A-Circuit Mender MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Insect |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | A-242 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Hector Ortiz |
Text of card
When Circuit Mender enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life. When Circuit Mender leaves the battlefield, draw a card.
Cards like A-Circuit Mender
A-Circuit Mender is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering with its unique blend of life gain and artifact synergy. It bears resemblance to the card Filigree Familiar, which also provides a modest life buffer when entering the battlefield. Both cards offer life replenishment, however, A-Circuit Mender dives into artifact realm more deeply with its focus on artifact creatures.
Comparably, there’s also Anointer Priest, which provides life when a creature token enters the battlefield under your control, embracing a different aspect of gameplay centered around token generation. Conversely, A-Circuit Mender caters more directly to artifact strategies, particularly with its ability to support other artifact creatures and even bring itself back from the graveyard, something Anointer Priest doesn’t provide.
Last but not least, the Myr Sire is another card that serves a dual role as both creature and artifact, although, unlike A-Circuit Mender, it leaves an artifact creature behind upon death rather than offering direct life gain. This highlights the unique role that A-Circuit Mender plays, juggling both immediate life gain and longer-term artifact strategy potential within MTG.
Cards similar to A-Circuit Mender by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: A-Circuit Mender provides the benefit of potential card draw. When it enters the battlefield or dies, you may opt to take a card from the top of your library and put it into your graveyard, subtly setting up graveyard strategies or simply drawing a card if an artifact was pitched this way.
Resource Acceleration: This utility creature can be a small but mighty asset in ramping up your resources. Upon entering the battlefield, A-Circuit Mender offers Energy counters, a versatile and valuable commodity in powering up numerous energy-based abilities or fueling other energy-thirsty cards in your deck.
Instant Speed: Interaction at instant speed is not directly a feature of A-Circuit Mender; however, its mechanical synergies with cards that operate at instant speed can be indispensable. Coupling it with flash mechanics or instant speed spells that return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield can make A-Circuit Mender a recurring asset at critical game moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A-Circuit Mender doesn’t have a discard requirement, making it a more straightforward addition to your hand without the need to sacrifice other cards.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature requires a precise combination of mana—one colorless and one green—which can be restrictive for decks that are not geared towards green mana production.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its two mana cost isn’t steep, there might be alternative lower-cost options for those seeking quick board presence or early-game defensive creatures.
Reasons to Include A-Circuit Mender in Your Collection
Versatility: A-Circuit Mender offers a flexible role in various deck types. It’s an artifact creature, making it useful for synergies with both artifact and creature spells. Additionally, its ability to provide life gain upon entering or leaving the battlefield makes it a handy tool for improving your staying power in multiple game situations.
Combo Potential: This card’s enter-the-battlefield effect is ripe for exploitation in combo decks. Since it can return another target artifact card with mana value 1 from your graveyard to your hand, A-Circuit Mender can be part of recurring loops or strategies that aim to repeatedly cast certain low-cost artifacts.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small incremental advantages matter, A-Circuit Mender excels. The life gain can be crucial in races against aggressive decks, and the ability to recur valuable one-mana artifacts can give you an edge in longer, more grueling matches where resources are king.
How to beat
A-Circuit Mender provides a unique combination of artifact synergy and incremental life gain in Magic: The Gathering. As an artifact creature, it can be particularly powerful in decks that capitalize on artifact strategies, potentially turning the tide of a game. When entering or leaving the battlefield, this resilient construct provides the player with a precious life point and a token that can be later used for mana acceleration or other synergies.
To effectively counter A-Circuit Mender, removal spells that bypass its enter-the-battlefield and death-trigger abilities are key. Cards like exile effects bypass the usual destroy mechanism and prevent any death triggers from occurring. Additionally, employing strategies that restrict the benefit from life gain, such as utilizing cards with the lifelink mechanic, can also provide an edge in the match-up by maintaining parity or even coming out ahead in life races.
Ultimately, handling A-Circuit Mender involves disrupting the artifact synergy it promotes and neutralizing the advantages it could potentially provide. Timely removal, strategic use of lifelink, and even cards that penalize opponents for gaining life can ensure that this utility creature won’t interrupt your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Circuit Mender MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 A-Circuit Mender and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Circuit Mender has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |