020-01-24 Once a creature without deathtouch has blocked or become blocked by the equipped creature, causing the other creature to gain deathtouch won’t cause the ability granted by Mirror Shield to trigger.
2020-01-24 The ability Mirror Shield grants triggers and resolves before combat damage is dealt. That creature won’t deal combat damage to the equipped creature or be dealt damage by it.

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