Yes, a creature with shroud can be blocked in Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding Shroud in Magic: The Gathering
Shroud is an evergreen keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that makes a permanent, typically a creature, very difficult to interact with using targeted effects. A permanent with shroud cannot be the target of spells or abilities. This applies to any player, including the controller of the creature itself.
This characteristic makes creatures with shroud resilient to many common removal spells and abilities, such as those that say "destroy target creature," "deal X damage to target creature," or "tap target creature." You simply cannot choose them as a target for such effects.
Why Blocking Works Against Shroud
Despite its protective nature, shroud does not prevent a creature from being blocked. The act of declaring blockers in Magic: The Gathering is not an act of targeting. When you declare your creatures as blockers, you are not "targeting" the attacking creature with an ability or a spell. Instead, you are making a game state declaration that your creatures will intercept the attackers.
- No Targeting Involved: The rules for blocking do not require you to "target" the creature you are blocking. You simply choose which attacking creature each of your untapped, eligible blockers will block.
- Fundamental Combat Mechanic: Blocking is a core combat mechanic that happens during the declare blockers step of the combat phase, separate from playing spells or activating targeted abilities.
Dealing with Shroud Creatures
While shroud prevents targeting, there are still several ways to interact with or remove creatures that have this ability:
- Blocking: As established, you can always block a creature with shroud with your own creatures, potentially destroying it in combat or simply preventing combat damage to your life total or planeswalkers.
- Non-Targeted Removal (Board Wipes): Spells and abilities that affect multiple creatures or all creatures without specifying a "target" are effective against shroud. Examples include:
- "Destroy all creatures" (e.g., Wrath of God, Damnation)
- "Creatures get -X/-X until end of turn" (e.g., Toxic Deluge)
- "Exile all creatures" (e.g., Merciless Eviction)
- Sacrifice Effects: Spells and abilities that force an opponent to sacrifice a creature do not target, making them effective against shroud (e.g., Diabolic Edict, Barter in Blood).
- Global Enchantments/Effects: Some enchantments or artifacts create continuous effects that apply to creatures regardless of shroud, such as "All creatures lose flying" or "Creatures can't attack."
Shroud Interaction Summary
To clarify the interactions, here's a brief overview:
| Interaction Type | Shroud's Effect on Interaction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Targeting Spells | Prevents | Lightning Bolt ("deal 3 damage to target creature") |
| Targeting Abilities | Prevents | Tap an artifact or creature (an activated ability targeting) |
| Blocking | Does Not Prevent | Declaring a creature to block an attacker |
| Non-Targeting Spells/Abilities | Does Not Prevent | Wrath of God ("destroy all creatures") |
| Sacrifice Effects | Does Not Prevent | Liliana of the Veil's ultimate (forces sacrifice) |
In conclusion, while creatures with shroud are incredibly resilient to direct, targeted interaction, they are not invincible and can certainly be blocked by your creatures during the combat phase.
