Mishra's War Machine MTG Card

The card enables drawing extra options, establishing a dominant position in the game. Ramping up resources swiftly, it allows earlier threat deployment and impactful plays. Ability to act at instant speed grants strategy flexibility and can disrupt opponent plans.

Mishra's War Machine - Antiquities (ATQ)

Antiquities (ATQ)
1994-03-04 - Number 57

Mishra's War Machine - Foreign Black Border (FBB)

Foreign Black Border (FBB)
1994-04-01 - Number 266

Mishra's War Machine - Revised Edition (3ED)

Revised Edition (3ED)
1994-04-01 - Number 266

Mishra's War Machine - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)

Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
1994-06-21 - Number 266

Mishra's War Machine - Fourth Edition (4ED)

Fourth Edition (4ED)
1995-04-01 - Number 337

Mishra's War Machine - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
1995-04-01 - Number 337

Card sets	Released in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact Creature — Juggernaut
Abilities	Banding
Power	5
Toughness	5

Text of card

Bands During your upkeep, discard one card of your choice from your hand, or Mishra's War Machine becomes tapped and does 3 points of damage to you.

Cards like Mishra's War Machine

Mishra’s War Machine stands out in the lineage of artifact creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Its parallels to other artifact giants like Juggernaut are clear, as both boast significant power that can swing games. Juggernaut, with its inability to be blocked by Walls, makes for an aggressive comparison. However, Mishra’s War Machine holds its unique requirement to discard a card during upkeep to avoid tapping, which Juggernaut does not share.

Colossus of Sardia is another relative, featuring a grand stature in the artifact creature realm. It requires a hefty nine mana to cast and further mana to untap, whereas Mishra’s War Machine’s upkeep cost only demands a card, giving a slight edge in mana efficiency. Still, the Colossus’ sheer force is undeniable when it’s in play, free from the binds of a potential tap requirement.

Assessing these mechanical colossi, Mishra’s War Machine offers MTG enthusiasts a unique blend of challenge and strategy. Its balance between power and upkeep cost creates tactical decision-making opportunities that make it a card worth considering in artifact-centered decks.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mishra’s War Machine is a key tool for players seeking to build substantial card advantage. The ability to consistently access more options than your opponent by drawing additional cards can easily sway the tide of the game in your favor. Harnessing the power of this card can result in maintaining a dominant position on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: This card thrives in decks that focus on ramping up resources quickly. It provides significant resource acceleration, allowing you to deploy threats earlier than expected or unlocking the potential for game-defining plays. With Mishra’s War Machine, you’re not just speeding up your game plan; you’re outpacing your opponent and securing a competitive edge.

Instant Speed: Its ability to operate at instant speed adds a layer of versatility and surprise, giving you the freedom to react during your opponent’s turn. With this card, you maintain flexibility, keeping your adversaries guessing and ready to pivot your strategy at a moment’s notice. This nimbleness can disrupt your opponent’s plans and give you the upper hand in the ever-changing landscape of a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mishra’s War Machine demands the discard of a card if you fail to pay its upkeep, which can deplete your hand quickly and leave you at a significant disadvantage during longer matches.

Specific Mana Cost: Its activation cost is dependent on both generic and colored mana, necessitating a commitment to the color identity within your deck and potentially restricting its integration in multi-colored or colorless strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The machine requires a substantial investment of seven mana to get online. In a game where speed can be crucial, the delay in casting and activating this artifact can put you behind more cost-effective threats and answers.

Reasons to Include Mishra’s War Machine in Your Collection

Versatility: Mishra’s War Machine exhibits a flexible nature due to its ability to adapt to various deck builds. Its robust structure complements artifact-centric strategies and offers a solid offensive presence on the board.

Combo Potential: Beyond its standalone value, this card can synergize with numerous artifact-related combos, leveraging its inherent strengths to unlock powerful interactions that can sway the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where artifacts are prevalent or decks that heavily focus on synergies are at the fore, Mishra’s War Machine can serve as a linchpin, fortifying positions against a wide array of competitive decks.

How to beat

Encountering Mishra’s War Machine in your MTG game can certainly make for an intense challenge. It’s known for its ability to be a formidable threat, given its capacity to become unstoppable with the right support. The key to overcoming this card lies in disabling its strengths before it overwhelms you on the battlefield.

One effective strategy is prioritizing the removal of artifacts that enhance its abilities or disrupt the battlefield to your disadvantage. Counterspells prove invaluable here, particularly when Mishra’s War Machine’s initial cast gets neutralized. Additionally, keeping enchantment-based removal or sacrifice-forcing spells in your deck can tilt the odds in your favor by dealing with the machine directly, bypassing its potential protection from other artifact synergies.

Ultimately, staying ahead of Mishra’s War Machine requires a mix of anticipation and resource management. Keeping mana open for instantaneous responses or planning ahead to include cards in your deck specifically to counter it can ensure that this powerful card doesn’t steamroll your chances of victory. By employing these tactics, you can turn Mishra’s War Machine from an opponent’s asset to a liability they have to carefully consider before playing.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mishra's War Machine MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Foreign Black Border, 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 Mishra's War Machine and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mishra's War Machine Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 1995-04-01. Illustrated by Amy Weber.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-03-04	Antiquities	ATQ	57	1993	Normal	Black	Amy Weber
2	1994-04-01	Foreign Black Border	FBB	266	1993	Normal	Black	Amy Weber
3	1994-04-01	Revised Edition	3ED	266	1993	Normal	White	Amy Weber
4	1994-06-21	Summer Magic / Edgar	SUM	266	1993	Normal	White	Amy Weber
5	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition	4ED	337	1993	Normal	White	Amy Weber
6	1995-04-01	Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border	4BB	337	1993	Normal	Black	Amy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mishra's War Machine has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	You may choose to take damage or to discard. You can’t avoid taking damage if you have no cards to discard.
2008-10-01	A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it.
2008-10-01	Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker.
2008-10-01	If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned.
2009-10-01	If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it. That player can ignore the damage assignment order when making this assignment.