Rust Monster MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 321
2021-07-23 - Number 161
2020-09-26 - Number AFR-161
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Delivers card advantage by selectively dismantling opposing artifacts, altering the state of play.
- Offers the tactical advantage of being summoned at instant speed, catching adversaries unaware.
- Demands a card as a cost, which may hinder hand resource management and deck synergy.
Text of card
First strike Sacrifice an artifact: Rust Monster gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rust Monster offers a distinct edge as it enables players to manipulate the battlefield to their advantage. It can potentially deprive opponents of their artifacts, which can tilt the game significantly, giving the controller an indirect form of card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: One of the key benefits of the Rust Monster is its capacity to disrupt an opponent’s mana base if they rely heavily on artifact lands or mana rocks. By destroying these resources, the Rust Monster can slow down the opposition, essentially acting as a form of resource acceleration for the player who wields this card.
Instant Speed: Although the Rust Monster itself may not be an instant, in environments where cards can enable a creature to be summoned at instant speed, this creature becomes an unexpected threat. It can catch an opponent off-guard during their turn, potentially disrupting combos or important plays dependent on artifacts.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Rust Monster MTG card is its discard requirement. Players must sacrifice a card from their hand to harness its ability, which could deplete valuable assets when you’re already short on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Rust Monster comes with a specific mana cost that includes colorless mana, potentially restricting its integration into decks. This can be challenging for players who run multicolored decks and prefer a more flexible mana base to cast various spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its intriguing abilities, the mana cost is relatively high. Players need to weigh if the output of its abilities justifies using four mana, especially when other cards could provide more immediate or impactful results with a lower investment.
Reasons to Include Rust Monster in Your Collection
Versatility: The Rust Monster card offers a unique flexibility to players, providing artifact control across various formats. It can be easily incorporated into decks that aim to disrupt opponents’ strategies by targeting their key artifacts.
Combo Potential: Equipped with the ability to dismantle an opponent’s artifact-based combo pieces, Rust Monster excels in decks that capitalize on disrupting enemy assets while advancing their own board state.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta saturated with powerful artifact decks, including the Rust Monster enhances your capacity to effectively counter prevalent strategies, maintaining competitive edge in various playing environments.
How to beat
The Rust Monster is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, posing a challenge with its ability to disrupt artifact strategies. To effectively combat the Rust Monster, it’s crucial to take a proactive stance, adapting your gameplay to minimize its impact. Consider deploying your disposable artifacts first, thereby safeguarding your essential pieces from being devoured by this menacing beast.
Additionally, cards that grant hexproof or indestructible status to your artifacts can serve as a formidable defense against the Rust Monster’s destructive capability. Deploying removal spells swiftly to exile or destroy the Rust Monster before it can cause substantial damage is also a sage tactic. However, if you’re piloting an artifact-light deck, the Rust Monster’s presence may be less threatening, as its artifact-targeting abilities become redundant. Understanding your deck’s dynamics and the Rust Monster’s potential on the battlefield is key to overcoming the creature’s menacing presence and turning the tide in your favor.
In essence, sidestepping the pitfalls of running heavy artifact themes or employing strategic defenses can negate the Rust Monster’s edge, positioning you for triumph in the face of this metal-munching menace.
Cards like Rust Monster
Rust Monster is an interesting entry in the roster of artifact interaction creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to destroy an artifact bearing the status of an Equipment and create a Treasure token reminds us of cards like Reclamation Sage. While Reclamation Sage can target any artifact or enchantment for removal, it lacks the ability to provide a ramp in the form of a Treasure token, which can provide a mana boost for upcoming turns.
In the sphere of artifact creatures, we can draw parallels with Manic Vandal. Both creatures have a knack for disrupting opponents’ strategies by dealing with artifacts. Manic Vandal removes any artifact when it hits the battlefield, giving it a broader target range than Rust Monster, but it doesn’t reward the player with a Treasure token. Lastly, we find cards like Goblin Trashmaster, which raises the stakes by offering a lord effect for Goblins in addition to being able to sacrifice Goblins for artifact destruction — a dual-purpose feature that Rust Monster doesn’t possess.
After examining their abilities and weighing their impact on gameplay, Rust Monster finds its own niche through its focused artifact destruction and potential for mana ramp, distinguishing itself among similar Magic: The Gathering cards.
Cards similar to Rust Monster by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rust Monster MTG card by a specific set like The List and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Rust Monster and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Rust Monster Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | AFR-161 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 321 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Russ Nicholson | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 161 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rust Monster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
