Shroud
Shroud is a keyword ability that prevents a permanent or player from being the target of spells or abilities.
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 702.18. Shroud
- 702.18a Shroud is a static ability. “Shroud” means “This permanent or player can’t be the target of spells or abilities.”
- 702.18b Multiple instances of shroud on the same permanent or player are redundant.
- All older cards with this ability received errata to change that ability to shroud.
- Cards with variants of this ability, such as “This creature can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control,” did not get errata.
History
Shroud was introduced in Legends, but was only keyworded in Future Sight. It was made obsolete by hexproof in Magic 2012[2] but made a short reappearance with reprints in Modern Horizons.[3]
Shroud is mainly seen on green and blue cards. White gets some cards that grant shroud to many permanents at once (especially non-creature permanents), or to players. Shroud has also been seen on several artifacts, and among the artifact cards in which it has been seen, it is often incorporated as an ability of equipment cards.
Some cards, such as the Onslaught’s True Believer, grant shroud to players.
Shroud is a former evergreen ability but has been supplanted in that role by hexproof.
Shroud in practice
Shroud nowadays is not so popular compared to Hexproof because as the owner of the permanent Shroud doesn’t let you use spell on your creature, so it can’t get benefits from your spells
