Mortarpod MTG Card

Turns creatures into direct damage sources, optimizing threat potential and synergizing with death benefits. Instantly equips to bypass summoning sickness, offering flexible responses and strategic advantages in play. Demands careful resource management due to its equip cost, posing a challenge for efficiency in mana-constrained decks.

Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
2011-02-04 - Number 115

Mortarpod - Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)

Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia (TD2)
2011-05-14 - Number 68

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 222

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1612

Historic Anthology 7 (HA7)
2023-07-18 - Number 17

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-222

Card sets	Released in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip,Living weapon

Text of card

Living weapon (When this Equipment enters the battlefield, put a 0/0 black Germ creature token onto the battlefield, then attach this to it.) Equipped creature gets +0/+1 and has "Sacrifice this creature: This creature deals 1 damage to target creature or player." Equip

Cards like Mortarpod

Mortarpod is a unique artifact in MTG, acting as a blend of equipment and sacrifice outlet. It’s often compared to Goblin Bombardment, which offers a similar benefit by allowing you to sacrifice a creature to deal damage. Mortarpod differentiates itself by requiring the creature to be equipped, which can be a strategic advantage or limitation depending on the situation.

Looking at Blasting Station, another card that provides a parallel functionality, we see a sacrifice-to-damage mechanism. However, Blasting Station can potentially untap each time a creature enters the battlefield, setting the stage for multiple uses in a single turn, while Mortarpod is limited by the creatures you can equip each turn. Meanwhile, Shriekhorn offers direct damage to creatures but lacks the reusable nature of Mortarpod, which can be repeatedly equipped to different creatures for continuous effect.

In weighing the options, Mortarpod stands out for its utility in creature-focused decks that benefit from the death of their own creatures. Its flexibility as equipment can also synergize with creature abilities or other cards that reward you for equipping creatures. This multifaceted approach ensures its spot as a versatile choice within the scope of artifact cards in MTG.

Cards similar to Mortarpod by color, type and mana cost

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Mortarpod. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	UBg Vengevine	Free form		Set Roulette Feburary 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Mortarpod provides a unique form of indirect card advantage by effectively turning your creatures into direct damage sources. Each creature can become a potential threat to opposing creatures or planeswalkers, or even direct damage to players. The ability to sacrifice creatures also synergizes well with cards that benefit from creatures dying, offering strategic depth and value.

Resource Acceleration: Although Mortarpod itself doesn’t generate additional mana, it contributes to resource acceleration by converting existing creatures into immediate utility. This means any creature, regardless of its ability to attack due to summoning sickness or other restrictions, can instantly become an asset for controlling the board or contributing to your offensive strategy.

Instant Speed: The equip ability of Mortarpod can be activated at instant speed, offering great flexibility during gameplay. You can equip it to a creature in response to removal spells or during the opponent’s end step, optimizing your turns and maintaining the element of surprise. This mechanism is crucial for staying one step ahead of your opponent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Mortarpod requires sacrificing a creature to utilize its ability, potentially depleting your battlefield presence and putting you at a disadvantage if you’re unable to maintain a board state with sufficient creatures to sacrifice.

Specific Mana Cost: Mortarpod’s equip cost demands two mana, including one generic and one Phyrexian mana which can either be paid with one mana of any color or 2 life. This can make equipping it less flexible in decks not designed to handle life payments regularly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Mortarpod’s initial cast is reasonably priced, repeatedly needing to pay the equip cost to move it between creatures can add up over the course of a game. This can be inefficient compared to other equipment or creature-based strategies, especially in decks where mana conservation is crucial for executing key plays.

Reasons to Include Mortarpod in Your Collection

Versatility: Mortarpod is a flexible card that can enhance various strategies. As an equipment, it can easily slot into artifact-centric decks and provide recurring utility in creature-focused builds.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with sacrifice mechanics and token strategies, allowing you to create a loop of creature sacrifice and damage output for potential game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment with plenty of small creatures or the need for direct damage, Mortarpod’s ability to equip to any creature and deal damage serves as a valuable tool for controlling the board and progressing your game plan.

How to Beat

Mortarpod stands out as a unique equipment card, renowned for its ability to give creatures the last word before leaving the battlefield. The versatility of this artifact comes from its effective use in sacrificing a creature to deal damage, potentially disrupting the opponent’s strategy. It allows a player to have an impact even during the final throes of their creatures’ presence on the field.

Defeating a Mortarpod requires calculated moves, including the removal of potential creature targets before the equipment can be utilized effectively. Spells like Path to Exile remove creatures from play directly, circumventing Mortarpod’s triggered ability. Moreover, countering Mortarpod itself using Negate or similar spells can nullify it completely before it becomes a threat. Artifact destruction spells like Naturalize also provide a direct way to remove Mortarpod from the game, cutting off this strategic line for the Mortarpod user.

In essence, Mortarpod can be a thorn in the side of many MTG strategies, but it’s not invincible. Tools that target creatures or the artifact itself are key, and efficiency in using them can ensure that Mortarpod is never able to assert its full potential on the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mortarpod MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia, 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 Mortarpod and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mortarpod Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2023-07-18. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-02-04	Mirrodin Besieged	MBS	115	2003	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
2	2011-05-14	Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia	TD2	68	2003	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
3	2015-05-22	Modern Masters 2015	MM2	222	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
4	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1612	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
5	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	MM2-222	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps
6	2023-07-18	Historic Anthology 7	HA7	17	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mortarpod has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-06-01	If you sacrifice the equipped creature to deal 1 damage to a target permanent or player, the damage is dealt by the creature as it last existed on the battlefield.