Shield of Kaldra MTG Card


Enables significant card advantage by protecting creatures from removals, ensuring sustained board control. Facilitates resource allocation efficiency, allowing players to focus investments on offensive strategies securely. Acts as a strategic deterrent, shaping opponent decision-making even beyond direct interactions.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Artifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipment named Sword of Kaldra, Shield of Kaldra, and Helm of Kaldra are indestructible. Equipped creature is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.) Equip


Cards like Shield of Kaldra

Shield of Kaldra is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering known for its legendary status and the ability to confer indestructibility to a creature. Its comparison with other protective artifacts such as Darksteel Plate is natural. Like Shield of Kaldra, Darksteel Plate grants indestructibility, but it does so without requiring the legendary condition, making it a versatile alternative for many deck archetypes.

When it comes to equipment with a focus on durability and resilience, Whispersilk Cloak presents an interesting comparison. Although it doesn’t offer indestructibility, it equips creatures with the valuable qualities of unblockability and shroud, protecting them from targeting spells and abilities which can be pivotal in evading removals.

In terms of protecting a wide range of permanents, not just creatures, we have the card Avacyn, Angel of Hope providing a broader shield by making all permanents you control indestructible. This is a significant difference from Shield of Kaldra, which targets only a single creature but comes with a lower mana investment. Each of these artifacts has its strategic uses, with Shield of Kaldra being a key part of the Kaldra trifecta, aiming for a robust, singular threat on the battlefield.

Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions
Avacyn, Angel of Hope - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Plate - MTG Card versions
Whispersilk Cloak - MTG Card versions
Avacyn, Angel of Hope - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shield of Kaldra by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Aetherworks Marvel - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shield of Kaldra can make your creatures nearly indestructible, effectively protecting your key assets on the battlefield. This results in maintaining board presence against removals, which in turn translates to a significant card advantage over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Shield itself does not directly accelerate resources, its permanence on the field means you can invest your resources elsewhere, knowing that your creatures have an extra layer of protection. This indirect economy of action can tip the scales when it comes to deploying your game plan more efficiently than your opponent.

Instant Speed: While the Shield doesn’t operate at instant speed, its mere presence can change how your opponent plays, anticipating the worst scenarios. It acts as a deterrent for opponents considering target removal or combat tricks, saving your other instant-speed answers for more critical threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Piloting a deck that includes Shield of Kaldra often demands a strategy centered around equipment cards. This could potentially result in a requirement to discard other beneficial cards in order to fulfill the setup for Shield of Kaldra’s maximal effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting an exact cost of three generic and one Phyrexian mana, the Shield of Kaldra can be restrictive for decks that aren’t tailored to accommodate such specific mana requirements. Decks lacking versatility in mana production may find it challenging to cast the card efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Shield of Kaldra comes with a four mana casting cost, which could be considered steep for its function. When appraising its cost against the backdrop of other protective options in the game, players might find that there are alternatives providing similar or higher value at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shield of Kaldra offers broad defensive capabilities that protect your creatures effectively in a diverse range of decks, making it a suitable inclusion for anyone looking to improve their defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This artifact is well-known for its synergy with the other Kaldra items—Helm of Kaldra and Sword of Kaldra—each providing another layer of value and an opportunity to summon a powerful legendary creature. This combination can turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where equipment cards are advantageous or artifact interactions are prevalent, Shield of Kaldra’s indestructibility becomes a crucial element, providing ongoing staunch defense against various threats.


How to beat Shield of Kaldra

Shield of Kaldra is an iconic artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, presenting a real challenge due to its ability to make creatures indestructible. To efficiently address this potent equipment, consider using artifact removal cards like Naturalize or Disenchant which can directly target the Shield, thereby neutralizing its protective ability. Bypassing the indestructibility with exile effects from cards like Path to Exile or Direct Current, which deals with the equipped creature, can also be a viable strategy.

Another avenue is to focus on reducing the equipped creature’s power to zero, utilizing cards such as Dismember or Grasp of Darkness, which isn’t prevented by indestructibility. Furthermore, you can employ board wipes like Damnation or Wrath of God, as they don’t destroy creatures but rather change their state to being put into the graveyard, which circumvents the protection provided by Shield of Kaldra. Remember, while the shield provides robust defense, pinpointing its Achilles’ heel is key to overcoming the challenge it poses on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shield of Kaldra MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Darksteel, 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 of Kaldra 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 Shield of Kaldra Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2004-06-04. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 319852003NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22004-02-06DarksteelDST 1392003NormalBlackDonato Giancola
32004-06-04Darksteel PromosPDST 139★2003NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shield of Kaldra has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal