Arbalest Engineers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Artificer |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 206 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Marta Nael |
Text of card
When Arbalest Engineers enters the battlefield, choose one — • Arbalest Engineers deals 1 damage to any target. • Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. It gains trample and haste until end of turn. • Create a tapped Powerstone token. (It's an artifact with ": Add . This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell.")
Cards like Arbalest Engineers
Arbalest Engineers finds its place among the suite of creature cards in MTG that offer both a body to contest the battlefield and an additional ability to impact the game. It is akin to cards like Siegecraft, which not only augments a creature’s power but also confers the gift of reach. The Engineers, however, provide a more direct method of dealing with flying threats by tapping to deal damage, setting them apart with their utility.
When juxtaposed with Elvish Archers, another card that presents reach and an impactful presence, Arbalest Engineers take a different route; they trade the passive reach trait for an active tap ability, allowing for a more controlled approach to gameplay. On a related note, you might consider comparing them to Skyhunter Skirmisher – a creature card that boasts flying and double strike, which is a formidable offensive tool, yet it lacks the Architects’ defensive flair and board control.
Ultimately, weighing the pros and cons of Arbalest Engineers relative to its counterparts, it becomes evident that this card is tailored for players who appreciate the strategic benefits of reach and prefer to maintain a reactive stance with their creature assets in MTG.
Cards similar to Arbalest Engineers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arbalest Engineers offers an efficient way to generate card advantage over your opponents. By providing the ability to potentially cast additional spells without spending cards from your hand, you’re effectively drawing into more options and staying ahead on resources.
Resource Acceleration: This card can significantly impact your mana curve by allowing artifact spells to tap for cost reductions. This kind of resource acceleration means you can play more powerful spells earlier in the game or activate powerful abilities that would otherwise be too costly.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed interaction cannot be overstated. Arbalest Engineers enables you to surprise your opponent by utilizing artifacts in new ways at a moment’s notice, which can swing the game state in your favor. Whether it’s during your turn or in response to an opponent’s move, this instant speed resourcefulness provides a tactical advantage in any match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Arbalest Engineers necessitate discarding another card to activate its ability. This can be a significant downside for players who are already struggling to maintain a substantial hand.
Specific Mana Cost: To play Arbalest Engineers, you will need a precise mana combination, which may not align with the mana base of more versatile or multi-colored decks. This requirement may restrict the card’s inclusion only to decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its stats and abilities, there are alternative cards that could potentially be more mana-efficient for the same or similar effects. This may deter players from including Arbalest Engineers in their decks when options with a lower mana investment are available.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arbalest Engineers integrates seamlessly into a variety of deck architectures with its ability to both bolster your defense and aggressively deal damage. It’s a flexible card that fits into multiple strategies, elevating the power of artifact-centric decks or simply acting as a reliable creature in a pinch.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in an environment rich with artifacts, allowing for intricate and potentially game-ending combos. The tap ability to deal damage can be the cornerstone of an impactful strategy, especially when combined with cards that untap creatures or duplicate triggered abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the meta, Arbalest Engineers shines by adapting to various common scenarios. Its direct damage capability makes it a threat to creature-heavy decks while holding its own in games that stretch on, where its consistent damage output can become a deciding factor.
How to beat
Arbalest Engineers is a card that often flies under the radar but can offer substantial value in Magic: The Gathering deck builds. It plays a distinct role by allowing you to tap an untapped artifact you control to deal 2 damage to any target—a versatile ability that can turn the tide in the late game. This aligns with other artifact-centric cards that utilize tapping strategies for direct damage or utility, such as Reckless Fireweaver or Ghirapur Aether Grid, albeit with different effects and synergies.
To effectively counter Arbalest Engineers, it’s crucial to disrupt the artifact synergy. Efficient artifact removal like Abrade or Nature’s Claim can break the combo, stripping Arbalest Engineers of its ammo. Similarly, cards that prevent your opponent from tapping their artifacts, like Stony Silence or Damping Matrix, neutralize the card’s potential without needing direct removal. They represent how strategic deck construction and card choice make a huge difference in MTG.
Understanding the importance of timing and knowing when to disable your opponent’s key pieces gives players an upper hand. By anticipating and reacting to Arbalest Engineers, a player can maintain control over the board and mitigate the risks posed by this understated yet potentially powerful MTG card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arbalest Engineers MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Arbalest Engineers 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 Arbalest Engineers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arbalest Engineers card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | Although all the cards in The Brothers' War that create Powerstone tokens create a tapped Powerstone token, entering the battlefield tapped isn't part of the token's definition. Notably, if you create a token that is a copy of a Powerstone token, the token copy won't enter the battlefield tapped. |
| 2022-10-14 | Powerstone tokens are a kind of predefined token. Each one has the artifact subtype "Powerstone" and the ability ": Add . This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell." |
| 2022-10-14 | You can use the added by a Powerstone token on anything that isn't a nonartifact spell. This includes paying costs to activate abilities of both artifact and nonartifact permanents, paying ward costs, and so on. |