Clay Statue MTG Card

Recursive utility reinforces board presence, granting strategic advantages in gameplay. Regenerates at instant speed, providing unexpected resilience against opponent actions. Durable in artifact decks, Clay Statue fits various metagame archetypes effectively.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Power 3
Toughness 1

Text of card

: Regenerates

Tawnos won fame as Urza's greatest assistant. After he created these warriors, Urza ended his apprenticeship, promoting him directly to the rank of master.

Cards like Clay Statue

Clay Statue is a unique artifact creature in the realm of MTG, reminiscent of classic, mana-efficient constructs. Its most direct parallel can be found in cards like Golem Artisan, which also deals with the manipulation and enhancement of artifact creatures. While Golem Artisan can provide a power boost or extra abilities at a cost, Clay Statue stands out with its straightforward regeneration ability, allowing it to return to the battlefield after destruction for a modest mana fee.

Delving into similarly costed creatures, we recognize Guardian Idol, an artifact that can transform into a creature with power and toughness. Unlike Clay Statue, Guardian Idol doesn’t possess the regeneration capability but offers mana acceleration. Another comparison is with Clockwork Beetle, a creature which arrives with +1/+1 counters but decreases in power with each attack, something the stalwart Clay Statue avoids.

In examining the potentials these artifacts bring, Clay Statue offers a resilience that can be particularly frustrating for opponents. Its simple yet effective regeneration invites a strategy of endurance, making it a compelling choice in artifact-oriented decks that value persistence on the battlefield.

Golem Artisan - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beetle - MTG Card versions
Golem Artisan - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beetle - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Even though the Clay Statue doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it offers recursive utility. Once in the graveyard, it can be returned to your hand, providing a strategic edge through repeated board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana acceleration, the recurring nature of the Clay Statue can provide steady board state investment without demanding additional resources from your hand after the initial cast.

Instant Speed: Though it operates at sorcery speed, the Clay Statue’s regeneration ability can be used at instant speed. This allows for unexpected resilience, enabling the statue to stand firm against removal spells and combat damage that might catch an opponent off guard during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A particular drawback of the Clay Statue is that it demands resource management to maintain its presence on the field. Each time it regenerates, it pulls from your available card resources, potentially leaving you short-handed during crucial moments of gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost for Clay Statue’s regeneration ability requires generic mana, which can be a restriction. This means decks that may benefit from color-specific mana acceleration or cost-reduction effects can’t take full advantage of this aspect, making it less flexible in mana-intensive plays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a relatively modest creature, the Clay Statue can be considered costly. In many cases, players can summon creatures with equal or greater power and toughness for the same or lower mana investment, making the Clay Statue a less competitive option in the current metagame.

Reasons to Include Clay Statue in Your Collection

Versatility: Clay Statue presents an adaptable choice for players looking for resilience in artifact-centric decks. Its ability to regenerate makes it a durable blocker or an attacker that can withstand removal spells, fitting well into various deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With its self-regenerating feature, Clay Statue works well in synergistic setups that capitalize on artifacts being destroyed and re-entering the battlefield. It can be paired with cards that track artifact status and convert that into an advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts are prominent, having Clay Statue can be significant. It serves as a recurrent threat in prolonged games and is not easily dispatched, maintaining board presence against decks that might otherwise overpower single-use creatures.

How to beat

Clay Statue is a unique artifact creature that, while not seeing widespread play in the most competitive of Magic: The Gathering decks, can occasionally surface in casual circles or limited formats. It stands out for its regeneration ability making it a resilient blocker or an enduring threat in longer games. To effectively handle Clay Statue, it’s important to utilize removal spells that bypass its regeneration, such as those causing exile or effects that reduce toughness to zero.

For example, using Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can permanently remove it from the battlefield without triggering its regeneration. Meanwhile, spells like Dismember or Fatal Push target its stability by adjusting its toughness, effectively rendering the regeneration ability moot. In addition, managing your resources smartly ensures that the cost of activating its regeneration does not gain the upper hand. It’s these strategies that enable players to mitigate the presence of Clay Statue and maintain control over the board state.

Remember, success in Magic: The Gathering hinges on adaptability and understanding the nuanced interactions between cards. Recognizing the capabilities of a card such as Clay Statue and preparing suitable countermeasures invariably positions you for strategic advantage during gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Clay Statue MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Clay Statue and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Clay Statue Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 441993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3051993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3051993NormalWhiteJesper Myrfors
41995-08-01RinascimentoRIN 1091993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
51995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1201993NormalBlackJesper Myrfors
61997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3551997NormalWhiteAdam Rex
72011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1891997NormalBlackJesper Myrfors

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Clay Statue has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal