Lackey Recycler MTG Card
Text of card
Whenever you crank Lackey Recycler, put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
Cards like Lackey Recycler
Lackey Recycler emerges as an intriguing new piece in the artifact-centric strategies frequently deployed in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Myr Retriever, which also allows players to retrieve artifacts from their graveyard to their hand upon the creature’s demise. Yet, Lackey Recycler introduces a unique twist: the added flexibility of drawing a card if an artifact is sacrificed, potentially offering an immediate benefit rather than waiting for a condition to be met.
Salvager of Ruin stands out as another card with comparable functionality. While it also features a recovery mechanic for your artifacts, its focus is narrower, targeting permanents that were put into the graveyard from the battlefield in that turn only. The Recycler, therefore, provides a wider array of options over time. Workshop Assistant is another related card in this lineage, however, it lacks the card draw option that Lackey Recycler provides, making it a less versatile choice for decks that prioritize card advantage.
In summary, within Magic: The Gathering’s vast library, Lackey Recycler holds its own when contrasted with its kin, due to its card draw flexibility coupled with artifact recursion, a combination that can be incredibly advantageous in the right deck.
Cards similar to Lackey Recycler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Lackey Recycler’s ability to recycle artifacts for potential card draw means that players can sustain a steady flow of resources, keeping their hand filled with options. This capacity to trade used or unnecessary artifacts for fresh cards can give players the upper hand in maintaining a presence on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: By converting artifacts into new cards, Lackey Recycler acts as a catalyst for resource acceleration. Each artifact recycled potentially digs you closer to essential spells or lands, thereby speeding up your gameplay and enabling you to outmaneuver opponents by deploying more threats or answers.
Instant Speed: The power to activate the Lackey Recycler’s effects at instant speed offers versatility in your strategy. This means you can respond to threats or changes in the game state on the fly, making your plays less predictable and more adaptable to an ever-evolving board. Use this to disrupt opponents’ expectations and retain control over the pace of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Lackey Recycler is that it necessitates discarding a card to activate its ability. This can lead to a reduced hand size and potentially leave you at a disadvantage, particularly in the late game when every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Lackey Recycler includes specific colors which might not align well with all strategies. Decks that do not run the appropriate colors will find it difficult to incorporate this card effectively.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may be considered steep for its recycling ability, Lackey Recycler faces competition from other cards which may offer similar or better effects for less mana. This can make it a less attractive option for deck builders looking for efficiency.
Reasons to Include Lackey Recycler in Your Collection
Versatility: Lackey Recycler is a card that can easily find a home in artifact-centric decks, especially those in formats such as Commander where recursion is valuable. Its ability to recover key pieces from the graveyard makes it a flexible addition to any collection.
Combo Potential: With its capacity to return artifacts directly into play, Lackey Recycler shines in combo setups. This MTG card can become an integral part of engine combos, acting as a vital cog that brings essential components back for repeated use.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where artifact strategies are prevalent or where graveyard interaction is prominent, Lackey Recycler stands out. It can provide resilience against control decks that seek to neutralize threats by putting them in the graveyard, making it a relevant choice for competitive play.
How to beat
Confronting Lackey Recycler on the battlefield requires strategic flexibility and a solid understanding of its functionalities. This artifact creature can be a thorn in the side with its ability to recycle other artifacts for incremental value. One effective method to surpass this nuisance is by utilizing artifact removal spells. By doing so, you can keep the board clear of any potential artifacts that Lackey Recycler might target.
Direct damage spells are another avenue to consider. They can remove Lackey Recycler before it becomes an engine of value for your opponent. However, what truly shines in these situations are counterspells, which can prevent Lackey Recycler from ever entering the battlefield. It’s good practice to hold onto a counterspell when you suspect your opponent has this card in hand.
Lastly, playing around the potency of Lackey Recycler calls for a game plan that handles or sidesteps the card’s strengths. This can include utilizing graveyard hate cards that interfere with the recursion loop or accelerating your win condition to outpace the value Lackey Recycler could generate over time. In the versatile world of Magic the Gathering, knowing how to dismantle key pieces of your opponent’s strategy is crucial, and Lackey Recycler is no exception.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lackey Recycler MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Lackey Recycler and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lackey Recycler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | Any Contraption that’s on the battlefield and wasn’t assembled immediately heads to the scrapyard. However, if it’s a not an actual Contraption card (like Copy Artifact isn’t), it goes to your graveyard as normal. Non-Contraption cards can’t be in the scrapyard. |
| 2018-01-19 | At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control any Contraptions, move the CRANK! counter to the next sprocket. You may then crank any number of Contraptions on that sprocket, causing their abilities to trigger. Cranking a Contraption is always optional. |
| 2018-01-19 | Contraptions are artifacts. Anything that interacts with artifacts will interact with Contraptions. |
| 2018-01-19 | Contraptions aren’t put into your main deck. They go into a separate deck called the Contraption deck. |
| 2018-01-19 | If a Contraption would leave the battlefield and go to any zone other than exile, it instead goes to the scrapyard, the Contraption deck’s version of the graveyard. Things that affect the graveyard do not affect the scrapyard. You can exile Contraptions just fine. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you crank multiple Contraptions, their abilities can be put onto the stack in any order. The ability put onto the stack will resolve first. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you or a permanent you control are instructed to assemble a Contraption, reveal the top card of your Contraption deck. Put it onto the battlefield on one of the three sprockets. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you or a permanent you control assembles a Contraption and your Contraption deck is empty, nothing happens. You don’t lose the game. |
| 2018-01-19 | In Constructed formats, a Contraption deck must have at least fifteen different Contraption cards and no more than one of each. |
| 2018-01-19 | In Limited formats, a Contraption deck may include any number of Contraption cards in your card pool. You don’t have to include every Contraption card you draft or open in sealed deck. In those formats, your Contraption deck may include duplicates. |
| 2018-01-19 | In silver-bordered games using Contraptions, you have three sprockets, illustrated on the back of Contraption cards. At the start of the game, put a CRANK! counter on sprocket 3. |
| 2018-01-19 | While Contraptions you control are on the battlefield, the Contraption deck is not, even if you are using it to signify the three sprockets. |