Clockwork Servant MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Gnome |
| Abilities | Adamant |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 216 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David Palumbo |
Text of card
Adamant — When Clockwork Servant enters the battlefield, if at least three mana of the same color was spent to cast it, draw a card.
Some are annoyed by the constant ticking as they clean the cobbles, but to the castle custodians, there's no sweeter sound.
Cards like Clockwork Servant
The Clockwork Servant offers a unique blend of utility and synergy in Magic: The Gathering. Like its peers in the realm of artifact creatures, this card finds company with cards such as Filigree Familiar, which also provides a benefit upon entering the battlefield. The Filigree Familiar offers life gain and card draw upon death, which differs from the Clockwork Servant’s immediate gratuity of card draw upon casting—if you used three mana of the same color.
Another card to consider in comparison is Roving Keep. Although it does not have an enter-the-battlefield effect, it shares similar mana cost and provides an immediate presence with its solid defensive stats. Where Clockwork Servant might edge out in terms of card advantage, Roving Keep assumes the role of a steadfast defender.
Lastly, there’s Skilled Animator, extending the artifact theme. While not an artifact itself, it has the power to turn other artifacts into formidable 5/5 creatures. Here, the focus shifts from self-contained value to leveraging the board presence of artifacts. This makes both Skiled Animator and Clockwork Servant vital depending on the game’s context and the artifact synergy within the deck.
Evaluating these parallels, Clockwork Servant remains a versatile contender, providing card advantage while fitting seamlessly into monochrome or artifact-centric MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Clockwork Servant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When you meet the adamant requirement of Clockwork Servant, which involves spending three mana of the same color on its casting cost, you’re rewarded with a valuable card draw. This often translates into pulling ahead of your opponent by having more options available in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Though Clockwork Servant itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its moderate cost and ability to supplement your hand can indirectly lead to quicker gameplay. Being a 3 mana artifact creature, it easily slots into a variety of decks, fitting especially well in ones that are keen on splashing multiple colors or focus on artifacts.
Instant Speed: While the Servant isn’t an instant, its ability to draw a card can be crucial for maintaining momentum. Well-timed casting when you meet the adamant condition can give you the immediate benefit of a deeper hand, allowing you to keep pace with or outmaneuver your opponent’s strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other cards that efficiently replace themselves in your hand, Clockwork Servant requires an additional cost of having three mana of the same color to draw a card, which can be challenging to meet, especially in multicolor decks.
Specific Mana Cost: Clockwork Servant demands a specific mana investment of three mana of a single color for its adamant ability. This can hinder its inclusion in decks that can’t reliably generate such a mana base, potentially limiting its play to mono-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three mana for a 2/3 body isn’t the most mana-efficient across various card options in Magic. When you add in the requirement for adamant to draw a card, it becomes a larger commitment that may not always be justifiable, especially if you’re aiming for maximum mana efficiency in your game plan.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Clockwork Servant offers a streamlined addition for decks in need of both card draw and mana efficiency. With its adaptable mana cost, it works well in mono-colored decks or those focusing on devotion.
Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, the Servant synergizes with engines that capitalize on artifact strategies, seamlessly integrating into combos that benefit from its presence on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games may stretch into longer battles of wits and resources, Clockwork Servant’s card draw ability becomes a vital component for keeping your hand stocked with answers and threats.
How to beat
Clockwork Servant is an intriguing creature within Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to provide card advantage while also being a decent presence on the board. To counter this artifact creature effectively, players need to consider its conditional draw mechanism that triggers only if you’ve played a spell of the same color during the turn.
One strategy is to utilize removal spells that can bypass the Servant’s card draw ability by targeting it directly or wiping the board before the player achieves the mana required to play a colored spell and this creature in the same turn. Removal options like Fatal Push or Shattering Spree are optimal choices, disrupting the rhythm that Clockwork Servant aims to establish.
Another approach is to take advantage of the fact that Clockwork Servant requires a monocolor commitment. Players can sidestep its benefits through diverse mana bases and multicolor decks that don’t give the Servant the chance to capitalize on a single color devotion. In essence, beating Clockwork Servant often lies in pre-emptive measures and maintaining deck flexibility to minimize its impact on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Clockwork Servant MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Clockwork Servant 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 Clockwork Servant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Clockwork Servant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | Adamant effects check what mana was actually spent to cast a spell. If an effect allows you to spend mana “as though it were mana” of any color or type, that allows you to spend mana you couldn't otherwise spend, but it doesn't change what mana you spent to cast the spell. |
| 2019-10-04 | If an effect allows you to cast a spell without paying its mana cost, you can't choose to cast it and pay unless another rule or effect allows you to cast that spell for a cost. Similarly, you can't waive a cost reduction unless that effect says you may. |
| 2019-10-04 | If you copy a spell that has an adamant ability, no mana was spent to cast the copy at all, so that ability won't apply. |