Burrenton Shield-BearersHow it works & interactions with other cards

Bolstering the Line

Burrenton Shield-Bearers features a triggered ability that activates specifically when it is declared as an attacker. By targeting a creature you control, you increase its toughness by 3 until the end of the turn, which can be the difference between a creature dying in combat or living to fight another day.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you must declare Burrenton Shield-Bearers as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step. Once the attack is legal, the ability triggers and is put onto the stack, at which point you must choose a target creature. Both players then have priority to respond before the ability resolves and the +0/+3 bonus is applied.

Strategic Timing

Because the ability triggers upon attacking, the bonus is applied before blockers are even declared. This makes it an excellent tool for protecting smaller, high-value creatures that you want to attack with, as the extra toughness often makes them impossible to kill with a single blocker.

Common Pitfalls

Remember that the +0/+3 bonus is a temporary effect that wears off during the cleanup step. Additionally, because the ability requires a target, if the targeted creature is removed from the battlefield or gains shroud/protection before the ability resolves, the bonus will not be applied.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Shield

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Kithkin' chosen as the creature type, Burrenton Shield-Bearers' ability will trigger twice when it attacks. This allows you to either give one creature +0/+6 or two different creatures +0/+3 each.

Protecting Value

Solemn Simulacrum

If you attack with both Burrenton Shield-Bearers and Solemn Simulacrum, you can target the Simulacrum with the Shield-Bearers' ability. This increases the Simulacrum's toughness to 5, allowing it to survive combat against most mid-sized creatures while still threatening damage.