How do you get around shroud?
To get around shroud, you can utilize wrath effects, Edict effects, or find a way to make the creature lose shroud, and since shroud prevents a creature from being targeted by spells or abilities, using non-targeting effects or board wipes can also be effective. Additionally, cards that do not target can remove or otherwise get around Hexproof/Shroud, such as Black Sun’s Zenith, which can get around Shroud/Hexproof and often Indestructible as well.
Understanding Shroud
Definition and Rules
A creature with shroud cannot be the target of any spell or ability — including yours, meaning no combat tricks, no enchantments, no equipping — nothing. If a permanent gains shroud, any other permanents that were previously attached to it or affecting it will still apply.
Interaction with Board Wipes
Board wipes can kill shroud creatures because they don’t target creatures but rather destroy or otherwise remove all creatures at once without targeting any of them. The reason overload costs work to board wipe even shrouded artifacts but the normal cost doesn’t hit shrouded artifacts is because the normal cost targets, which is negated by shroud preventing anything from targeting the shrouded permanent, while the overloaded version replaces “target” with “each,” meaning it no longer targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What are the rules for shroud? A creature with shroud cannot be the target of any spell or ability — including yours! No combat tricks, no enchantments, no equipping — nothing!
-
Does shroud protect against board wipes? Board wipes can kill shroud creatures because they don’t target creatures but rather destroy or otherwise remove all creatures at once without targeting any of them.
-
Can shrouded creatures be blocked? Shroud prevents spells and abilities from targeting a permanent and doesn’t affect attacking or blocking.
-
What IS Shroud?! Shroud is a static ability that means “This permanent or player can’t be the target of spells or abilities.”
-
What gets past shroud? Cards like Polymorphist’s Jest, Humility, and Dress Down divest creatures of all of their abilities, including shroud. Following that, pretty much any removal spell does the trick.
-
What does shroud block? Shroud has nothing to do with blocking. It just prevents the creature from being targeted by spells or abilities (either yours or an opponent’s, unlike hexproof which only stops opponents from targeting it.)
-
How does shroud work with board wipes? Board wipes can kill shroud creatures. Board wipes don’t target creatures but rather destroy or otherwise remove all creatures at once without targeting any of them.
-
What is shroud vs Hexproof? Hexproof means “This object can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.” Shroud means “This object can’t be the target of spells or abilities.” Nobody can target a permanent that has shroud. A player can target a permanent with hexproof if he or she controls that permanent.
-
How do you beat shroud MTG? Eliminate it directly with a non-targeting effect, wipe the board, damage all flying creatures, damage it indirectly, force your opponent to sacrifice it, force your opponent to block your deathtouch or massive creature, force it to lose shroud, or force it to lose flying.
-
Can you sacrifice a permanent with shroud? A creature with shroud can be sacrificed because it’s not being targeted. And yes, deathtouch works on creatures with shroud because it doesn’t target. Shroud only prevents the card having it from being targeted.
-
Can you ninjutsu with shroud? Ninjutsu doesn’t target one of your creatures because returning an unblocked creature is the cost of activating the ability rather than something the ability does. Since it isn’t targeting anything, ninjutsu can still “select” a shrouded creature.
-
Can you mutate on shroud? Mutate is an alternate casting cost that requires a target to cast, which means that a creature with shroud can’t be a legal target.
-
Can you counter a card with shroud? Yes, Shroud on a card only works if the card is on the battlefield. In order to not be able to counter it, the spell would have to have “~ cannot be countered [by spells or abilities]”.
-
Does Hexproof stop board wipes? Granting hexproof to a permanent or player doesn’t cause opponents’ Auras to become unattached. A card that has ‘hexproof‘ is still affected by board wipes that don’t target specifically that card.
-
Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch? Hexproof means the creature can’t be the target spells or abilities your opponent’s control. Death touch means that any amount of damage from the source will be lethal damage. Death touch doesn’t target, so hexproof doesn’t prevent it.
By understanding how shroud works and how to get around it, players can better navigate the complexities of Magic: The Gathering and leverage this knowledge to strengthen their gameplay strategies. Whether through wrath effects, edict effects, or other means, overcoming shroud can be a crucial element in securing victories.