Diabolic Machine MTG Card


Diabolic Machine provides card advantage by sinking opponent resources while defending itself. Its integration with control strategies deters removals, fortifying player board presence. While powerful, it poses mana investment challenges, demanding thoughtful deck construction.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

o3: Regenerates

"The bolts of our ballistae smashed into the monstrous thing, but our hopes died in our chests as its gears continued turning." —Sevti Mukul, *The Fall of Alsoor*


Cards like Diabolic Machine

Diabolic Machine stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as an artifact creature with a solid defensive presence. It parallels other vintage artifacts such as Clay Statue and Tetravus in its capacity for regeneration. Just as Clay Statue can regenerate for a cost of two mana, Diabolic Machine offers the same durability but requires three mana for its restoration, making it slightly less mana-efficient.

Although Tetravus doesn’t regenerate, its modular nature – being able to create and sacrifice smaller flying creatures – can serve a similar role in maintaining board presence. Moreover, Su-Chi offers aggressive players a potential mana boost upon death, a different kind of value than the longevity provided by Diabolic Machine’s regeneration.

When evaluating artifact creatures that exhibit resilience on the battlefield, Diabolic Machine holds a distinctive position with the ability to withstand multiple threats, albeit at a higher mana cost. This resilience can be a deciding factor in games where defending key positions over multiple turns is required, making it a card worthy of consideration for players who value endurance over speed or additional effects.

Clay Statue - MTG Card versions
Tetravus - MTG Card versions
Su-Chi - MTG Card versions
Clay Statue - MTG Card versions
Tetravus - MTG Card versions
Su-Chi - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Diabolic Machine by color, type and mana cost

Mishra's War Machine - MTG Card versions
Mirror Mirror - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Thopter - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Lotus Guardian - MTG Card versions
Wondrous Crucible - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Chromatic Orrery - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Dragon - MTG Card versions
Pentavus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Death-Mask Duplicant - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Lancer - MTG Card versions
Solarion - MTG Card versions
Triskelavus - MTG Card versions
Platinum Angel - MTG Card versions
Sphinx-Bone Wand - MTG Card versions
Myr Battlesphere - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Memorial - MTG Card versions
Aether Searcher - MTG Card versions
Mishra's War Machine - MTG Card versions
Mirror Mirror - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Thopter - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Lotus Guardian - MTG Card versions
Wondrous Crucible - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Chromatic Orrery - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Dragon - MTG Card versions
Pentavus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Death-Mask Duplicant - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Lancer - MTG Card versions
Solarion - MTG Card versions
Triskelavus - MTG Card versions
Platinum Angel - MTG Card versions
Sphinx-Bone Wand - MTG Card versions
Myr Battlesphere - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Memorial - MTG Card versions
Aether Searcher - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Diabolic Machine can be a formidable force in obtaining card advantage. Once active, its ability can impose a steep cost on the opponent whenever they target it, often leading to a two-for-one scenario where your opponent expends more resources attempting to deal with it than you invested in it.

Resource Acceleration: For decks looking to escalate their board presence quickly, this artifact provides an avenue for resource acceleration. By effectively safeguarding itself, Diabolic Machine ensures its owner consistent progress in control and board state without the constant need to redeploy resources for defense.

Instant Speed: Although Diabolic Machine itself does not function at instant speed, it fits well in control strategies that operate largely on opponent’s turns. It can deter instant-speed removal, allowing control players to navigate the game with confidence knowing they have a resilient threat on board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Diabolic Machine, players must be aware that no discard is directly linked to the deployment of this artifact card. However, the card’s utility may force strategic discards elsewhere to accommodate its activation within the game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Diabolic Machine demands a precise mana investment of four generic mana for its activation. This specificity might not seem daunting, but it can be a hurdle in early-game scenarios or in mana-strapped situations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Diabolic Machine requires a substantial mana investment of seven for casting – three of which are colorless, and four black. When evaluated against other cards with similar or even more potent effects, this cost becomes a liability, especially when trying to maintain mana efficiency within your deck strategy.


Reasons to Include Diabolic Machine in Your Collection

Versatility: Diabolic Machine serves as a resilient threat in decks with a focus on artifact or machine synergies. Its ability to avoid common removal spells makes it a sturdy option in various play environments.

Combo Potential: Integrating seamlessly with strategies that capitalize on untapping artifacts or using artifact creatures, Diabolic Machine can become a key component in powerful combo plays or infinite loop setups.

Meta-Relevance: With its innate resistance to a variety of removal spells, this card thrives in a meta-game filled with targeted destruction, offering consistently durable board presence and pressure on opponents.


How to beat

Diabolic Machine stands out in the world of artifact creatures, posing a unique challenge on the battlefield. The strength of this card lies primarily in its regeneration ability, allowing it to withstand potential threats that would normally take down other creatures. Though it may appear daunting to overcome, there are effective strategies to counter it. The key is to leverage spells that don’t destroy but exile, thereby circumventing its regeneration. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can cleanly remove Diabolic Machine from play without triggering its formidable defense.

Another strategy involves using cards that force the player to sacrifice a creature. Since Diabolic Machine’s regeneration can’t save it from a sacrifice effect, this is another reliable method to deal with the threat. Moreover, controlling the flow of mana is also crucial. By restricting your opponent’s mana, you prevent them from using Diabolic Machine’s regeneration ability, making it vulnerable to conventional removal. Through these methods, one can effectively disarm the resilience of Diabolic Machine, turning the tide of the game in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Diabolic Machine MTG card by a specific set like The Dark 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 Diabolic Machine and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Diabolic Machine Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-08-01The DarkDRK 1011993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3141993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3141993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 1291993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
51997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3631997NormalWhiteJames Allen
62011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1961997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Diabolic Machine has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal