Kite Shield MTG Card


Provides substantial toughness to creatures, securing them against combative blows and maintaining player advantage. Facilitates intricate combos and artifact synergies, enhancing deck versatility and strategic depth. Presents an economically viable defensive option for players contending with aggressive metagame strategies.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +0/+3. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

"To my sword I owe my glory, but to my shield I owe my life." —Sarlena, paladin of the Northern Verge


Cards like Kite Shield

Kite Shield enriches the selection of equipment artifacts within Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterparts include Accorder’s Shield and Cathar’s Shield, which also provide a boost to defense with the added benefit of zero equip costs. What sets Kite Shield apart is its ability to give a creature +0/+3, offering more toughness than Accorder’s Shield at +0/+1 but without the vigilance bonus.

Another similar artifact is Spidersilk Net, which equips for zero and offers +0/+2 along with an additional reach ability. Although it gives less toughness than Kite Shield, that reach can be a game changer against flying threats. When assessing these tools of defense, you’ll find Commander’s Plate to be a high-powered option as well, giving a creature +3/+3 and protection from each color not in its commander’s color identity. However, it comes with a hefty equip cost, unlike the economical Kite Shield.

In essence, players weighing equipment choices for bolstering creature defense will find Kite Shield to be a balanced option. It offers significant toughness enhancement without the burden of equip costs, a rare advantage that can be pivotal in constructing a resilient MTG playing strategy.

Accorder's Shield - MTG Card versions
Cathar's Shield - MTG Card versions
Spidersilk Net - MTG Card versions
Commander's Plate - MTG Card versions
Accorder's Shield - MTG Card versions
Cathar's Shield - MTG Card versions
Spidersilk Net - MTG Card versions
Commander's Plate - MTG Card versions

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

Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Chimeric Mass - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - MTG Card versions
Division Table - MTG Card versions
Rapid Prototyper - MTG Card versions
Black Lotus - MTG Card versions
Ornithopter - MTG Card versions
Jeweled Amulet - MTG Card versions
Zuran Orb - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Marauder - MTG Card versions
Claws of Gix - MTG Card versions
Mana Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Opal - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Orochi Hatchery - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Mox Diamond - MTG Card versions
Everflowing Chalice - MTG Card versions
Memnite - MTG Card versions
Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions
Chimeric Mass - MTG Card versions
Chrome Mox - MTG Card versions
Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - MTG Card versions
Division Table - MTG Card versions
Rapid Prototyper - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Kite Shield in your arsenal, you maintain card superiority by safeguarding your valuable creatures from combat damage, ensuring that you don’t have to overcommit resources to protect key pieces on your board, hence preserving your hand count.

Resource Acceleration: Though Kite Shield itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly safeguard mana dorks or creatures with tap abilities, which are critical for ramping up your mana production and getting ahead of your opponents.

Instant Speed: Kite Shield may not be an instant, but its zero equip cost can be as valuable as instant speed interaction, allowing you to react to threats or switch your defensive strategy without losing tempo or spending additional mana during your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kite Shield’s involvement in game play does not specifically demand discard actions, but it’s important to be aware of how its presence can affect hand economy. Players aiming to optimize use of each card must consider the trade-off when choosing equipment like Kite Shield over other cards that could directly advance their board position.

Specific Mana Cost: Kite Shield can be cast for three generic mana, which makes it accessible for various deck archetypes. However, its activation cost does require white mana, which ties it to decks that can produce that particular color, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the initial investment to cast Kite Shield can be considered moderate, its equip cost is one mana. When evaluating the benefits it offers—primarily, an increase to a creature’s toughness—players must weigh whether this defensive boost is worth the mana investment compared to other equipment or spells that could provide greater offensive or diversified advantages.


Reasons to Include Kite Shield in Your Collection

Versatility: Kite Shield offers a unique advantage as a zero-cost artifact. It’s a perfect inclusion in decks that aim to boost the number of artifacts in play or those requiring equipment to empower their creatures without spending mana upfront.

Combo Potential: With its capacity to be equipped for a low cost, Kite Shield can easily become part of intricate combos. It works exceptionally well in synergizing with cards that gain benefits from equipping or simply increasing the artifact count.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are rampant, Kite Shield serves as an affordable means to increase a creature’s toughness, helping to fend off early threats. Its presence in your collection ensures you have a tool against such prevailing tactics.


How to beat

Kite Shield is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that offers defensive capabilities to players. Its ability to increase a creature’s toughness without any mana cost for equipping makes it an asset for stalling opponents’ strategies. Despite its advantages, there are viable strategies to overcome a Kite Shield-equipped creature. Targeted removal spells that bypass toughness, such as “Doom Blade” or “Path to Exile,” can efficiently deal with creatures, regardless of their augmented defense. Alternate methods include using board wipes like “Wrath of God,” which clear the battlefield of all creatures, sidestepping the toughness boost entirely.

One could also opt to outpace the strategy by focusing on aggressive, swift creatures or spells that accrue value over time, surpassing the incremental defensive setup that Kite Shield provides. In this way, the shield becomes less impactful as you maintain a stronger board presence or apply constant pressure. Cards that prevent equipping, like “Stony Silence,” can also render Kite Shield ineffective, ensuring your opponent can’t utilize its benefits. Therefore, while Kite Shield can be a troublesome card to face, there are multiple angles from which to tackle it, each offering a tailored response within the dynamic environment of Magic: The Gathering.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kite Shield MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and The List, 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 Kite Shield and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Kite Shield Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2011-07-15. Illustrated by Jim Pavelec.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 2102003NormalBlackJim Pavelec
22020-09-26The ListPLST M12-2102003NormalBlackJim Pavelec

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kite Shield has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal