Earthshape is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Earthbend 3. Then each creature you control with power less than or equal to that land's power gains hexproof and indestructible until end of turn. You gain hexproof until end of turn.
Complete guide
Earthshape is a versatile defensive instant that combines land animation with powerful protection for your board. By turning a land you control into a temporary guardian, you can shield yourself and your smaller creatures from harm. This spell is perfect for turning the tide during an opponent's sweep or targeted removal spell.
What It Does
Earthshape features the Earthbend keyword, which transforms a land you control into a 0/0 creature with haste and places +1/+1 counters on it—in this case, three. It also creates a safety net for that land: if it dies or is exiled this turn, it returns to the battlefield tapped. Beyond the land, Earthshape grants hexproof and indestructible to your creatures with power less than or equal to that land's power, and it gives you, the player, hexproof as well.
Resolving the Spell
First, you choose a target land you control. As the spell resolves, that land becomes a creature and receives three +1/+1 counters; since its base stats are 0/0, its power will typically be 3. The spell then checks the power of all other creatures you control. Any creature with power 3 or less (assuming the land is power 3) will gain hexproof and indestructible until end of turn. Finally, you gain hexproof, protecting you from being targeted by your opponents.
Common Mistakes
A common error is targeting a land that is already a creature and expecting its base stats to stay the same; Earthbend will reset its base power and toughness to 0/0, though it keeps any existing counters. Also, remember that the land must be a legal target as Earthshape resolves. If an opponent destroys the land in response to the spell, Earthshape will fail to resolve entirely, meaning you won't gain hexproof and your other creatures won't be protected.
When to Play It
Earthshape is best used as a reactive tool. Cast it in response to a board wipe to save your utility creatures or in response to a spell like Fireball aimed at your face. Because it provides indestructible, it is an excellent counter to destruction-based removal, and the Earthbend insurance ensures you don't lose your mana base if the animated land is specifically targeted.
Interaction examples
Generous GiftIf your opponent casts Generous Gift targeting one of your key creatures, you can cast Earthshape in response. By animating a land with Earthbend 3, your targeted creature (if its power is 3 or less) gains hexproof. When Generous Gift tries to resolve, it finds its target is now illegal and is removed from the stack with no effect.
Teferi's ProtectionIf you cast Earthshape and your opponent responds with a board wipe, you might be tempted to use Teferi's Protection. However, note that if you phase out your permanents, they no longer exist for the game's purposes. If you use Earthshape first and then phase everything out, the land creature remains protected and will phase back in later. If the land dies before you can phase it, the Earthbend trigger will return it to the battlefield tapped, where it will then be available to phase out if you have another effect.
With only Earthshape, you can target a basic Forest. The Forest becomes a 3/3 creature. If you also control a 2/2 creature, Earthshape checks the Forest's power (3) and compares it to your 2/2 creature. Since 2 is less than or equal to 3, the 2/2 creature gains hexproof and indestructible. You also gain hexproof, meaning your opponent cannot target you with spells like Shock.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Earthshape
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a land was animated by earthbend and would go to any zone other than the graveyard or exile, it will not be returned to the battlefield by the delayed triggered ability created by earthbend.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted land becomes an illegal target before the spell or ability that includes earthbend resolves, earthbend does nothing. If the spell or ability didn't have other targets, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Earthbend doesn't give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that's turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for
.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You may target a land that is already a creature, perhaps because of a previous earthbend ability. The land will get the +1/+1 counters, gain haste, and have its base power and toughness set to 0/0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
"Earthbend N" means "Target land you control becomes a 0/0 land creature with haste in addition to its other types. Put N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped under your control."
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Earthshape
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.