Protean War Engine MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Artifact — Vehicle
Abilities	Crew
Released	2022-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Alchemy: Dominaria
Set code	YDMU
Power	0
Toughness	4
Number	25
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ben Wootten

Key Takeaways

Protean War Engine grants card advantage and can accelerate resource availability.
Its instant speed interaction complements flexible and formidable strategies.
However, the card comes with a discard requirement and a specific mana cost.

Text of card

As Protean War Engine enters the battlefield, draft a card from Protean War Engine's spellbook and exile it. Whenever Protean War Engine becomes crewed, until end of turn, it becomes a copy of the exiled card, except it's a Vehicle artifact in addition to its other types. Crew 3

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Protean War Engine offers an edge by possibly drawing additional cards each turn, if certain conditions are met. This consistent source of fresh options helps stay ahead in the resource game, keeping your hand filled with answers and threats.

Resource Acceleration: As a potential accelerator, this card can provide an increase in available resources. Depending on its interactions with other cards in play, it can amplify the pace at which you are able to deploy other spells, gaining an advantage over your adversary.

Instant Speed: While Protean War Engine itself isn’t an instant, it interacts beneficially with spells and strategies that operate at instant speed. This enables you to adjust your tactics in response to the unfolding game state, making your gameplay both flexible and formidable.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides to leveraging Protean War Engine in your deck is the necessity to discard a card. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted, turning the Engine’s ability into a costly venture rather than an advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Protean War Engine requires a precise blend of mana to be played effectively. This particular mana cost necessitates the inclusion of specific land types in your deck, potentially complicating your mana base and thus, reducing the card’s flexibility across various decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to summon Protean War Engine is comparatively hefty. In MTG, resources are critical, and players must weigh the benefits of summoning this card against other cards with a lower cost that might yield equal or greater impact on the game board.

Reasons to Include Protean War Engine in Your Collection

Versatility: Protean War Engine can adapt to various deck builds thanks to its modular nature. Whether you’re piloting an aggressive deck that values creatures or a control strategy that benefits from artifacts, this card can serve multiple roles.

Combo Potential: The innate ability to become a copy of other creatures opens up numerous possibilities for combos. Pair it with creatures that have powerful enter-the-battlefield effects or death triggers for maximum impact.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting MTG battlefield landscape, Protean War Engine maintains relevance by its capacity to mirror the most influential creatures in play, making it a smart choice in a rapidly changing meta.

How to beat

Protean War Engine is an innovative card in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, known for its adaptability on the battlefield. This multifaceted artifact creature is challenging to pin down thanks to its morphing abilities. To effectively combat it, one must adopt strategies that neutralize its versatile nature. One approach is to implement removal spells that bypass its protean qualities, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, targeting it before it can become a threat.

Another tactic involves employing countermeasures that ignore its shapeshifting, such as board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation. These sweep away all creatures indiscriminately, ensuring that Protean War Engine cannot utilize its transformative ability to survive. Ensnaring the war engine in a state of dormancy with cards that nullify activated abilities, like Pithing Needle or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can also stifle its effectiveness on the board.

Ultimately, successfully dealing with this card hinges on preemptive action and a clear understanding of when to deploy your answers. Monitoring the evolving battlefield and waiting for the perfect opening to apply precise removal or sweeping effects is crucial in undermining the advantage Protean War Engine could provide to an opponent.

Cards like Protean War Engine

Protean War Engine is an intriguing mechanical beast in MTG, vying for a spot in artifact-centric decks. It shares design space with other adaptable creatures like Voltaic Construct, which also offers the flexibility of untapping another target artifact creature. Although not as cost-efficient, Protean War Engine provides an extra layer of resilience through its regeneration ability.

Close to Protean War Engine’s field of expertise, we encounter the likes of Pentavus. This creature excels in versatility, with the ability to create token creatures while managing its own size. Pentavus requires a more substantial mana investment than the War Engine initially, but it carries the potential for greater board impact over time.

Lastly, it’s worth considering Triskelavus, a sibling to Pentavus, that offers flying tokens and enters the battlefield with a more imposing presence. While it doesn’t regenerate like Protean War Engine, it compensates with an aerial advantage and the potential for immediate token creation.

Thus, while evaluating the adaptability and utility of artifact creatures, Protean War Engine emerges with unique toughness and regeneration, making it a card that appeals to players seeking durability and strategic depth in their contraptions.

Cards similar to Protean War Engine by color, type and mana cost

Talisman of Conviction - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Protean War Engine MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Dominaria, 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 Protean War Engine and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Protean War Engine has restrictions

Format	Legality
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Timeless	Legal