Animate Artifact MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 48
1993-10-04 - Number 49
1993-12-01 - Number 49
1993-12-10 - Number 49
1993-12-10 - Number 49
1994-04-01 - Number 48
1994-04-01 - Number 48
1994-06-21 - Number 48
1995-04-01 - Number 60
1995-04-01 - Number 60
2011-01-10 - Number 38
2022-11-28 - Number 345
2022-11-28 - Number 48
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Target artifact is now a creature with both power and toughness equal to its casting cost; target retains all its original abilities as well. This will destroy artifacts with 0 casting cost.
Cards like Animate Artifact
Animate Artifact is a classic aura from Magic: The Gathering that turns noncreature artifacts into creatures. Its ability to give life to artifacts parallels the functions of cards like Ensoul Artifact and Tezzeret’s Touch. Ensoul Artifact, for instance, also animates artifacts but at a lower casting cost and with a set power and toughness. Tezzeret’s Touch offers a similar effect, but with an added layer of resilience, allowing the artifact to return to the owner’s hand if it goes to the graveyard.
Looking into the broader spectrum, we find March of the Machines, a card that animates all artifacts on the battlefield, not just a single target. While it permanently changes the game landscape, Animate Artifact gives targeted, flexible control over which artifact becomes a creature. Skilled Animator is another card that shares the theme but acts as a creature itself and gives a substantial power and toughness to the animated artifact upon its entry to the battlefield.
Each of these cards present unique opportunities and strategies, though Animate Artifact stands out for its historical significance and the specific flexibility it offers in animating individual artifacts of potentially high mana cost. Its place in MTG’s vast card pool is cemented by offering creative and strategic depth to the game.
Cards similar to Animate Artifact by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Animate Artifact gives a new utility to otherwise non-creature artifacts, transforming them into potential attackers or blockers. This can lead to unexpected tactical advantages, as you effectively increase your creature count without using additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: By animating an artifact with a high converted mana cost, you effectively create a substantial threat without having to pay the mana cost for a creature of similar size. This optimizes your mana utilization and makes your board state more formidable.
Instant Speed: Though Animate Artifact is an enchantment, its ability to immediately convert an artifact into a creature can serve as a surprise tactic during the combat phase or even at the end of your opponent’s turn, creating instant pressure or an unforeseen blocker when needed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Animate Artifact necessitates sacrificing a particular artifact, leading to a potential loss of board presence or crucial components for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes blue mana, this card is predominantly restricted to decks that can produce blue mana consistently, possibly constraining deck diversity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a mana cost that is significant, this card competes with other high-impact options within its mana range, potentially reducing its attractiveness when constructing an efficient deck curve.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Animate Artifact offers a unique angle of play by turning any artifact into a creature. This can change non-threatening objects into formidable board presences, giving a range of artifacts a dual purpose in both utility and combat.
Combo Potential: The true power of Animate Artifact lies in its ability to create unexpected synergies. It pairs well with cards that gain benefits from creatures entering the battlefield or from having a high volume of creatures in play. The transformation of an artifact can suddenly tip the scales in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts play a critical role, Animate Artifact can dynamically shift the tide of battle. It allows players to respond to threats or board stalls by turning passive artifacts into active, aggressive assets, thus staying relevant in various competitive scenes.
How to Beat
Animate Artifact is a classic from the annals of Magic: The Gathering that turns noncreature artifacts into creatures. This card can be a surprise element on the battlefield, making previously inert objects into formidable attacking or blocking entities. Despite its potential for unexpected plays, there are strategies to efficiently counter this enchantment.
Dealing with an Animate Artifact play requires readiness to dismantle your opponent’s strategies. Instant-speed removal spells like Disenchant or Naturalize allow you to destroy the enchantment before it can bring an artifact to life. Furthermore, board clearing spells like Wrath of God or Doomskar effectively remove all creatures – both natural and artifact-born – safeguarding you from any artifact-based threats. Additionally, countermagic such as Counterspell or Cancel can prevent Animate Artifact from hitting the board in the first place, giving you preemptive control over the artifact transformation attempts of your adversary.
Understanding the nature of your opponent’s strategy and maintaining versatile responses in your deck composition are key to overcoming the challenges posed by Animate Artifact. By being equipped with the right spells and tactics, this once formative enchantment can be managed, ensuring your stronghold in the game remains unchallenged.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Animate Artifact MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Animate Artifact 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
Printings
The Animate Artifact Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 48 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 49 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 49 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 49 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 49 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 48 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 48 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 48 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 60 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 60 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 11 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 38 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 345 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Animate Artifact has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Animate Artifact card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |
| 2008-08-01 | This card has been returned to its original functionality. If it is enchanting an artifact that’s already a creature, it won’t change its power and toughness. |