Animate Object MTG Card


Turns dormant artifacts into powerful, game-altering creatures, enabling surprise tactics and offensive power. Provides flexibility through instant-speed activation, disrupting opponents’ plans and strategies. Demands careful resource management due to its discard requirement and specific mana costs.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Text of card

You get seven {TK}. Choose an inanimate object you own from outside the game. Put a power and toughness sticker on it. You may also put a name sticker, an art sticker, and/or an ability sticker on it. Put it onto the battlefield as a creature token.

Tap beverages with extreme caution.


Cards like Animate Object

Animate Object stands out in Magic: The Gathering’s wide array of quirky and inventive spells. It transforms any noncreature artifact into a creature with power and toughness equal to the artifact’s cost. This Card is reminiscent of Ensoul Artifact, another spell that similarly brings an inanimate artifact to life. However, Ensoul Artifact has a fixed set of stats, turning the chosen artifact into a creature with a consistent 5/5 power.Looking at Tezzeret’s Touch, it shares the theme of animating artifacts, but it also brings the added benefit of reviving the artifact if sent to the graveyard from the battlefield. Though Animate Object’s flexibility in targeting any artifact regardless of cost could lead to more powerful outcomes, Tezzeret’s Touch offers a predictability and resilience that can be crucial in certain game states.Moreover, we observe Sydri, Galvanic Genius, who not only animates artifacts but also grants them deathtouch and lifelink, impacting the battlefield dynamically. Animate Object does not inherently provide these additional abilities, focusing instead on the transformation aspect.In essence, Animate Object is a unique tool for players looking to fully utilize their artifacts, potentially summoning formidable creatures mid-game, which can shift the game’s momentum. It’s a card that, when played smartly, can create unexpected avenues to victory.

Ensoul Artifact - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret's Touch - MTG Card versions
Sydri, Galvanic Genius - MTG Card versions
Ensoul Artifact - MTG Card versions
Tezzeret's Touch - MTG Card versions
Sydri, Galvanic Genius - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Animate Object by color, type and mana cost

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Library of Lat-Nam - MTG Card versions
Psychic Transfer - MTG Card versions
Balance of Power - MTG Card versions
Cruel Fate - MTG Card versions
Temporal Manipulation - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Memories - MTG Card versions
Brilliant Plan - MTG Card versions
Time Warp - MTG Card versions
Reverse Engineer - MTG Card versions
Invoke the Winds - MTG Card versions
Essence Fracture - MTG Card versions
Rush of Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Temporal Fissure - MTG Card versions
Bribery - MTG Card versions
Acquire - MTG Card versions
Petals of Insight - MTG Card versions
Heed the Mists - MTG Card versions
Ribbons of the Reikai - MTG Card versions
Reduce to Dreams - MTG Card versions
Tidings - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Animate Object offers a unique advantage by turning any noncreature artifact you control into a creature with power and toughness equal to its mana value. This transformation can turn passive artifacts into threats, potentially swinging the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: By converting your artifacts into creatures, Animate Object enables you to make more efficient use of the resources at your disposal. Rather than having dormant artifacts, you now have active participants in the battle, which can expedite your path to victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to animate your artifacts at instant speed gives you the flexibility to catch your opponent off guard. This adaptability allows you to respond to threats or create your own at the most opportune moment, often during your opponent’s end step or in response to their actions, without needing to commit to a game plan earlier in the turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Animate Object necessitates discarding a card to activate its ability, a drawback when your hand is already dwindling, sacrificing valuable card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise combination of mana types, constraining its seamless inclusion only to decks that can reliably produce those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to bring Animate Object’s effect into play is substantial compared to other options, potentially slowing down your game progression in crucial early turns.


Reasons to Include Animate Object in Your Collection

Versatility: Animate Object offers a unique approach to gameplay as it turns noncreature artifacts into creatures. This can be a game-changer in decks that are heavy with artifacts, suddenly turning defensive equipment or utility artifacts into unexpected threats.

Combo Potential: It has the ability to synergize with strategies that look to exploit the artifact-creature conversion. Imagine making a high-powered equipment suddenly a creature that can deal a massive blow or using it to surprise your opponent by animating an artifact that has an enters the battlefield trigger. The combo possibilities are expansive and can fit into a variety of deck archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of artifact-centric decks in various formats, having Animate Object in your arsenal ensures you can adapt to match or exploit popular strategies. It’s a tool that could turn the tide in a meta where artifacts play a key role, offering both flexibility and a potential edge in battle.


How to beat

Animate Object is a unique card that blends into the vast pool of creature-creating spells in Magic: The Gathering. This particular card stands out by turning noncreature artifacts into creatures until end of turn. Players must carefully choose the right artifact to animate, balancing the artifact’s value as a noncreature resource against the potential offensive or defensive power it can wield as a creature. When facing an opponent using Animate Object, the key is disruption. Artifact removal spells, such as Naturalize or Shatter, are highly effective since they can target the animated artifact, now a creature, or the artifact itself prior to its transformation.

Counterspells also play a strategic role in overcoming Animate Object. Countering this spell prevents the artifact from coming to life, allowing for a maintainance of board control. It’s essential to be cautious about leaving mana open for these reactive measures. Finally, instant speed removal spells ensure that you can eliminate the threat the artifact poses, regardless of whether it’s in creature form or not. In essence, when trying to counteract Animate Object, remember: timely removal or disruption can negate the advantage your opponent seeks to gain by wielding this versatile spell.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Animate Object MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, 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 Object and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Animate Object Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07UnfinityUNF 3192015NormalBlackGreg Staples
22022-10-07UnfinityUNF 332015NormalBlackGreg Staples

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-10-07 Animate Object has received a minor update to its wording to add a word that we probably should have had there from the outset. Oopsie. The resulting creature is a token. If it leaves the battlefield, the game object ceases to exist. The actual object presumably continues to exist (Wizards of the Coast makes no claims, promises, or guarantees that ordinary household objects may not disappear into the fathomless void at any spacetime).
2022-10-07 For the purposes of this card, an inanimate object is one not currently being used in the game. It must be small enough to be practical. You must legally be allowed to possess it. We really do mean inanimate, as in “not alive.” Why do I feel the need to be more specific? Not even formerly alive. Like a deck box or something.
2022-10-07 If you animate a hat, the resulting creature is not wearing a hat. Being a hat is not the same as wearing a hat or having a hat.
2022-10-07 If you use a Magic card, ignore all its in-game qualities, including art. The creature doesn’t have its printed name, any of its printed text, etc. It’s the same as if you had used a five of spades.
2022-10-07 If you use a five of spades, or any other object with numbers or text, ignore those numbers and text. The creature initially has only the characteristics given to it by the stickers you put onto it.