Auriok Steelshaper MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Soldier
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	4
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dany Orizio

Key Takeaways

Enables more effective equipment strategies, acting as a pivotal agent for card advantage.
Frees up mana with cost reduction, accelerating resource allocation and gameplay tempo.
Heightens board flexibility, facilitating instant-speed interactions while equipped creatures thrive.

Text of card

Equip costs you pay cost less. As long as Auriok Steelshaper is equipped, Soldiers and Knights you control get +1/+1.

They put their safety in his hands. He puts sharpened steel in theirs.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Enhances equipment strategies by letting you capitalize on more cards in hand. Auriok Steelshaper can help equip creatures as a form of pseudo card advantage, making each equipment card you have more effective and efficient.

Resource Acceleration: Can effectively reduce the costs of equipping your creatures. This ability can lead to a resource acceleration, as it frees up mana that can be used elsewhere—enabling faster development of your board state or saving mana for other crucial spells.

Instant Speed: While Auriok Steelshaper itself does not operate at instant speed, it allows for a more seamless and less mana-intensive interaction with your equipment. This gives you more flexibility to respond to threats at instant speed with other spells while maintaining a strong presence on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other utility creatures, Auriok Steelshaper doesn’t come with a direct downside of discarding cards, focusing instead on enhancing equipped creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Auriok Steelshaper requires both white mana and generic mana to cast, which might not easily fit into multicolor deck strategies that have limited mana fixing options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although it costs only two mana, one of which is white, this can still be considered high for a 1/1 creature. There are more mana-efficient creatures that offer greater power/toughness or additional abilities for a similar cost.

Reasons to Include Auriok Steelshaper in Your Collection

Versatility: Auriok Steelshaper can be a key piece in decks that focus on artifacts or soldier tokens. Its ability to reduce the equip cost helps facilitate faster gameplay and can turn a passive board into a threatening one quickly. Since it can fit into various build strategies, its inclusivity adds consistency and power to many deck types.

Combo Potential: This card can form powerful combos with equipment-centric mechanics. Whether it’s synergizing with cards that benefit from equipping creatures or enabling quicker setups for combo plays, Auriok Steelshaper’s role in such synergistic interactions cannot be overstated. Its ability to equip creatures at no cost with “Puresteel Paladin” on the field turns even the lowliest of creatures into considerable threats.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where equipment and creature strategies are prevalent, Auriok Steelshaper’s utility increases significantly. Its capacity to speed up equip times allows for more aggressive and unexpected plays, keeping opponents on their toes. With artifact-related interactions often being at the core of many competitive decks, the inclusion of Auriok Steelshaper is a strategic move for players looking to gain an edge.

How to beat

Auriok Steelshaper is a card that commands respect on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that enhances equipment strategies, it poses a unique challenge. To successfully counter a deck leveraging Auriok Steelshaper, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergy between the Steelshaper and the equipment. Consider using removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their power or protective gear. This includes cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, which can remove the Steelshaper before it can bolster the equipped creatures’ might.

Another effective tactic is to use artifact removal. Cards like Shatter or Naturalize will allow you to dismantle the Steelshaper’s supporting artifacts, nullifying the cost-reduction and power-boost effects. Without equipment on the field, Auriok Steelshaper loses most of its strategic advantage. Lastly, countering this card can also involve going wide with creatures, overwhelming the opponent before they can set up their defenses. By taking a proactive approach in handling Auriok Steelshaper, you can maintain control of the game and prevent your opponent from executing their strategies smoothly.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the key interactions that Auriok Steelshaper brings to the table is essential for devising an effective game plan against it. By keeping these strategies in mind, you can increase your chances of victory against any Steelshaper-led strategy.

Cards like Auriok Steelshaper

Auriok Steelshaper is a unique fixture in the world of MTG, known for influencing the landscape of strategies centered around equipment. In comparison, Leonin Shikari offers a distinctly similar feature by allowing players to attach equipment at instant speed. While Auriok Steelshaper reduces the cost of equipping and boosts equipped creatures, the Shikari’s power lies in the tactical flexibility it offers during combat.

Puresteel Paladin is another card that often comes up in discussions about equipment-based strategies. It draws cards as you play your equipment, which can be a significant advantage, and like Auriok Steelshaper, it offers an economic benefit by making equipment costs negligible under the right conditions. Though different in execution, both cards emphasize the value and synergy of equipment in a deck.

In evaluating equipment enablers, Auriok Steelshaper stands out for its combined cost-reduction and strengthening abilities. This synergy with equipped creatures makes it an asset in any deck that seeks to leverage the power of artifacts and equipment.

Cards similar to Auriok Steelshaper by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Auriok Steelshaper MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Auriok Steelshaper and other MTG cards: