Imperial Recovery Unit MTG Card


Access artifacts from the graveyard directly, bolstering long-term strategic options for players. Enables plays of high-cost artifacts earlier, providing a strong tempo advantage. Offers tactical flexibility, responding to opponents’ actions without sacrificing momentum.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Vehicle
Abilities Crew
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

Whenever Imperial Recovery Unit attacks, return target creature or Vehicle card with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard to your hand. Crew 2 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 2 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)


Cards like Imperial Recovery Unit

Imperial Recovery Unit offers unique tactical advantages to players looking to regain control on the battlefield. It shares similar ground with cards like Salvage Scout, which also retrieves artifacts from the graveyard. However, Imperial Recovery Unit is distinct with its creature card status, providing not only artifact retrieval but also a body on the board for defensive or offensive measures.

Autumn Willow is another card worthy of comparison, as it too can bring back artifacts, albeit from your hand, not directly from the graveyard. Autumn Willow offers a more limited form of recovery but compensates with the ability to protect itself from spells. This can be a pivotal point that tilts the favor towards Imperial Recovery Unit or Autumn Willow based on the situation at hand. Buried Ruin is another counterpart, offering a land-based solution that can retrieve an artifact card once sacrificed, adding value to your mana base while giving you recovery options.

In appraising the strategic benefits and deck synergy, Imperial Recovery Unit earns its place as a robust choice among artifact retrieval options in Magic: The Gathering. Its dual utility as a creature and recovery engine can be a game changer in many scenarios.

Salvage Scout - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions
Salvage Scout - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Buried Ruin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Imperial Recovery Unit by color, type and mana cost

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The Book of Exalted Deeds - MTG Card versions
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Knighted Myr - MTG Card versions
Holy Avenger - MTG Card versions
Cloister Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Plate Armor - MTG Card versions
Idol of Endurance - MTG Card versions
Urza's Sylex - MTG Card versions
Pearl Shard - MTG Card versions
Thunder Totem - MTG Card versions
Marble Chalice - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Blinding Souleater - MTG Card versions
Godsend - MTG Card versions
Peacewalker Colossus - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Widget - MTG Card versions
Riveting Rigger - MTG Card versions
Mace of the Valiant - MTG Card versions
Maul of the Skyclaves - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer's Map - MTG Card versions
The Book of Exalted Deeds - MTG Card versions
Marble Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Knighted Myr - MTG Card versions
Holy Avenger - MTG Card versions
Cloister Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Plate Armor - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Imperial Recovery Unit. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya VehiclesSelesnya Vehicles PioneerSelesnya VehiclesF2F Tour Championship - Toronto Round 4 (Regional Championship)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Imperial Recovery Unit shines in MTG by offering consistent card advantage. Its ability to retrieve artifacts directly from the graveyard to your hand ensures that your resources are continuously replenished, extending your strategic options and enhancing your board presence with every turn.

Resource Acceleration: This card plays a pivotal role in resource acceleration as well. Tapping into the full potential of your mana pool, it allows you to efficiently play higher-cost artifacts earlier in the game, propelling you ahead of your opponents in terms of available resources and on-board threats.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of Imperial Recovery Unit provides the flexibility to respond to dynamic game states. This tactical advantage means you can adapt to your opponent’s moves seamlessly, retrieving key artifacts at the most opportune moments without sacrificing the pacing of your own game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of the Imperial Recovery Unit is its necessity for a player to discard a card. During gameplay, this can prove to be a setback especially when a player’s hand is already stretched thin concerning card choices or when every card in hand is crucial for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: The Imperial Recovery Unit has a very particular mana cost that requires color commitment to white mana. This requirement can restrict the card to decks that are heavily skewed towards white mana or that can reliably source the appropriate colors, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Furthermore, the Imperial Recovery Unit comes at a relatively high mana cost for the utility it provides. In Magic the Gathering, tempo is vital, and using a significant amount of mana on a recovery effect might not always be the optimal play, considering other cards might offer similar or better effects with less mana investment or additional benefits.


Reasons to Include Imperial Recovery Unit in Your Collection

Versatility: The Imperial Recovery Unit is a flexible card that can be slotted into various deck archetypes. This unit offers value in terms of retrieving key artifacts, making it beneficial in artifact-centric decks or those looking for reliable recursion.

Combo Potential: With its ability to return artifacts from your graveyard to your hand, Imperial Recovery Unit can be an integral piece in combos that revolve around artifact synergies. It can repeatedly fuel the use of powerful artifact effects or enable infinite loops with the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting landscape of the competitive scene, the Imperial Recovery Unit maintains its importance. Its utility in recapturing valuable artifacts gives it a place in metagames where artifacts play a pivotal role, allowing players to regain access to crucial components after they’ve been dealt with by opponents.


How to beat

Imperial Recovery Unit introduces a tactical dimension to gameplay, enhancing battlefield control in Magic: The Gathering. This creature’s unique capability to return an artifact from the graveyard to its owner’s hand when it attacks can turn the tides in a match, especially in artifact-heavy decks. To counteract this card, it is crucial to prevent recurring value from taking effect. Strategies such as graveyard hate, which removes key artifacts from the game entirely, can be employed effectively. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can exile an opponent’s graveyard, rendering the Imperial Recovery Unit’s ability unexploitable.

Moreover, limiting the card’s ability to attack is another effective tactic. Utilizing removal spells to dispatch the creature before it can strike, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade depending on its color identity, ensures it won’t trigger its powerful ability. Alternatively, employing effects that prevent it from untapping or attacking can also cripple its utility, effectively neutralizing the threat it poses. In short, quick removal, direct response to graveyard interactions, and preventing the unit from engaging in combat are key methods in subverting the advantages presented by the Imperial Recovery Unit.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the nuanced abilities of Imperial Recovery Unit can be a rewarding endeavor for any MTG enthusiast. With its capacity to offer card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed adaptability, the card deserves consideration for decks that capitalize on artifact mechanics. It’s important to weigh these strengths against its limitations, like the discard requirement and specific mana costs, when integrating it into your gameplay. If you are keen on expanding your strategic horizons and exploring new synergies or countering widely used strategies, Imperial Recovery Unit can be a valuable addition. Tap into our resources to masterfully incorporate this versatile card into your MTG arsenal.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Imperial Recovery Unit MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Imperial Recovery Unit and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Imperial Recovery Unit Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 182015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1972015NormalBlackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Imperial Recovery Unit has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal