Or, in some rare cases, a player with shroud. Shroud basically means that neither you nor your opponent can target a permanent. Sylvan Safekeeper | Illustration by Magali Villeneuve While the keyword protection existed earlier, that mechanic was much more brutal in its purpose at the time and a significant combat boost in providing immunity against a whole color.īut how does shroud work, and why is it so important? Let’s dig in! This mechanic is so important because it elevates creatures beyond their combat capabilities and allows them to be evaluated on an axis where size and efficiency isn’t necessarily everything. It doesn’t provide any inherent advantage in dealing damage unlike all the mechanics introduced in Alpha. Shroud was one of the earliest mechanics that allowed creatures to do this.įrom a design philosophy, shroud was one of the first mechanics that didn’t affect combat.

Being able to dodge spells like Lightning Bolt, Swords to Plowshares, and Mind Control is incredibly valuable. Many an entrenched Magic player has explained the “dies to Doom Blade” argument, one that suggests that any creature that dies to an efficient removal spell is greatly diminished in power level. On today’s MTG mechanics menu we have shroud.Įfficient removal has been omnipresent in Constructed formats since the dawn of Magic. Argothian Enchantress | Illustration by Daren Bader

All slivers have shroud