by PBrennan
You only ever attack one enemy at a time. While you're attacking that enemy, all other enemies engaged with you are completely ignored. So yes, you ignore their shields. After that attack's over, then you may attack a second, different, enemy and it again is treated in isolation. After that attack's over, you may ..., and so on.The turn sequence is quite strict. All engagements happen in phase 5, and it's irrelevant whether you engage it or it engages you, the result is that the enemy is engaged with you. Then you enter the combat phase, defend against each engaged enemy, then do the attacks you choose. So no, you can't attack an enemy before it attacks you, even if it was you who chose to engage it. (Unless of course you trigger effects that allow you to do so.)