Scrapyard Steelbreaker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Human Warrior |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 160 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Eric Wilkerson |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage by returning artifacts to hand on attack, offering resource sustainability.
- Snowballs board presence by synergizing with artifacts, enhancing in-game dominance and versatility.
- Amplifies game-ending potential in combo scenarios, securing meta-relevance with escalating power.
Text of card
, Sacrifice another artifact: Scrapyard Steelbreaker gets +2/+1 until end of turn.
"You've got about three seconds to get out of here before you get a faceful of metal."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scrapyard Steelbreaker provides an innovative edge by potentially returning an artifact card from your graveyard to your hand whenever it attacks, this recursive ability can generate a steady flow of resources, keeping your hand filled with valuable options throughout the duel.
Resource Acceleration: By leveraging its interaction with the scrapyard, the card is engineered to snowball your board presence. Each artifact returning to your hand is a step closer to overwhelming your opponent with a diverse array of threats or utilizing these artifacts for other advantageous synergies.
Instant Speed: While Scrapyard Steelbreaker itself is not an instant, it synergizes with artifacts that can be played at instant speed. This dynamic interaction allows you to maintain a veil of unpredictability, deploying artifacts when your adversary least expects it and during windows of opportunity that disrupt their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Scrapyard Steelbreaker’s activation hinges on discarding a card, which can deplete your hand and leave you vulnerable, particularly if you’re running low on cards to play.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise mana build, requiring both colorless and red mana which may not seamlessly fit into a variety of deck types, possibly limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to get Scrapyard Steelbreaker on the field is significant. When compared to other artifact creatures within the same mana range, players might find that the cost doesn’t quite match the impact it has on the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Scrapyard Steelbreaker offers a dynamic role in artifact and graveyard-centric decks. Its ability to grow stronger as more artifacts enter your graveyard makes it a valuable asset in a range of strategies from aggressive to control.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, working seamlessly with cards that sacrifice artifacts for value or recycle them, amplifying its power for a potential game-ending strike.
Meta-Relevance: With artifacts being a perennially popular theme in the meta, Scrapyard Steelbreaker has a significant place. Its escalating threat level keeps opponents on edge and can turn the tides in your favor against a variety of deck types.
How to beat
Scrapyard Steelbreaker presents a distinctive challenge on the battlefield. As an artifact creature with an affinity for artifacts, reducing its casting cost becomes simpler with a deck flush with metal. One of the key strategies to overpower this juggernaut is through targeted removal. Spells like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can swiftly take the Steelbreaker off the playing field before its presence becomes too overwhelming.
Another tactic is to minimize the number of artifacts in play. By using artifact removal spells such as Shatterstorm or Vandalblast, you reduce the Steambreaker’s ability to abuse the affinity mechanic. Additionally, countering it with spells like Negate or Mana Leak can prevent it from ever entering the battlefield. Ensnaring the opponent’s resources early on, thereby controlling the game and keeping artifact accumulation to a minimum, is essential to beating the Scrapyard Steelbreaker.
Decks that employ a lot of artifact synergy need to be disrupted to hinder cards like Scrapyard Steelbreaker from gaining too much value. By understanding its mechanics and preparing your deck with suitable counters, you can dismantle the Scrapyard Steelbreaker’s advantage and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Scrapyard Steelbreaker
Scrapyard Steelbreaker demonstrates its unique might within the artifact creature space in MTG. It bears resemblance to artifact creatures like Foundry Inspector or Chief of the Foundry, which are renowned for their ability to make other artifact spells cheaper to cast or bolster the strength of fellow artifacts. Where Scrapyard Steelbreaker differs is its inherent capability to continue growing stronger as you play more artifacts, gaining +1/+1 counters each time.
Comparing it to Steel Overseer, which also increases the power of your artifacts, Steelbreaker adds permanence and scale to your board presence. Unlike the Overseer’s one-time activation each turn, Steelbreaker can swell unbounded with every artifact played. Yet, Steel Overseer can be pivotal in an artifact-heavy deck that values broad strength over single target growth. On that note, Scrapyard Steelbreaker doesn’t simply enhance your existing artifacts but can become a formidable threat on its own, which makes it stand out in the echelons of synergy-driven artifact creatures.
While exploring options within the artifact creature domain of MTG, the escalating might of Scrapyard Steelbreaker offers a noteworthy blend of resilience and power that can be the cornerstone of many artifact-centric strategies.
Cards similar to Scrapyard Steelbreaker by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scrapyard Steelbreaker MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Scrapyard Steelbreaker and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scrapyard Steelbreaker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |