Ashnod's Transmogrant MTG Card


It grants the ability to transform creatures, opening up diverse strategic options and interactions in games. While powerful and versatile, its perks are tethered to decks with a solid artifact framework. The card’s place in various MTG metagames accentuates its utility and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Text of card

Target non-artifact creature gains +1/+1 and is now considered an artifact creature, though it retains its original color. Discard Ashnod's Transmogrant after it is used.

Ashnod found few willing to trade their humanity for the power she offered them.


Cards like Ashnod's Transmogrant

Ashnod’s Transmogrant is a vintage artifact from Magic: The Gathering that has a unique ability to transform creatures. Its closest parallels are cards like Xenograft and Artificial Evolution, which also alter creature types, but Transmogrant is distinguished by its one-time use and immediate impact in changing a creature’s type to artifact in addition to its other types.

Looking at Myr Landshaper, another similar card, it continually turns lands into artifacts as long as it’s untapped, offering more versatility over multiple turns compared to the single use of Ashnod’s Transmogrant. Liquimetal Coating can turn anything into an artifact until end of turn with no restrictions, allowing a broader application but lacking the permanence that comes with Ashnod’s Transmogrant.

Despite its narrower focus, Ashnod’s Transmogrant provides a permanent alteration, which can interact favorably with cards that benefit from having more artifacts on the battlefield. When considering ease of use, cost, and lasting effects, Ashnod’s Transmogrant holds a unique position among MTG cards, establishing its place as a notable option for players who desire to permanently transform their creatures into artifacts.

Xenograft - MTG Card versions
Artificial Evolution - MTG Card versions
Myr Landshaper - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions
Xenograft - MTG Card versions
Artificial Evolution - MTG Card versions
Myr Landshaper - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ashnod’s Transmogrant has the potential to offer indirect card advantage by transforming an existing creature into a machine, essentially turning one card into a more versatile threat without losing card presence on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: It can provide a form of resource acceleration by enabling your creatures to be sacrificed for additional mana if used in conjunction with cards that have interactions with artifact creatures or sacrificing mechanics.

Instant Speed: Despite being an artifact with static abilities, the act of casting Ashnod’s Transmogrant allows you to make strategic alterations in the middle of combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn, offering the element of surprise and flexibility synonymous with instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ashnod’s Transmogrant necessitates the removal of the enchanted artifact once its ability is utilized. This could be counterproductive when the artifact is essential to your strategy on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: While costing only one generic mana, the card requires you to have an artifact already on the field, limiting its usage to decks that reliably play artifacts early on.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low initial cost, the real expense of Ashnod’s Transmogrant can be seen in its situational nature. The one-time investment in mana may not always justify the marginal advantage, especially when compared to other artifact synergies available in the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ashnod’s Transmogrant can be easily integrated into a variety of decks, particularly those that have a heavy focus on artifact synergy or sacrifice mechanics. This single mana artifact can convert any creature into an artifact creature, broadening the potential interactions and strategies within a game.

Combo Potential: The ability to transform creatures into artifacts offers significant combo potential with cards that interact with artifacts, such as salvaging stations or cards with imprint mechanics. This can lead to unexpected and powerful plays that can turn the tide of a match in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-evolving meta that often features artifact-centric and engine-based decks, Ashnod’s Transmogrant can be a low-cost inclusion that offers a high return on investment. Whether it’s enabling sacrifice for value, setting up graveyard strategies, or simply making your creatures more resistant to certain types of removal, this card can hold relevance in multiple metagame scenarios.


How to Beat Ashnod’s Transmogrant

When it comes to Ashnod’s Transmogrant, it’s not just a simple matter of removing a creature from the battlefield. This particular artifact has the unique ability to equip a creature and grant it an additional layer of potential by transforming it into an artifact creature. The key to overcoming this magical implement lies in being one step ahead with your removal strategy.

Whether it’s through artifact removal spells, like Disenchant or Abrade, or using cards that specifically target artifact creatures, like Dispatch, making sure your deck is well-armed to deal with these threats is essential. It’s also smart to keep an eye on your opponent’s mana pool and the possible creatures that could be targeted. Being proactive can disrupt your opponent’s plan before it fully unfolds.

In the MTG landscape, where every card can offer a wide berth of strategic depth, considering interactions with cards like Ashnod’s Transmogrant can shape your victory. It’s not just about having the right cards, but also about timing them perfectly to neutralize the artifact’s advantage and swing the game in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ashnod's Transmogrant MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Chronicles, 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 Ashnod's Transmogrant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ashnod's Transmogrant Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 401993NormalBlackMark Tedin
21995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 931993NormalWhiteMark Tedin
31995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1031993NormalBlackMark Tedin
41997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3501997NormalWhiteMark Tedin
52007-09-10Masters EditionME1 1521997NormalBlackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ashnod's Transmogrant has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2007-09-16 It’s the ability, not the counter that makes the creature an artifact. The creature remains an artifact even if the +1/+1 counter is removed.