---
name: "Tortoise Formation"
mana_cost: "{3}{U}"
cmc: 4
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: []
set: "ALA"
set_name: "Shards of Alara"
collector_number: "61"
rarity: "common"
artist: "Mark Zug"
oracle_id: "a3bf84b3-b28a-4531-95d9-d2967ade670b"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/tortoise-formation-ala"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Tortoise Formation
- **Mana Cost:** `{3}{U}` (CMC: 4)
- **Type:** Instant

## Oracle Text
Creatures you control gain shroud until end of turn. (They can't be the targets of spells or abilities.)

> *Auf dem Meer schlägt die jhessische Flotte schnell und unbarmherzig zu. An Land müssen die Marineinfanteristen gegen die Elitereiterei Valerons auf vorsichtigere Taktiken zurückgreifen.*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Hisoka's Guard](/printing/hisokas-guard-chk.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
2. [Homarid Warrior](/printing/homarid-warrior-fem.md) — Creature — Homarid Warrior
3. [Cephalid Inkshrouder](/printing/cephalid-inkshrouder-jud.md) — Creature — Octopus
4. [Giant Crab](/printing/giant-crab-tmp.md) — Creature — Crab
5. [Sylvan Safekeeper](/printing/sylvan-safekeeper-cma.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
6. [Mage's Guile](/printing/mages-guile-ons.md) — Instant

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Shards of Alara (ALA) #61
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Artist:** Mark Zug
- **Total Printings:** 9 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `legal` | Penny: `legal`