Puppet Conjurer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Human Wizard
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	82
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Steven Belledin

Key Takeaways

Puppet Conjurer fuels card advantage through its unique, repetitive generation of artifact creature tokens.
Its synergy with artifact strategies accelerates resources, catering to complex, combo-driven gameplay.
While powerful, its need for specific mana and discard requirement can hinder its effectiveness.

Text of card

, : Put a 0/1 blue Homunculus artifact creature token into play. At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a Homunculus.

He scowls at his imperfect creation, then crushes it to scrap. He salvages the etherium and begins anew.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The innate ability to amass an army of artifact creatures turn after turn with Puppet Conjurer sets you up for sustained card advantage. Unlike one-off card draw spells, this continuous creature creation ensures resources keep coming each cycle, bolstering your board presence decisively.

Resource Acceleration: Each Homunculus token Puppet Conjurer creates has an impactful synergy with artifact strategies, especially ones revolving around sacrificing artifacts for benefits such as mana ramp, direct damage, or card draw, propelling you towards your win conditions more rapidly.

Instant Speed: With Puppet Conjurer in play, the consistent output of token creatures at instant speed becomes a potent tactical asset. It allows you to commit to plays during your end step, keeping mana open during your opponents’ turns for reactive plays while still expanding your board state if no immediate threats or better plays emerge.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Puppet Conjurer’s ability necessitates you to discard a card, potentially depleting your hand and reducing your options in future turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost requires blue and black, making it less versatile as it can only fit into decks that run these colors without mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and token generators available at a lower cost, Puppet Conjurer’s mana investment might not align with the prowess of its effects in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include Puppet Conjurer in Your Collection

Versatility: Puppet Conjurer is a unique addition, providing a consistent way to generate artifact creature tokens in decks that thrive on synergies with artifacts or token generation.

Combo Potential: The Homunculus tokens this card produces can be instrumental in combos, acting as fodder for sacrifice mechanics or as a way to boost the effectiveness of cards that count artifacts you control.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting dynamics of MTG gameplay, Puppet Conjurer can be a tactical asset, specifically in the metas where maintaining board presence with numerous creatures is crucial for victory.

How to Beat Puppet Conjurer

Puppet Conjurer is a unique card that steps into the realm of token generation in Magic: The Gathering. Specifically, this card can become a staple in artifact-focused decks and strategies that benefit from a steady stream of token creatures. To effectively counter Puppet Conjurer, it’s essential to disrupt the token generation cycle that it creates. Strategies that include artifact removal spells such as Shatter or cards that limit creature abilities like Cursed Totem can be effective tools in your arsenal.

Another avenue is to utilize board wipes which clear multiple creatures at once, such as Day of Judgment or Wrath of God. These cards can effectively remove the army of artifact creature tokens provided by Puppet Conjurer before they become too overwhelming. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells that target specific creatures are also valuable, allowing you to respond directly to the Conjurer’s activation and possibly leaving an opponent’s strategy in disarray.

Keep in mind the balance of answering Puppet Conjurer without overextending your resources, ensuring that you can maintain control of the board state. In short, getting ahead of the Puppet Conjurer by strategically dismantling its token-generating functionality can swing the game back into your favor.

Cards like Puppet Conjurer

In the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, Puppet Conjurer stands out for its unique ability to generate artifact creature tokens. This card draws a parallel with Master Splicer, which also produces Golem tokens. While Puppet Conjurer fabricates 0/1 Homunculus tokens that can later transform, Master Splicer outright gives you a more robust 3/3 Golem upon entry, with an added bonus of boosting all Golem creatures.

Moving to the realm of token generation, we must consider Pia Nalaar. Unlike Puppet Conjurer, Pia Nalaar not only generates a Thopter token but also brings additional utility by enabling artifact sacrifice for direct damage, offering a different spectrum of strategic depth. Another card that warrants comparison is Whirlermaker, which enables players to create Thopter tokens at a consistent pace, though at a higher mana investment compared to the one-time token creation of Puppet Conjurer.

Assessing these cards, Puppet Conjurer finds its niche in enabling artifact strategies and sacrifice synergies. Its low cost and potential interaction with proliferate mechanics can make it a dark horse in decks designed around token manipulation and artifact gameplay.

Cards similar to Puppet Conjurer by color, type and mana cost

Talisman of Dominance - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Puppet Conjurer MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Puppet Conjurer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Puppet Conjurer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-10-01	If you control no Homunculi when the second ability resolves, nothing happens. There’s no penalty for failing to sacrifice a Homunculus.
2008-10-01	The Homunculus you sacrifice due to the second ability isn’t limited to being a Homunculus token put onto the battlefield by Puppet Conjurer.
2008-10-01	The only difference between a colored artifact and a colorless artifact is, obviously, its color. Unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact requires colored mana to cast. Also unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact has a color in all zones. It will interact with cards that care about color. Other than that, a colored artifact behaves just like any other artifact. It will interact as normal with any card that cares about artifacts, such as Shatter or Arcbound Ravager.