Cranial Plating MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances creatures cheaply, rapidly pressuring opponents by utilizing artifacts as a power source.
  2. Allows flexible strategy adjustments through its instant-speed equip feature, giving a tactical advantage.
  3. Demands precise mana and might strain resources when equipping multiple creatures across turns.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+0 for each artifact you control. : Attach Cranial Plating to target creature you control. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cranial Plating can essentially turn every card in your hand into potential damage thanks to its unique ability that adds power based on the number of artifacts you control, effectively turning each artifact into a dual-purpose tool.

Resource Acceleration: This card is a powerhouse in artifact-centric decks, able to boost the power of a creature significantly without requiring a hefty mana investment, leading to faster game tempo and earlier pressure on an opponent. By enhancing low-cost creatures, it enables efficient resource usage while fielding a threatening board presence.

Instant Speed: Cranial Plating’s attach ability can be activated at instant speed, providing the flexibility to adjust your strategy reactively in response to your opponent’s actions. This adds an element of surprise and tactical depth, as you can wait until the last minute to decide which creature becomes the augmented threat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cranial Plating doesn’t require a discard directly, its attachment via the equip ability may leave you vulnerable if you’ve had to discard previously to maintain board presence. This can lead to a precarious situation where equipping Cranial Plating is your best move but leaves your hand empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Cranial Plating’s activation cost demands both black mana and generic mana. This specificity can be cumbersome in multicolored decks that may struggle with color fixing or in moments when mana resources are scarce.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the initial cast plus equip costs, Cranial Plating demands a considerable mana investment. For decks seeking to optimize every mana spent, the total cost to first play and then equip Cranial Plating might be seen as high, especially when needing to move it between creatures during multiple turns.


Reasons to Include Cranial Plating in Your Collection

Versatility: Cranial Plating is a remarkably adaptable card that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of artifact-centric decks. Its ability to quickly boost a creature’s attack makes it a formidable addition to both aggressive and control strategies in the MTG landscape.

Combo Potential: This card excels by enabling explosive combinations with creatures that have evasion or unblockable abilities, turning them into heavy hitters out of nowhere. It also synergizes well with cards that have affinity for artifacts, making it a linchpin in artifact-heavy decks.

Meta-Relevance: With its instant-speed attach ability, Cranial Plating remains relevant in multiple MTG formats where speed and adaptability are crucial. It’s particularly potent in environments rich with artifact strategies, able to swing games in your favor when timed correctly.


How to beat

Cranial Plating is a powerful artifact that turns even the smallest of creatures into a significant threat in MTG. This card is a staple in artifact-based decks, granting a substantial boost in attack power based on the number of artifacts a player controls. To effectively counter it, having artifact removal spells like Nature’s Claim or Abrade in your deck is essential. These cards can quickly dispose of Cranial Plating, diminishing your opponent’s offensive capabilities.

Another effective strategy is to disrupt your opponent’s synergy by targeting their artifact creature base. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear the field of potential Cranial Plating hosts. Additionally, hand disruption tactics can prevent your opponent from ever attaching Cranial Plating in the first place. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek are excellent options to strip this key card from your adversary’s hand before it becomes an issue. A well-timed removal or discard can shift the balance in your favor and neutralize the threat posed by this formidable MTG card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on your MTG journey with Cranial Plating in your deck can significantly bolster your competitive edge. Given its capacity to convert artifacts into raw power and the benefit of instant-speed attachment, this card deserves a closer look. It’s clear that Cranial Plating can be a game-changer, particularly in artifact-rich strategies where it provides unexpected power spikes. If you’re looking to construct a resilient, artifact-dominated deck or simply enhance your existing setup, consider the strategic depth and versatility that Cranial Plating introduces. Dive deeper with us, sharpen your deck-building skills, and harness the full potential of your card collection. Your path to MTG mastery awaits.


Cards like Cranial Plating

Cranial Plating is a standout artifact in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, offering a unique boost to a player’s creatures with its attachment ability. Comparable to other equipment cards, Cranial Plating has the remarkable characteristic of adding power to a creature for each artifact a player controls. In this respect, it echoes the functionality of Bonesplitter, which also increases a creature’s power. However, Cranial Plating can potentially provide a significantly larger boost, depending on the number of artifacts in play.

Another similar artifact, Loxodon Warhammer, grants not only a power and toughness increase but also bestows lifelink and trample. While it offers additional abilities, its static buff is not as dependent on the game’s state as Cranial Plating, which can scale with artifact quantity. Netcaster Spider, while not an equipment card, is another piece that interacts interestingly with creatures—granting an ability that triggers under specific conditions.

When comparing these MTG cards, Cranial Plating is a potent tool for artifact-heavy decks, often turning the tide of a game with its scalable nature. It’s a card that shines in the right environment, synergizing magnificently with decks designed to maximise artifact presence.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Netcaster Spider - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Loxodon Warhammer - Mirrodin (MRD)
Netcaster Spider - Magic 2015 (M15)

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Wishclaw Talisman - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Giant's Skewer - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Gisa's Favorite Shovel - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Netherborn Altar - The List (PLST)
Malefic Scythe - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Draugr's Helm - Kaldheim (KHM)
Poet's Quill - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Thieves' Tools - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)
Groom's Finery - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Heirloom Mirror // Inherited Fiend - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cranial Plating MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and World Championship Decks 2004, 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 Cranial Plating and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cranial Plating Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-06-04Fifth Dawn5DN 1132003normalblackAdam Rex
22004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 ap1132003normalgoldAdam Rex
32009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 1102003normalblackAdam Rex
42015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 2062015normalblackAdam Rex
52016-11-11Commander 2016C16 2492015normalblackAdam Rex
62020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2452015normalblackAdam Rex
72020-09-26The ListPLST TSR-3921997normalblackAdam Rex
82021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 3921997normalblackAdam Rex
92022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 236★2015normalblackL J Koh
102022-10-07Warhammer 40,000 Commander40K 2362015normalblackL J Koh
112022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1361997normalblackAdam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cranial Plating has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperBanned
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 Cranial Plating is counted by its own ability, so it gives at least +1/+0.
2021-03-19 Cranial Plating's first activated ability is similar to an equip ability, but it's not an equip ability. Most importantly, it can be activated any time you could cast an instant, even during another player's turn.

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