Now I assume if something has shroud, you can't equip it, but my question is if you equip something with shroud AFTER you equip it with something else, does the first equipment need to be unequipped or can you just not equip anything else once it is equipped with shroud?
Now I assume if something has shroud, you can't equip it, but my question is if you equip something with shroud AFTER you equip it with something else, does the first equipment need to be unequipped or can you just not equip anything else once it is equipped with shroud?
You can activate the equip ability of the first Equipment, to attach the Equipment to something else. (In fact, you have to, since you can't just choose to unattach Equipment.) The equip ability only targets the creature you want to attach the Equipment to, it doesn't target the creature already equipped.
Otherwise, the presence of the shroud on the creature doesn't affect Equipment already attached to that creature. Shroud prevents spells and abilities from targeting the creature; attached Equipment is just that, attached. This isn't targeting the creature.
Enchantment and equipment cards don't maintain a constant state of targeting. They target when they are played (in the case of auras) or when their Equip ability is activated (in the case of equipment), but not in other circumstances. Adding shroud later has no effect.
If a card instructs you to attach an equipment or aura to a permanent, that does not target, although it is subject to protection. Giving protection from white to a creature with a white aura attached will cause the aura to "fall off".
If you equip your creature with the cloak, it will have shroud, so you will be unable to activate any more equip abilities targeting it until it no longer has shroud.
So yes, you need to unequip the cloak before you can equip your creature with that Trusty Machete. But for that you'd need a second creature to equip the cloak too, since you can't just take equipment off creatures without giving it to another.
Also if you re-equip the cloak the machete will stay since it is no longer targeting the creature.
sounds confusing, but it does make sense.
You can activate the equip ability of the first Equipment, to attach the Equipment to something else. (In fact, you have to, since you can't just choose to unattach Equipment.) The equip ability only targets the creature you want to attach the Equipment to, it doesn't target the creature already equipped.
Otherwise, the presence of the shroud on the creature doesn't affect Equipment already attached to that creature. Shroud prevents spells and abilities from targeting the creature; attached Equipment is just that, attached. This isn't targeting the creature.
If a card instructs you to attach an equipment or aura to a permanent, that does not target, although it is subject to protection. Giving protection from white to a creature with a white aura attached will cause the aura to "fall off".
If you equip your creature with the cloak, it will have shroud, so you will be unable to activate any more equip abilities targeting it until it no longer has shroud.
So yes, you need to unequip the cloak before you can equip your creature with that Trusty Machete. But for that you'd need a second creature to equip the cloak too, since you can't just take equipment off creatures without giving it to another.
Also if you re-equip the cloak the machete will stay since it is no longer targeting the creature.
yeas, that actually is the card I'm talking about. I have it in a deck that I'd like to be able to combo with Quietus Spike.
if I attach the Spike first and then the Cloak, that would be legal, right?
Yes, that works fine. The creature gaining shroud doesn't interfere with Quietus Spike being attached to the creature.
Thanks man!!