Self-Assembler MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 232
2018-03-16 - Number 231
2020-11-12 - Number 269
2022-11-18 - Number 114
2022-11-18 - Number 114z
2022-11-18 - Number 51
2022-12-02 - Number 795
2022-11-18 - Number 77
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Assembly-Worker |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Self-Assembler enters the battlefield, you may search your library for an Assembly-Worker creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
It sees itself in all of its creations.
Cards like Self-Assembler
Self-Assembler holds a unique place within the family of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Analyzing it alongside similar cards reveals its utility in any deck focusing on synergy between artifact creatures. A comparable card is Foundry Assembler, which doesn’t possess the same searching capability but benefits from the prowess of improvise, reducing its casting cost by utilizing your artifacts.
Moreover, Myr Retriever is another artifact creature that interacts differently. While not providing a search like Self-Assembler, it does offer recursion by returning another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand when it dies. This trait can be highly beneficial in strategies that hinge upon bringing artifacts back for repeated value. There’s also Workshop Assistant, which has a lighter casting cost and offers the same graveyard retrieval mechanic yet with somewhat less resilience.
To summarize, each artifact creature card features various advantages, fitting diverse strategic needs. Self-Assembler’s strength lies in its ability to chain itself with multiple copies, potentially ensuring a constant presence on the battlefield. It’s a testament to its stature as a robust player in artifact-centric decks.
Cards similar to Self-Assembler by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Self-Assembler. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MonoRed TRONO | Pauper | Tron | Tappa LP Comense Pauperissima "Road to Milano" @Magic Akiba |
 | Gruul Tron | Pauper | Tron | Sprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 2^ tappa MILANO 2024 |
| Mono-Red Tron | Pauper | Tron | Liga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 1 |
| Tron | Pauper | Tron | Pauper League 2024-01-08 |
| MonoRed Tron | Pauper | Tron | 8° Tappa - Season 6 - Road to Paupergeddon Winter edition 2024 @ Lega Pauper Martesana |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Self-Assembler shines in bringing card advantage. Once you cast this automaton, you can search your library for another card with the same name, effectively increasing your hand without depleting additional resources.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing mana, Self-Assembler streamlines your deck’s performance. By fetching another copy of itself, it accelerates your board presence and thins your deck, making it more likely to draw into the resources you need.
Instant Speed: While Self-Assembler doesn’t operate at instant speed, it adds strategic depth by freeing up your mana. After deploying this creature, you can plan your next moves with the certainty that your board state is being enhanced without the need for immediate further investments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Self-Assembler allows you to search your library for another card with the same name, it does not come without cost. To capitalize on its ability, you must maintain a steady stream of Self-Assemblers, which can cause strain on deck variety and diminish your ability to respond to an opponent’s threats with more diverse options.
Specific Mana Cost: Self-Assembler’s casting requirements are locked into a specific colorless mana cost, meaning that it will generally only seamlessly fit into artifact-centered or colorless decks. This makes its inclusion less flexible across the wide array of multicolored decks that populate the game’s meta.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a cost of five mana for a 4/4 creature, Self-Assembler might not be the most cost-effective creature you could deploy. Considering the tempo of Magic play, where board presence and mana efficacy are key, there may be alternative creatures or spells that offer a better return on investment, or complement your deck’s overall strategy more effectively.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Self-Assembler offers the ability to search for another copy of itself or any Assembly-Worker creature, ensuring a steady stream of blockers or attackers to maintain pressure or defense.
Combo Potential: When paired with other Assembly-Workers or cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield, Self-Assembler becomes a tool for potential combo enablers, growing stronger with every played copy.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to create a chain of creature cards, it remains a suitable option for decks that thrive on self-reinforcement and can adapt to various meta scenarios where resilience and presence on the board are key.
How to Beat Self-Assembler
Self-Assembler can shape a game by churning out copies of itself, providing a player with a steady stream of 4/4 artifacts for a notable board presence. But how do you take down this assembly line? The key lies in limiting its ability to search and recruit additional copies. Utilizing instant-speed removal when the Self-Assembler’s ability is on the stack will prevent further duplicates from entering the battlefield. This strategy can disrupt the opponent’s board development significantly.
Moreover, cards that restrict search functions, like “Aven Mindcensor” or “Leonin Arbiter,” can effectively neuter the Self-Assembler’s advantage, as they will prevent the player from searching their library altogether. Alternatively, an approach that doesn’t promote a growing collection of Assemblers, such as “Grafdigger’s Cage,” can make it frustrating for those relying on its mechanic. Whether you’re playing aggresively or controlling the board, remember that Self-Assembler’s strength lies in numbers, so cutting off the supply is your pathway to victory.
In summary, while the Self-Assembler has the potential to be a recurring threat, savvy players can dismantle its strategy with the right removal tools or library search restrictions, ensuring the assembly line never reaches full production.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Self-Assembler MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Masters 25, 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 Self-Assembler and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Self-Assembler Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 232 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 2 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 3 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 269 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Toraji | |
| 4 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 114 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Toraji | |
| 5 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 114z | 1997 | Normal | Black | Toraji | |
| 6 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 51 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Toraji | |
| 7 | The Brothers' War Art Series | ABRO | 77 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Toraji | ||
| 8 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 795 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Toraji |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Self-Assembler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Self-Assembler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-03-16 | Self-Assembler's ability can find any creature card with the Assembly-Worker subtype, not only creature cards named Assembly-Worker. Notably, it can't find Mishra's Factory. |