Shield counter (2024)

FAQs

Can you have more than 1 shield counter? ›

If a creature has multiple shield counters on it, they will fall off one by one rather than at the same time. For example, a creature with three shield counters on it can take three sources of damage or destruction before it's vulnerable.

Shield counters don't prevent players from sacrificing creatures. Removing a shield counter in this way isn't the same as regenerating a creature. If a permanent that would be dealt damage has more than one shield counter on it, that damage is prevented and only one shield counter is removed.

Yes, creatures can get more than one shield counter.

Sanctuary Warden enters the battlefield with two shield counters on it, and other creatures can gain more than one through the proliferate mechanic or cards like Boon of Safety and Agent's Toolkit.

A creature with a shield counter on it may still be destroyed by state-based actions if it has damage marked on it equal to its toughness or has been dealt unpreventable damage by a source with deathtouch. "Shield" is not an ability that creatures have and shield counters are not keyword counters.

While holding this shield, you have a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus is in addition to the shield's normal bonus to AC. A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand.

Multiple instances of the same spell do not stack. If they have different strengths, only the highest value is applied. By the way, the spell doesn't "automatically" activate when you're hit.

shields can absorb true damage at any amount.

True Damage is a special type of damage that ignores any kind of Damage Reduction, being directly applied to the health of the target. However, while it ignores damage reduction, it is still negated by complete damage immunity and mostly don't ignore shields other than Executes.

If a permanent with a shield counter on it would be dealt damage, that damage is prevented and a shield counter is removed from the permanent. This prevention effect works to stop any form of damage—combat damage, damage dealt by spells like Strangle, or damage dealt because of activated or triggered abilities.

Proliferate does not target, so permanents with shroud or hexproof can still be chosen and will recieve additional counters. Thematically, the proliferate mechanic is tied in with the Phyrexia faction in Scars of Mirrodin and its related Infect mechanic.

Can I proliferate 1 -/- 1 counters? ›

The rules don't state that it only works with wither, poison counters, or -1/-1 counters. Proliferate works on any and all types of counters.

The keywords that a keyword counter can be are flying, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, shadow, trample, and vigilance, as well as any variants of those keywords.

Normally, a creature is destroyed if it takes damage from a creature with deathtouch. But since indestructible creatures can't be destroyed, they're immune. Darksteel Myr could block Ambush Viper until the end of time without suffering any ill effects.

Even when they battle creatures with deathtouch, creatures with indestructible come out on top. However, indestructible does have its limitations. If a creature's toughness is reduced to zero, it still dies, even if it has indestructible.

Does Shroud Prevent Deathtouch? Deathtouch is an ability that reads, “when this creature deals damage to another creature, destroy that creature.” Since there's no targeting involved in applying this effect a creature with shroud still dies when it steps on something like Sedge Scorpion.

If a permanent that would be dealt damage has more than one shield counter on it, that damage is prevented and only one shield counter is removed. If a permanent with a shield counter is dealt unpreventable damage, that damage will be dealt and a shield counter will still be removed.

In 5e, you can surely carry 2 shields. You cannot gain an AC bonus from both, however. The armour section in the PHB on page 144, under the 'Shields' subheading states this: “You can benefit from only one shield at a time.”