Do Board Wipes Get Around Shroud?
In Magic: The Gathering, shroud is a powerful ability that makes a creature impossible to target with spells or abilities. However, many players wonder whether board wipes can still affect shrouded creatures. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of shroud and board wipes, exploring the intricacies of their interactions and providing a comprehensive answer to the question.
What are Board Wipes?
A board wipe is an instant or sorcery spell that destroys or exiles all permanents of a certain type on the battlefield. These spells are often considered game-changers, as they can completely reshape the board and give one player a significant advantage. Board wipes are commonly found in white, but they can exist in other colors as well.
What is Shroud?
Shroud is an ability that makes a creature or planeswalker impossible to target with spells or abilities. This means that creatures with shroud cannot be the target of removal spells, abilities that deal damage, or other effects that aim to destroy or manipulate them. Shroud is often used to protect creatures from removal, allowing them to persist on the battlefield despite being targeted by spells or abilities.
Do Board Wipes Get Around Shroud?
The answer to this question is not straightforward. Board wipes, by their nature, do not target specific creatures or permanents. Instead, they destroy or exile all permanents of a certain type on the battlefield. This means that shrouded creatures are not explicitly targeted by board wipes, but are still affected by their effects.
Key Point: Board wipes do get around shroud, but only if the shrouded creature is a type of permanent that the board wipe affects.
To illustrate this, let’s consider the following examples:
- Wrath of God: A classic board wipe that destroys all creatures. If a shrouded creature is a creature, it will be destroyed by Wrath of God.
- Anger of the Gods: Another board wipe that destroys all creatures. Again, if a shrouded creature is a creature, it will be destroyed by Anger of the Gods.
- Polymorphist’s Jest: A card that removes all abilities from all permanents on the battlefield. Shrouded creatures lose their shroud, making them vulnerable to removal spells and abilities.
How Do Shrouded Creatures Interact with Board Wipes?
When a shrouded creature is affected by a board wipe, it behaves as follows:
- If the shrouded creature is a type of permanent that the board wipe affects (e.g., a creature), it is destroyed or exiled.
- If the shrouded creature is not a type of permanent that the board wipe affects (e.g., an artifact), it is not affected by the board wipe.
- If the shrouded creature has an ability that allows it to regenerate or return from the graveyard, it will continue to exist on the battlefield despite the board wipe.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, board wipes can indeed get around shroud, but only if the shrouded creature is a type of permanent that the board wipe affects. Shrouded creatures are protected from targeted removal spells and abilities, but are still vulnerable to board wipes that affect their type. When interacting with board wipes, shrouded creatures behave in a unique way, making it essential to understand their interactions in Magic: The Gathering.
Table of Board Wipes and Their Effects on Shrouded Creatures
| Board Wipe | Effect on Shrouded Creatures |
|---|---|
| Wrath of God | Destroys shrouded creatures |
| Anger of the Gods | Destroys shrouded creatures |
| Polymorphist’s Jest | Removes shroud, making shrouded creatures vulnerable to removal |
| Other Board Wipes | Varies depending on the type of permanents affected |
By understanding the interactions between shroud and board wipes, you can make informed decisions when building your deck and navigating the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering.