Resourceful Defense + Delaying Shield
Produces: Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you, Lock
- Resourceful Defense
- Delaying Shield
- Color identity
- W
- Mana
- {4}{W} each turn
Steps
- At the beginning of your upkeep, Delaying Shield triggers.
- Holding priority, if Delaying Shield has any delay counters on it, activate Resourceful Defense by paying {4}{W}, moving the delay counters from Delaying Shield onto Resourceful Defense.
- Resolve the Delaying Shield trigger, doing nothing.
- While Delaying Shield is on the battlefield, all damage that would be dealt to you is replaced by putting that many counters on Delaying Shield instead.
- Repeat each turn as necessary.
How to execute this combo
The "Resourceful Defense + Delaying Shield" combo takes 5 steps in order. Make sure you have the mana open and permanents listed in the prerequisites before you start — opponents can respond between steps.
The end result: Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you, Lock.
Practice the line offline: lay out the cards, walk through each step, and note where you can lose the combo (summoning sickness, lack of priority, removal on a key permanent). In game, announce each step clearly; in casual play you can offer to shortcut after demonstrating the loop.
The best window is a turn when opponents are tapped out or after they commit a spell — hold protection (a counter, Vexing Shusher) if the combo wins on the spot.