Eager Construct MTG Card

Eager Construct’s scrying on entry can subtly tilt upcoming draws in your favor, despite being symmetrical. Its status as an artifact creature adds value, enabling synergies and interactions in artifact-focused decks. While not overtly powerful, its balance of cost and effect makes it a decent pick for many players.

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 209

Battlebond (BBD)
2018-06-08 - Number 234

Game Night (GNT)
2018-11-16 - Number 51

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 250

Eager Construct - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)

Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
2020-11-12 - Number 236

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Abilities	Scry
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

When Eager Construct enters the battlefield, each player may scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)

Loyal to a fault, it anticipates its master's every need.

Cards like Eager Construct

Eager Construct finds its place within the broad family of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When looking at similar two-mana artifact creatures, it shares some common grounds with cards like Iron Myr or Silver Myr which also contribute to mana acceleration. What sets Eager Construct apart, however, is its unique ability to provide both players with a slight card selection advantage at the moment it enters the battlefield, a feature neither of the Myr creatures possess.

Moving from mana dorks to a utility artifact creature, we can also consider the similarities Eager Construct has with Millikin. While Millikin offers a mana boost by milling the top card of your deck, Eager Construct lacks this feature but could potentially lead you to your next strategic draw. Guardian Idol, meanwhile, is an artifact that can become a creature with power and toughness equal to Eager Construct and it adds to your mana pool while not giving any card advantage.

What makes Eager Construct a versatile pick is the balance between being a reliable creature body on the board and subtly shifting the card odds in your favor. This combination makes Eager Construct a card to consider in decks where artifact synergy and slight card filtering are beneficial.

Cards similar to Eager Construct by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the context of Eager Construct, card selection is subtly granted to both players when it comes into play, offering a chance to sift through the deck for a potentially better draw. Although not direct card drawing, this scry-like effect can pave the way to more advantageous upcoming turns.

Resource Acceleration: Eager Construct doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of generating additional mana. However, it’s a low-cost artifact creature that can help fuel strategies or enable synergies that benefit from having artifacts on the battlefield, thus indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Eager Construct itself isn’t an instant, it’s at its best in decks that can deploy artifacts at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to wait until the last possible moment to play your artifacts, keeping your opponents guessing and giving you the upper hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Eager Construct doesn’t necessarily have a discard requirement, but if you’re looking for synergies that involve discarding cards for benefits, this card doesn’t fit the bill. It offers no direct support or utility in discard-centric strategies which could be seen as a missed opportunity in specific deck archetypes.

Specific Mana Cost: While Eager Construct requires colorless mana, limiting its restriction based on color, it still demands two mana to play. This can be a stumbling block early game where mana efficiency is crucial, potentially clogging your hand when you need to establish board presence or cast key spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the world of MTG, a card like Eager Construct competes with others in the two-mana slot. Considering its effect – allowing each player to scry 1 – it’s important to weigh its value against other two-cost cards that might provide more impactful benefits or contribute more significantly to your overall strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Eager Construct offers a solid inclusion in artifact-centric or even generic decks due to its ability to scry on entering the battlefield. This two-mana artifact creature can be a useful early blocker or enabler for strategies that value deck manipulation.

Combo Potential: In decks that rely on synergy between artifacts, Eager Construct quickly becomes a valuable cog in a larger machine. It can be paired with cards that capitalize on scrying, artifacts entering the battlefield, or simply benefit from having another artifact creature in play.

Meta-Relevance: With its low cost and immediate scry ability, Eager Construct is relevant in metas where establishing early board presence and setting up subsequent draws is crucial. Its simplicity and utility make it a handy tool against a variety of opponents.

How to beat Eager Construct

Eager Construct presents an interesting dynamic on the battlefield as it provides both players with a scry effect upon entering the battlefield. This artifact creature is modestly statted with its 2/2 body for two mana, making it a reasonable early-game play. However, it may often come off as a double-edged sword since your opponent also gains the advantage of sculpting their next draw.

To effectively counter Eager Construct, it’s crucial to leverage the symmetry of its ability. While you can’t prevent your opponent from scrying, you can negate the benefit by using shuffle effects after the scry. Cards like Evolving Wilds can shuffle your library, which can minimize the advantage the scry gave to your opponent. Moreover, removal spells are particularly effective against Eager Construct due to its average stats. Efficient removal such as Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can easily handle it, ensuring your opponent’s board remains clear.

Ultimately, to get ahead of Eager Construct’s symmetrical effect, outpace it by utilising cards that either nullify the scry or offer better board control. Thus, despite its balanced ability, Eager Construct can be outmaneuvered with thoughtful deck construction and strategic gameplay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eager Construct MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Battlebond, 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 Eager Construct and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Eager Construct Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-09-30	Kaladesh	KLD	209	2015	Normal	Black	Craig J Spearing
2	2018-06-08	Battlebond	BBD	234	2015	Normal	Black	Craig J Spearing
3	2018-11-16	Game Night	GNT	51	2015	Normal	Black	Craig J Spearing
4	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	250	2015	Normal	Black	Craig J Spearing
5	2020-11-12	Kaladesh Remastered	KLR	236	2015	Normal	Black	Craig J Spearing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Eager Construct has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-08-07	If multiple players are instructed to scry at once, such as while resolving Eager Construct's triggered ability, those players each look at the top card of their library at the same time, then they choose in turn order whether to put those cards on the top or bottom of their library.