Copper Carapace MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. Copper Carapace can lead to card advantage by enabling stronger creatures on the battlefield.
  2. Its low casting and equip costs offer quick power boosts and resource-efficient plays.
  3. The card’s equip restrictions can challenge multi-colored decks and careful mana management.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and can't block. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

"We will fight as they do: our flesh protected behind metal." —Tae Aquil, Viridian weaponsmith


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Copper Carapace doesn’t directly influence the number of cards in your hand, it enables creatures to become more formidable threats. This equipment boosts the power of your creatures which can lead to more efficient trades on the battlefield, potentially giving you a card advantage by removing opposing threats while maintaining your own.

Resource Acceleration: Copper Carapace costs little to cast and equip, making it a cost-effective way to amplify your creatures’ offensive capabilities early on. The low investment can accelerate your resources by allowing for stronger board presence without the need for high mana output, leaving more room for casting other spells or abilities.

Instant Speed: While Copper Carapace itself is not an instant, it offers flexibility within decks that operate at instant speed. It can be equipped at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action where timing is less crucial, enabling uninterrupted play for instant-based strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Copper Carapace does not have a discard requirement, it’s essential to keep in mind that equipping this artifact requires a player to invest additional mana beyond its casting cost, which can be a significant trade-off when trying to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Copper Carapace has a generic mana cost for casting, but its equip cost requires specific color allegiance, which could be restrictive for multi-colored decks and those looking for flexibility in mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an equip cost that is as high as its casting cost, players may find Copper Carapace less attractive compared to other equipment cards that offer more for the same or lower total investment. Considering the fast-paced nature of modern MTG games, this cost factor can be a noticeable drawback.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Copper Carapace is an equipment card that can effortlessly blend into various deck archetypes. As a low-cost artifact, it can be a quick way to boost the power of your creatures, making it a handy card in both aggressive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: Beyond its immediate buff to creature stats, its ability to equip for zero mana when you control a creature with metalcraft highlights its synergy within artifact-centric decks. The potential for easy swaps onto creatures with untap abilities or those that benefit from being equipped makes it a savvy inclusion for inventive combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where creature combat is prevalent, the added strength and toughness from Copper Carapace can turn even the meekest creatures into formidable threats. This can be especially relevant in metas where board presence and aggressive starts are key to clinching victory.


How to Beat Copper Carapace

Overcoming the challenge posed by Copper Carapace in Magic: The Gathering hinges on smart use of artifact removal or creature control strategies. This equipment card encumbers the equipped creature, preventing it from blocking. However, it also gives a significant power boost, making any creature it equips a notable threat on the battlefield.

Efficient answers to Copper Carapace include instant-speed removal spells like Disenchant or Abrade, which not only dismantle the equipment but can also disrupt the opponent’s tempo. Cards like Naturalize serve a dual purpose, offering the chance to destroy other artifacts or enchantments as well. For those leaning on creature superiority, simply outmatching the power boost with larger creatures or those with reach can effectively neutralize the threat.

Strategic use of bounce effects to return the equipped creature back to hand with spells like Unsummon can also tilt the scales in your favor momentarily. It’s important to remember that the player using Copper Carapace sacrifices the ability to block with the equipped creature, potentially leaving themselves open for counterattacks. Therefore, keeping the pressure on and forcing tough decisions may ultimately render Copper Carapace’s benefits moot.


Cards like Copper Carapace

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Copper Carapace finds its niche as a budget-friendly equipment card. It’s similar to other equipment cards like Bonesplitter, which boosts a creature’s attack at a low equip cost. What sets Copper Carapace apart is its added ability to grant the equipped creature an increased toughness, making it a two-fold enhancement for attack and defense. Bonesplitter does not offer the same toughness boost, focusing solely on augmenting the creature’s power.

Another card akin to Copper Carapace is the Trusty Machete. This equipment also costs one mana to play, but it has a slightly higher equip cost. It provides a more balanced power and toughness enhancement to creatures. In comparison, Copper Carapace restricts the equipped creature from blocking, which Trusty Machete does not, allowing for more flexibility in defensive play.

When considering equipment options for creature enhancement in Magic: The Gathering, Copper Carapace emerges as a strong choice for aggressive strategies, emphasizing an increase in creature size at the expense of some defensive capabilities. Its unique blend of power and toughness bonus at a minimal cost makes it particularly formidable in offensive gameplay.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Trusty Machete - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - Arena League 2003 (PAL03)
Trusty Machete - Zendikar (ZEN)

Cards similar to Copper Carapace by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Viridian Longbow - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - Revised Edition (3ED)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Candelabra of Tawnos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Phyrexian Dreadnought - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Signal Pest - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Viridian Longbow - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Copper Carapace MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Copper Carapace and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Copper Carapace Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-02-04Mirrodin BesiegedMBS 1022003normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
22015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 2052015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15652015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
42020-09-26The ListPLST MM2-2052015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Copper Carapace has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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