Shield Mare MTG Card


Excels at card advantage, meshing well with lifegain or aura-based strategies for repeated value. Offers indirect resource acceleration, evading red creatures and bolstering lifegain-themed decks. Instant-speed lifegain synergy allows for unexpected gameplay twists against opponents.
Shield Mare - Core Set 2019
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Horse
Released2018-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2019
Set codeM19
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number37
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLucas Graciano

Text of card

Shield Mare can't be blocked by red creatures. When Shield Mare enters the battlefield or becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you gain 3 life.

When it passes, order defeats chaos.


Cards like Shield Mare

Shield Mare carves out its own niche within Magic: The Gathering as a creature that offers both resilience and lifegain. On the resilience front, it’s akin to cards like Auriok Champion, which also has protection from a color, making it a stubborn presence on the battlefield. Unlike Shield Mare, Auriok Champion counters both red and black and passively gains life upon creature arrival rather than through combat. Shield Mare stands out by redirecting aggression, compelling opponents to rethink their strategies.

In terms of lifegain creatures, Lone Missionary easily comes to mind with its significant life boost upon entry. Although it lacks the recurring lifegain effect and protection that Shield Mare exhibits. Then there’s Nyx-Fleece Ram, a defender that steadily grants life at each upkeep. It’s a consistent lifegain source that fortifies your health pool, but it lacks Shield Mare’s mobility or capability to press the attack.

Ultimately, Shield Mare fits beautifully into decks that aim to stymie red strategies while also padding the player’s life total. While it shares traits with several other cards, its combined protective qualities and life-gaining attacks make it a unique tool in the player’s arsenal.

Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Nyx-Fleece Ram - MTG Card versions
Auriok Champion - MTG Card versions
Lone Missionary - MTG Card versions
Nyx-Fleece Ram - MTG Card versions

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

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Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Silverblade Paladin - MTG Card versions
Emancipation Angel - MTG Card versions
Steelform Sliver - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shield Mare is a wonderful addition to any deck that benefits from consistently drawing cards. It’s particularly useful for strategies that revolve around lifegain or aura synergies, potentially offering repeated value across several turns without requiring additional card investment.

Resource Acceleration: This versatile card can provide a subtle form of resource acceleration. As it can’t be blocked by red creatures, Shield Mare frequently guarantees lifegain, which in lifegain-themed decks, can often be a pathway to accelerating your game plan or enable other key mechanics within your deck to come online more quickly.

Instant Speed: While Shield Mare itself isn’t played at instant speed, the lifegain it provides can be highly pertinent in response to certain instant-speed interactions. Combined with cards that trigger on life gain at instant speed, Shield Mare can create surprise advantages when your opponents least expect it, turning the tide of a duel in an instant.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Shield Mare necessitates both white mana and generic, which could restrict deck-building options, especially in multicolored formats where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, Shield Mare competes with other impactful three-drops in the game, potentially making it less appealing for players seeking more immediate board presence or utility.

Discard Requirement: Although Shield Mare does not directly require a discard, its ability is contingent on it being targeted by an opponent, which might not occur, thereby not always guaranteeing value or protection from discard effects it is meant to counter.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shield Mare is a card that offers flexibility in deck building. It can find a home in white-based creature decks and has the unique quality of being unable to be blocked by red creatures, making it a solid choice in a meta with red aggression.

Combo Potential: As a creature that gains you life whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, Shield Mare works well with strategies that capitalize on life gain triggers or cards that benefit from targeting your own creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where red aggressive strategies are prevalent, Shield Mare serves as a useful sideboard card. The life gain and block evasion can turn the tide of the game against burn decks and other red-focused archetypes.


How to beat

Shield Mare is a unique creature card that presents a challenge on the battlefield due to its abilities that cater to life gain and resilience against a red deck. However, triumphing over Shield Mare is a matter of strategic play and deck building. One effective way to surpass its abilities is to use cards that force the owner to sacrifice creatures, as Shield Mare’s protection is from being targeted, not from sacrifice effects. Moreover, utilizing board wipe spells can clear the field without targeting individual creatures, thereby bypassing its defenses.

It is also advantageous to include creatures or spells in your deck that have deathtouch or can assign damage without targeting. Cards with global debuffs can reduce Shield Mare’s utility by lowering its attributes, making it an easier obstacle to overcome. Another strategy is to focus on life total reduction that doesn’t rely on dealing damage, such as using cards that cause loss of life directly. By combining thoughtful planning and card selection, Shield Mare can be effectively managed and overcome within the complex and competitive landscape of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield Mare MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Shield Mare and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield Mare has restrictions

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