While resolving the triggered ability of Stronghold Rats, each player chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then all of the cards are discarded at the same time.

Once a creature has been blocked, that creature remains blocked and will deal and be dealt combat damage even if it gains or loses shadow or if the blocking creature gains or loses shadow.

If an attacking creature has multiple evasion abilities, such as shadow and flying, a creature can block it only if that creature satisfies all of the appropriate evasion abilities.

Multiple instances of shadow on the same creature are redundant.