Blacksmith's Skill MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Blacksmith’s Skill offers instant speed flexibility, protecting assets when it’s most crucial.
  2. While versatile, the card’s white mana requirement limits its use in diverse decks.
  3. It stands out for its unique combination of indestructibility and life gain.

Text of card

Target permanent gains hexproof and indestructible until end of turn. If it's an artifact creature, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Before he was subjugated by demonic forces, Dakkon was a master smith of unrivaled artistry.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Not only does Blacksmith’s Skill bolster your creature or artifact’s ability to withstand threats, but it also equips you to outmaneuver your opponent by effectively negating their removal spells or combat tricks.

Resource Acceleration: While directly not a source of mana, protecting your key artifacts or creatures can indirectly preserve the resources you’d otherwise spend in recasting them. This ensures your board state remains strong, propelling your game plan forward without interruption.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Blacksmith’s Skill at instant speed enables you to respond to your opponent’s actions in real-time. Defend your most valuable assets on the battlefield precisely when it matters most, catching adversaries off-guard and maintaining the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In some scenarios, using Blacksmith’s Skill might cause you to discard another valuable card from your hand. This can be a setback if your hand is already short on options or if you’re forced to let go of a card that’s key to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Blacksmith’s Skill requires one white mana, which means it’s not always a feasible play in multicolored or colorless decks. If you’re not running a deck with a sufficient white mana base, this card might be a dead draw at a crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the mana cost of one might seem low, considering the scope of its effect, it’s important to contemplate its opportunity cost. In a game where tempo is crucial, utilizing mana to cast Blacksmith’s Skill might mean forsaking the development of your board state, which could be detrimental in the long run.


Reasons to Include Blacksmith’s Skill in Your Collection

Versatility: Blacksmith’s Skill is a powerful instant that can be slotted into a variety of decks. It offers protection and strength to your key creatures or artifacts at critical moments, making it a versatile pick no matter your strategy.

Combo Potential: When used in tandem with cards that benefit from targeting, such as Heroic or Prowess abilities, Blacksmith’s Skill not only defends but also empowers your creatures, enabling powerful combo plays and unexpected victories.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where removal spells are prevalent, the ability to shield your crucial pieces from targeted destruction or damage can be game-changing. Its capacity to counteract common disruptive tactics makes it a meta-relevant card, especially in formats like Commander or Pioneer.


How to Beat Blacksmith’s Skill

Blacksmith’s Skill is a notable card that offers protection and combat tricks in Magic: The Gathering. Playing against this card requires a keen understanding of your opponent’s mana availability and their creature’s capabilities. Since this card can bestow indestructibility and ward, timing your removal spells when your opponent is tapped out or lacks a single white mana can be the key to success. It’s critical to bait out Blacksmith’s Skill during your turn, allowing for a clear path to resolve your critical spells on the next. Additionally, using spells that cause your opponent to sacrifice creatures can circumvent Blacksmith’s Skill’s protection since these do not target.

Furthermore, countering this spell outright with negation effects can effectively render it useless. Mass removal spells that don’t target such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” can also be effective, as they can bypass the protection granted by Blacksmith’s Skill. Therefore, strategic planning and baiting, combined with non-targeted removal and counterplay, are pivotal in overcoming the advantages that Blacksmith’s Skill presents in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the intricacies of Magic the Gathering is about pinpointing the perfect balance between offense and defense. Blacksmith’s Skill provides a shield for your key pieces, giving you the tactical edge you need to thrive in the heat of battle. While you consider how to enhance your deck and ensure your permanents survive to fight another day, remember that knowledge and the right tools lead to mastery. Dive deeper into the tactical universe of MTG and uncover strategies that will shape your path to victory. Curious about honing your gameplay and outsmarting your opponents? Join us to learn more and craft your winning strategy.


Cards like Blacksmith's Skill

Blacksmith’s Skill is a notable card in the realm of protective spells within MTG, offering a unique edge in battle. It stands in comparison to cards like Apostle’s Blessing, which grants protection from a color or artifact for a creature or an artifact you control. While Apostle’s Blessing covers more potential threats, Blacksmith’s Skill shines by targeting only a single permanent, but with the added benefit of indestructibility and gaining two life.

Gods Willing is another card that parallels Blacksmith’s Skill, allowing a creature to gain protection from the color of your choice while offering the scry 1 ability, aiding in deck manipulation. Although it doesn’t offer indestructibility or life gain, the scry 1 capability can be crucial in the right situation. On the other hand, Shelter is a potential competitor, providing protection and card draw, yet it lacks the defensive power against all types of damage that Blacksmith’s Skill provides.

In essence, Blacksmith’s Skill is a tactically versatile option within MTG that bolsters your defense to a fortitude unmatched by many. Its ability to reinforce a permanent and not only shield it but also turn the tide with health recovery, places it ambitiously among its peers in strategic gameplay.

Apostle's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Gods Willing - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions
Apostle's Blessing - MTG Card versions
Gods Willing - MTG Card versions
Shelter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blacksmith's Skill by color, type and mana cost

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Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blacksmith's Skill MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Blacksmith's Skill and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blacksmith's Skill Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 62015NormalBlackJason A. Engle
22021-06-18Modern Horizons 2MH2 3811997NormalBlackJason A. Engle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blacksmith's Skill has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-06-18 Blacksmith's Skill checks whether the permanent is an artifact creature when it resolves. If the target isn't an artifact creature when the spell is cast but becomes one before the spell resolves, it will get +2/+2.

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