Dwarven Armorer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dwarf
Released	1994-11-01
Set symbol
Set name	Fallen Empires
Set code	FEM
Power	0
Toughness	2
Number	50
Frame	1993
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Bryon Wackwitz

Key Takeaways

Capitalizes on card advantage by transforming surplus cards into powerful equipment during crucial game phases.
Instant speed ability offers tactical flexibility, countering threats or bolstering defenses unexpectedly.
Can accelerate your game by optimizing resource use, turning redundant cards into valuable assets.

Text of card

o R, oc T: Discard a card from your hand to put either a +0/+1 or a +1/+0 counter on a target creature.

"The few remaining pieces from this period suggest the Dwarves eventually made weapons and armor out of everything, even children's toys." —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. IV*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Dwarven Armorer can be pivotal in enabling players to maintain a solid hand size by effectively transforming less useful cards into essential equipment, thereby improving the quality of options available during crucial turns.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing the conversion of spare lands or unused non-creature permanents into equipment, this card aids in optimizing resource utilization, accelerating your game strategy without losing tempo.

Instant Speed: As this ability can be activated at instant speed, it offers the flexibility to adapt to the battlefield during any phase of an opponent’s turn, potentially creating surprise blockers or attackers that can turn the tide of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of the Dwarven Armorer is its need for a card to be discarded from your hand to activate its ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially when you’re already short on cards and need to maintain a solid hand size to respond to your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: The Dwarven Armorer also has a rigid mana requirement, needing both red and generic mana to cast. This restricts the card’s inclusion to primarily red-based decks, potentially limiting its versatility across a broader range of deck archetypes where mana sources are diverse and multicolored.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be considered high relative to its impact on the game, the Dwarven Armorer could be less appealing compared to other options. For the investment of three mana, players may find alternative cards that provide more immediate or substantial benefits to their board state without needing an additional card discard.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dwarven Armorer offers flexibility as it allows you to fortify your creatures against removal or to boost their attack for an aggressive playstyle. This makes it a suitable inclusion in a variety of decks from control to aggro builds.

Combo Potential: With Dwarven Armorer, the crafty player can discover numerous combo opportunities, particularly in decks that appreciate equipment or enjoy tinkering with artifact synergies. Enhance your constructs or breathe new life into artifact-centric strategies with this stout ally.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where artifact strategies are prevalent, or creatures often fall prey to removal, Dwarven Armorer maintains relevance. Its ability to protect and strengthen your board can be a game-changer in the right meta, proving its worth time and again.

How to beat

Dwarven Armorer is a niche yet potent card often found in Magic: The Gathering decks that value resilience and equipment synergy. This particular dwarf excels in fortifying creatures on the battlefield, making them tougher adversaries against your forces. Overcoming the defenses laid out by a savvy player welding this card might feel daunting at first, but there are formidable strategies you can employ.

One approach is to focus on removal spells that sidestep the Armorer’s buffing capabilities. Cards like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can exile or transform armored creatures before they become too much of a threat. Alternatively, board wipe spells, like Wrath of God, level the playing field by ignoring individual creature strength and sweeping away the Armorer’s handiwork. If facing a deck reliant on artifacts, employing enchantments like Stony Silence can negate the ability of the Dwarven Armorer to interact with equipment altogether, effectively neutralizing its role in the game.

Successfully countering a Dwarven Armorer demands keen awareness of the timing and a strategic selection of spells. With the right combination of instant and sorcery cards, you ensure you stay one step ahead and maintain control over the game’s flow, regardless of the enhancements your opponent’s creatures might receive.

Cards like Dwarven Armorer

Dwarven Armorer stands as a unique figure in the realm of utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It finds company with the likes of Armorer Guildmage, which also provides an avenue for altering creature toughness. However, Dwarven Armorer’s niche is its ability to fortify a single creature’s defense at the cost of discarding a card. This effect, unlike Armorer Guildmage’s, creates a potential for unlimited toughness boosts as long as you have cards to discard.

Forge-Tender, another comparable card, veers slightly off with its focus on protection rather than strengthening. Although it doesn’t bolster creature stats, its power lies in shielding creatures from specific colors or damage sources. Dwarven Armorer, on the other hand, offers continuous toughness augmentation, playing a more aggressive role in combat scenarios.

Ultimately, Dwarven Armorer may appeal to players who appreciate the strategic depth of managing their hand and leveraging card advantage for battlefield supremacy. Its ability to turn the tides with a well-timed defense increase can be invaluable, marking it as a solid contender alongside its creature-modifying kin within Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Dwarven Armorer by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)

Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)

Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)

Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dwarven Armorer MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires, 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 Dwarven Armorer and other MTG cards: