Armory Automaton MTG Card

Quickly gain card advantage by equipping multiple weapons without extra mana on attack. May lead to card disadvantage if building a deck heavily reliant on specific equipments. Strong inclusion in Commander decks for its versatility and combo potential with artifacts.

Commander 2016 (C16)
2016-11-11 - Number 51

Treasure Chest (PZ2)
2016-11-16 - Number 68

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

Whenever Armory Automaton enters the battlefield or attacks, you may attach any number of target Equipment to it. (Control of the Equipment doesn't change.)

With no flesh to tire or resolve to falter, the machines soon became the Academy's preferred trainers.

Understanding Armory Automaton’s Place in MTG

Cards like Armory Automaton

Armory Automaton is a unique artifact creature card within the MTG universe. Its ability to attract equipment as it enters the battlefield or attacks can be likened to the mechanic found on cards like Magnetic Theft, which attaches target equipment to a creature you control. However, Armory Automaton doesn’t require the equipment to already be on the battlefield under your control, giving it a more versatile edge in equipment-heavy matchups.

When considering creatures with equipment interactions, Brass Squire comes to mind as it also centers around the concept of attachment. It allows for the instant-speed attachment of equipment to creatures without the mana cost, yet it lacks the recurring nature of Armory Automaton’s triggered ability upon attack. Puresteel Paladin is another relevant comparison, rewarding players for the number of equipment they play. While it doesn’t directly equip creatures like Armory Automaton, it provides card draw and cost reduction benefits.

Overall, despite the competition, Armory Automaton’s unique ability to commandeer equipment from anywhere on the battlefield makes it both a formidable presence and a noteworthy addition to decks built around equipping strategies in MTG. Its role in taking control of your opponents’ assets cannot be understated, setting it apart in the realm of artifact creatures.

Cards similar to Armory Automaton by color, type and mana cost

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Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Armory Automaton presents a unique card benefit as it enables accumulation of equipment each time it attacks. This tactic can quickly snowball into a substantial card advantage, as the Automaton consolidates multiple equipment cards without the need for additional mana investment.

Resource Acceleration: With the potential to attach all available equipment upon attacking, this Automaton can provide an exponential increase in resources. This leap in power and utility often forces opponents to deal with it immediately, or risk facing a powerful, game-dominating threat.

Instant Speed: While Armory Automaton itself isn’t an instant, it directly benefits from instant speed interactions. By equipping it during the end step before your turn, you can maximize surprise and value, thereby bypassing some equipment costs and preparing for an enhanced attack.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Armory Automaton comes with no direct discard downside, but it does encourage a strategy that often results in card disadvantage. A deck loaded with equipment to maximize its potential might lead to holding fewer cards critical for other interactions or responses during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both generic and colored mana specifically, it mandates an exacting mana base. This can restrict the card’s inclusion in some decks, particularly those that need a consistent mana curve or operate with a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana (one generic and two colored), Armory Automaton may seem fair, but in a game where tempo is crucial, its cost can be a hindrance against decks that aim to establish control or win quickly. There are alternative creatures at lower mana cost that might not offer the same equipment synergy but provide immediate impacts on the board state.

Reasons to Include Armory Automaton in Your Collection

Versatility: Armory Automaton’s ability to equip any number of weapons upon entering the battlefield or attacking makes it a formidable addition to a wide array of Commander and casual decks. Its capacity to utilize equipment across the board opens up strategic flexibility during play.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks with a heavy artifact theme, synergizing with other cards that benefit from equipment interactions. Creating devastating combinations with cards like “Sigarda’s Aid” to equip at instant speed, Armory Automaton can rapidly become a powerhouse on the field.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where equipment strategies are prominent, the Armory Automaton can easily turn the tide of a game. It not only disrupts opponents’ equipped creatures but also gains advantages from each piece of equipment it acquires, making it highly relevant in the current meta.

How to beat

Armory Automaton is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, adept at acquiring equipment from all over the battlefield. When confronted with this gear-grabbing construct, it’s crucial to neutralize its ability to equip itself with multiple artifacts during combat. Players can attempt to override this by keeping removal spells handy, specifically those that can target artifacts or have instant speed to deal with the Automaton before it becomes a problem.

To dismantle the Armory Automaton’s strategy, consider using artifact removal such as Disenchant, Abrade, or Naturalize to remove key pieces of equipment before the Automaton’s ability triggers. Alternatively, spells that force opponents to sacrifice creatures, like Diabolic Edict, can bypass any defenses the Automaton might have accumulated through its equipment. Lastly, controlling the flow of equipment by using counter magic or limiting the number of artifacts your opponent can play will effectively reduce the Armory Automaton’s impact on the game.

In your strategy, remember that timing and choice of spells are crucial in managing the threats posed by Armory Automaton. Properly timing removal and disruption can maintain a balanced board and prevent your opponent’s Automaton from tipping the scales in their favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Armory Automaton MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Treasure Chest, 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 Armory Automaton and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Armory Automaton Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by James Paick.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-11-11	Commander 2016	C16		51	2015	Normal	Black	James Paick
2	2016-11-16	Treasure Chest	PZ2		68	2015	Normal	Black	James Paick

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Armory Automaton has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-11-08	An ability of an Equipment that triggers “whenever equipped creature attacks” triggers only if the Equipment was attached to a creature at the moment that creature was declared as an attacker, and any references to “that creature” in the effect refer to the creature the Equipment was attached to when the ability triggered.
2016-11-08	Armory Automaton’s ability can cause an Equipment one player controls to become attached to a creature another player controls. The controller of the Equipment can pay the equip cost to move that Equipment to a creature they control, but only any time that player could cast a sorcery. The controller of Armory Automaton can’t pay the equip cost to move Equipment they don’t control.
2016-11-08	If Armory Automaton leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, nothing happens to any of the Equipment it targeted. If they were already attached to other creatures, they remain attached to those creatures.
2016-11-08	If an Equipment an opponent controls is attached to a creature you control, any ability of that Equipment that says “you” refers to that opponent. However, if the Equipment says that the equipped creature has an ability, the word “you” in that ability refers to you, the controller of the creature.
2016-11-08	The triggered ability triggers both when Armory Automaton enters the battlefield and whenever it attacks. You don’t have to choose only one.
2016-11-08	You can choose to target no Equipment if you don’t want to attach any to Armory Automaton. Because the ability is optional, you also don’t have to attach the Equipment it targets as you resolve the ability. However, you must either attach all of the target Equipment or attach none of them.