Rusted Slasher MTG Card


Offers card advantage through artifact recursion and instant speed sacrifice ability in dedicated MTG decks. Can deplete resources and presents deck-building challenges with specific mana requirements. Versatile and meta-relevant, Rusted Slasher withstands removal and encourages creative MTG combos.
Rusted Slasher - Mirrodin Besieged
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Horror
Released2011-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin Besieged
Set codeMBS
Power 4
Toughness 1
Number128
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAdrian Smith

Text of card

Sacrifice an artifact: Regenerate Rusted Slasher.

"It's a beautiful vision. Discarded debris is reborn as a singular entity." —Urabrask the Hidden


Cards like Rusted Slasher

Rusted Slasher is a unique artifact creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, distinguished for its self-sacrifice feature to gain indestructibility. Its closest relatives might include Perilous Myr, which also offers added utility upon being sacrificed—dealing damage to any target. While both cards excel in decks utilizing sacrifice for strategic advantages, Rusted Slasher ensures its continued presence on the battlefield rather than a one-off effect.

Myr Retriever bears some likeness in its utility post-sacrifice, presenting an opportunity to return another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. This retriever effect promotes the recycling of resources, although it lacks the defensive robustness provided by Rusted Slasher. Moreover, we have Junk Diver, a card similar to Myr Retriever in its graveyard retrieval capability but with the added benefit of flying, increasing its versatility in combat scenarios.

Reviewing these comparisons, Rusted Slasher finds its niche as a resilient combatant capable of weathering targeted destruction—a trait valued highly in decks that hinge on maintaining a presence on the battlefield. Its synergy with sacrifice-driven strategies bolsters its standing amidst a robust array of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Perilous Myr - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Junk Diver - MTG Card versions
Perilous Myr - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Junk Diver - MTG Card versions

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Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Even though Rusted Slasher itself doesn’t directly give you cards, it synergizes well with artifact recursion strategies. By sacrificing an artifact to make it indestructible, Rusted Slasher can lead to card advantage by recurring valuable artifact cards from your graveyard to hand or battlefield, exploiting those interactions repeatedly.

Resource Acceleration: In a deck built around sacrifice mechanics and artifacts, Rusted Slasher becomes an essential piece. With the right setup, this card helps accelerate your resources by perpetuating a cycle of artifacts being used, sacrificed, and then brought back for further use, essentially ramping up your board state and potential plays.

Instant Speed: The Rusted Slasher’s sacrifice ability operates at instant speed, providing you with the flexibility to respond to removal spells or unfavorable blocks during combat. This ability allows you to take full advantage of the timing of your plays to safeguard your Slasher or to surprise an opponent during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rusted Slasher’s ability to avoid destruction by sacrificing an artifact can be taxing on resources. Discarding cards to keep the creature on the field could deplete a player’s hand and prove unfavorable during long games where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Rusted Slasher requires one colorless and three generic mana to cast. This specificity necessitates a dedicated mana base which can restrict deck building around more versatile mana requirements and hinders the card’s flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While four mana is not exorbitant, Rusted Slasher’s entrance on the battlefield at this cost point may be outclassed by other creatures or spells that provide immediate impact or greater value. Players might opt for alternatives that offer better board presence or abilities that do not require additional card sacrifice for self-preservation.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rusted Slasher offers flexibility to artifact-centric or sacrifice-based strategies. Its ability to dodge removal by sacrificing an artifact makes it a resilient threat on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: With this card, you can develop inventive combos, especially in decks that benefit from sending artifacts to the graveyard or that have mechanics triggered by sacrificing.

Meta-Relevance: Given that Rusted Slasher can adapt to various removal spells, it holds its own in environments where pinpoint creature removal is prevalent, keeping your board presence secure.


How to Beat

Rusted Slasher, a creature from the Scars of Mirrodin set, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This artifact creature has a notable ability—sacrificing another artifact to make it indestructible until the end of turn. This can make it seem daunting to remove from the battlefield. However, this resilience can be circumvented by strategies that don’t rely on destruction. For example, using exile effects bypasses indestructibility, cleanly removing Rusted Slasher from play without needing to deal damage or destroy it. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares are efficient answers in this situation.

Another strategy is to exploit the fact that Rusted Slasher needs other artifacts to sustain its indestructibility. Employing cards that control or limit artifacts, such as Stony Silence or Karn, the Great Creator, can significantly reduce its staying power. Depletion of the opponent’s artifact resources eventually renders Rusted Slasher vulnerable. Moreover, forcing opponents to sacrifice artifacts can also disrupt their game plan, leading to a weakened board state where Rusted Slasher can be dealt with more conventionally. Thus, with a mix of exile and control elements, overcoming Rusted Slasher becomes a strategically achievable goal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rusted Slasher MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Rusted Slasher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rusted Slasher has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rusted Slasher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-06-01 You may sacrifice Rusted Slasher to pay for its own regeneration ability. If you do, however, it won’t regenerate. It’ll just end up in its owner’s graveyard as a result of the sacrifice.