Chief of the Foundry MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Strengthens artifact creatures, turning each into a more formidable force, without requiring card expenditure.
  2. Acts as a synergy enabler, stimulating artifact-related combos and potentially increasing mana acceleration.
  3. While not an instant, it indirectly boosts artifacts at any phase, offering reactive strategic options.

Text of card

Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1.

The foundries of Kaladesh run like clockwork under the supervision of their formidable overseers.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Chief of the Foundry doesn’t directly increase your card count, it does elevate your artifact creatures’ power and toughness, improving each card’s value, effectively giving you more bang for your buck on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: As an artifact itself, Chief of the Foundry can serve as a synergy enabler for strategies that require a critical mass of artifacts to unlock potent combos or increased mana production from other cards that tap artifacts for mana.

Instant Speed: Although Chief of the Foundry is cast at sorcery speed, its constant buff to other artifact creatures offers a form of indirect instant speed interaction by bolstering your board’s defenses or attack power reactively—benefiting from artifacts entering the battlefield during any phase of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Chief of the Foundry doesn’t necessitate discarding cards itself, its synergy with artifact-heavy decks can inadvertently pressure players to discard useful non-artifact cards to make room for sculpting an ideal artifact-based hand, potentially draining resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The artifact lord’s ability to boost other artifact creatures is constrained by its specific mana cost of three generic mana. This could make it less appealing in multi-colored decks where mana could be allocated to more versatile options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though three mana for a staple artifact creature may seem reasonable, within the scope of aggressive artifact strategies, there might be stronger plays available. Faster formats or games that prioritize early board presence could render the Chief of the Foundry’s cost a tad steep for the tempo it provides.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chief of the Foundry easily slots into various artifact-centered decks. Its ability to buff other artifacts makes it a reliable support card for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with token generators or artifact synergies, significantly amplifying the power of artifact creature swarms for a considerable board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where artifact decks are prevalent, Chief of the Foundry becomes an asset, seamlessly integrating into and enhancing artifact-based meta contenders.


How to beat

Chief of the Foundry stands as a notable powerhouse in artifact-based decks, boosting the strength and toughness of other artifact creatures you control. This steely leader can quickly escalate the threat level on the board, making your metallic minions harder to defeat.

Confronting this artifact ally requires strategic removal. Focus on instant-speed interaction that can dismantle the synergies before they overwhelm you. Enchantment-based removal like Detention Sphere can unseat the Chief and his cohorts all at once without initiating a counter from your opponent. Moreover, artifact removal spells like Abrade offer a simultaneous solution to the Chief and potential vehicles or other utility artifacts bolstering your opponent’s position. It is essential to address the Chief swiftly since the longer it remains unchecked, the more formidable your opponent’s artifact forces will become.

Overall, direct removal or multi-target spells are your best bet against Chief of the Foundry. Dismantle their synergies, keep the board clear, and prevent the assembly line of artifact creatures from gaining the upper hand to secure your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic world of MTG artifacts with Chief of the Foundry as your guide. Enhancing your artifact creatures on the battlefield, it can turn the tide of combat in your favor. So whether you’re fortifying your defenses or amplifying your attack, Chief of the Foundry stands ready to empower your artifact army. Uncover the endless possibilities and combinations it opens up for your deck builds. Learn more about optimizing your artifact strategies and get inspired to modify your collection to outmaneuver opponents with this industrial titan at the helm. Let’s forge your next victory together!


Cards like Chief of the Foundry

Chief of the Foundry is a compelling option for players looking to boost their artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to provide a +1/+1 bonus to other artifact creatures mirrors the functionality of cards like Steel Overseer. However, the Chief shines in its immediate, unconditional bonus, whereas Steel Overseer requires activation and only affects creatures under your control.

Another parallel can be drawn with Foundry Inspector, which also supports artifact strategies. While Foundry Inspector is known for making artifacts cheaper to cast, Chief of the Foundry focuses on enhancing the power and toughness of the artifact creatures already in play. This synergistic approach can be crucial in an aggressive artifact-centric deck that values board presence over cost reduction.

Lastly, Adaptive Automaton is worth mentioning when discussing cards similar to Chief of the Foundry. It can be named for any creature type, offering versatility, but it lacks the Chief’s immediate impact across a wide array of artifact creatures. The Chief of the Foundry excels in its role as a static team enforcer, giving artifact creatures a persistent edge in battle.

Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Foundry Inspector - MTG Card versions
Adaptive Automaton - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Foundry Inspector - Kaladesh (KLD)
Adaptive Automaton - Magic 2012 (M12)

Cards similar to Chief of the Foundry by color, type and mana cost

Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Stone - MTG Card versions
Gem of Becoming - MTG Card versions
Celestial Prism - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Sunglasses of Urza - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Ebony Horse - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Arena of the Ancients - Chronicles (CHR)
Bösium Strip - Weatherlight (WTH)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Static Orb - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Wall of Spears - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Vedalken Shackles - Kaladesh Inventions (MPS)
Oblivion Stone - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Gem of Becoming - Magic 2013 (M13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chief of the Foundry MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Kaladesh, 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 Chief of the Foundry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chief of the Foundry Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2252015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
22016-09-30KaladeshKLD 2002015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
32016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 2002015normalblackJung Park
42018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1992015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
52020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2382015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
62020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 2262015normalblackDaniel Ljunggren
72022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1341997normalblackDaniel Ljunggren

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chief of the Foundry has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to an artifact creature you control may become lethal if Chief of the Foundry leaves the battlefield during that turn.

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