Infantry ShieldHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Infantry Shield provides two major benefits to the equipped creature: menace and the mobilize keyword. Menace ensures that the creature cannot be blocked except by two or more creatures, while mobilize X triggers every time the creature attacks. The value of X is determined by the creature's power at the moment the ability resolves, creating that many 1/1 red Warrior creature tokens.

How It Resolves

When you declare the equipped creature as an attacker, the mobilize ability is put onto the stack. When this ability resolves, the game checks the creature's current power to determine how many 1/1 red Warrior tokens are created. These tokens enter the battlefield already tapped and attacking. You choose which player, planeswalker, or battle each individual token is attacking; they do not have to target the same thing as the equipped creature. Finally, a delayed triggered ability is created to sacrifice these tokens at the start of the next end step.

Common Mistakes

A frequent point of confusion involves 'whenever a creature attacks' triggers. Because the Warrior tokens enter the battlefield already attacking, they were never 'declared' as attackers. Therefore, any abilities that trigger when a creature attacks will not trigger for the tokens. Additionally, remember that you must sacrifice the tokens at the beginning of the next end step even if the Infantry Shield is destroyed or moved to another creature after the tokens are created.

When to Play It

Infantry Shield is most effective when attached to creatures with high power or other keyword abilities like lifelink or trample. It is particularly strong in the mid-game to break stalemates, as menace makes it difficult for opponents to block your main threat while the mobilize tokens soak up damage or chip away at the opponent's life total.

Interaction examples

Equipping for Battle

Infantry ShieldArcane Signet

You use the mana from Arcane Signet to help pay the {2} mana required to cast Infantry Shield. Once on the battlefield, you pay an additional {2} to equip it to a creature. If that creature has 3 power, it now has menace and will create three 1/1 Warrior tokens the next time it attacks.

Fast Strikes

Infantry ShieldSwiftfoot Boots

If you have a creature equipped with both Swiftfoot Boots and Infantry Shield, the creature gains haste, menace, and hexproof. You can attack immediately the turn the creature is played. Upon attacking, mobilize triggers based on the creature's power, creating tapped and attacking Warrior tokens while the main creature remains protected from targeted spells.

Splitting the Attack

Infantry ShieldWarrior

When your creature equipped with Infantry Shield attacks a player, the mobilize trigger creates Warrior tokens. You may choose to have the equipped creature attack the player, while directing some Warrior tokens to attack a planeswalker the opponent controls and other Warrior tokens to attack the player directly.