Bronze Guardian MTG Card


Bronze Guardian enhances artifact decks, doubling artifacts’ toughness and offering card parity. Its ward ability protects artifacts, providing a tactical advantage and board stability. Guardian’s mana cost and setup requirements may challenge deck consistency and speed.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Abilities Double strike,Ward
Power *
Toughness 5

Text of card

Double strike Ward Other artifacts you control have ward . Bronze Guardian's power is equal to the number of artifacts you control.


Cards like Bronze Guardian

Bronze Guardian enters the realm of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering with distinctive features. A notable peer is Darksteel Juggernaut, which similarly benefits from the number of artifacts you control. Bronze Guardian, however, shields your artifacts with its ward ability and sports double strike—a rare combination that enhances both offense and defense.

Sharing the metal theme, Foundry Inspector is another artifact creature, which reduces the cost of your artifacts. While not offering the same protection or combat prowess as Bronze Guardian, it excels in enabling an artifact-heavy strategy more rapidly. Then there is the Metalwork Colossus, towering over in terms of size and often hitting the battlefield with a reduced cost due to its unique cost-reduction ability linked to noncreature artifacts.

Assessing the range of artifact creatures, Bronze Guardian stands out for its guardian role, representing a sturdy sentinel that can turn the tide of battle while ensuring your valuable artifacts remain safeguarded against opponents’ spells.

Darksteel Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Foundry Inspector - MTG Card versions
Metalwork Colossus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Foundry Inspector - MTG Card versions
Metalwork Colossus - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bronze Guardian by color, type and mana cost

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Mysterious Limousine - MTG Card versions
Autonomous Assembler - MTG Card versions
Platoon Dispenser - MTG Card versions
Titanium Golem - MTG Card versions
Scourglass - MTG Card versions
Norn's Annex - MTG Card versions
Bastion Mastodon - MTG Card versions
Cataclysmic Gearhulk - MTG Card versions
Rules Lawyer - MTG Card versions
Chivalrous Chevalier - MTG Card versions
Ironsoul Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Assembled Ensemble - MTG Card versions
Tocasia's Onulet - MTG Card versions
Mirran Bardiche - MTG Card versions
Unstable Glyphbridge // Sandswirl Wanderglyph - MTG Card versions
Illustrious Wanderglyph - MTG Card versions
Essence of Antiquity - MTG Card versions
Sentry Bot - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Bronze Guardian. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Other ShopsOther Shops VintageOther ShopsVintage Preliminary 2023-12-19
Colorless PrisonColorless Prison Vintage2023 Asia Vintage Championship
Prison ShopsPrison Shops VintagePrison ShopsVintage Challenge 32 2023-11-25

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Bronze Guardian offers a synergistic aspect in decks focused on artifacts, potentially fortifying your board presence while maintaining card parity. Its ability to double as a card-drawing engine in the late game can be a crucial way to pull ahead of your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to protect and enhance your other artifacts, Bronze Guardian can indirectly ramp up your resources. As it makes your mana rocks or other utility artifacts sturdier against removal, it helps ensure that your accelerants and resources remain on the field longer, giving you an edge in resource stability.

Instant Speed: While Bronze Guardian itself does not operate at instant speed, its inherent keyword ‘Flash’ from various MTG interactions can be exploited to summon it unexpectedly. Additionally, it can safeguard your artifacts against instant-speed removal, effectively operating as a deterrent by encouraging opponents to think twice before trying to dismantle your board at inopportune times.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To play Bronze Guardian effectively, you often need to have a well-set-up board with other artifacts to capitalize on its passive ability. If you’re forced to discard cards as part of other spells or effects, upkeeping a satisfactory artifact presence can be challenging. This makes the Guardian less useful in scenarios where hand disruption is prevalent.

Specific Mana Cost: Bronze Guardian demands a specific commitment to both colorless and white mana sources due to its {5}{W} cost. Players running a multi-color deck or those without a reliable mana base might struggle to cast it efficiently, limiting the card’s broader playability across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at six, including one white, the Bronze Guardian might arrive too late in the game where faster aggro or midrange decks have already established a dominating board presence. Additionally, its cost-to-effect ratio is significant when compared to other options in the five or six mana bracket that can offer immediate board impact or card advantage.


Reasons to Include Bronze Guardian in Your Collection

Versatility: Bronze Guardian shines in its ability to adapt to different play styles. As a double striking creature that boosts your artifacts’ toughness based on its power, it fits seamlessly into artifact-centric decks and can serve as a formidable defender or an aggressive attacker.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to give your other artifacts ward — protection from targeted spells and abilities — allows for powerful combos in artifact-heavy decks, safeguarding your key pieces while you execute your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that often includes strategies targeting key permanents, Bronze Guardian’s ward ability becomes increasingly valuable. It provides a layer of protection that can be critical for maintaining your board presence against control decks and targeted removal.


How to beat

Bronze Guardian is a unique artifact creature in the world of MTG that can be a formidable opponent on the battlefield. It holds the power of indestructibility, providing a solid defensive front, and it also doubles up as a force multiplier for other artifacts you control, thanks to its ability to give them ward.

Defeating a Bronze Guardian requires strategic play. Targeted removal spells that don’t destroy can be exceedingly valuable against it, such as exile effects or bouncing it back to its owner’s hand. These sidestep the indestructibility and ward abilities, allowing you to deal with the Guardian without facing direct resistance. Moreover, board wipes that don’t destroy, like ‘Terminus’ or ‘Settle the Wreckage’, also serve as efficient methods to sweep the Guardian aside along with any supporting artifacts.

Additionally, it’s important to consider reducing its impact by preemptively hindering the opponent’s artifact plays. Taking control of the board early, combating the ramp-up to the Guardian’s deployment, and keeping artifact synergies in check are key strategies. Remember, while the Guardian can anchor a defense, it is by no means an insurmountable challenge with the right approach and deck composition.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve deeper into the strategic world of MTG and the robust capabilities of artifact-centric decks with Bronze Guardian as your linchpin. This unique card not only elevates your artifacts’ resilience but also serves as a powerful offense with its double strike feature. Understanding the pros and cons, as well as effective strategies to counteract it, Bronze Guardian commands a position of both defense and counterplay. Enhance your collection and your gameplay by mastering the intricacies of this card’s strengths and weaknesses. Ready for advanced tactics and insights? Join the ranks of seasoned players and enrich your MTG experience with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bronze Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2021, 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 Bronze Guardian and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bronze Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-04-23 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Grzegorz Rutkowski.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 900042015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 3402015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
32021-04-23Commander 2021C21 132015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
42022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 701997NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bronze Guardian has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 If a player casts a spell that targets multiple permanents their opponent controls with ward, each of those ward abilities will trigger. If that player doesn't pay for all of them, the spell will be countered.
2021-04-16 Once a ward ability has triggered, it doesn't matter if the artifact loses ward (most likely because Bronze Guardian leaves the battlefield in response) before the ability resolves. The controller of the spell or ability will still have to pay or the spell or ability will be countered.
2021-04-16 The ability that defines Bronze Guardian's power applies in all zones, not only while it is on the battlefield.