Skilled Animator MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 73
2020-11-20 - Number 98
2022-12-02 - Number 348
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Artificer |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Skilled Animator enters the battlefield, target artifact you control becomes an artifact creature with base power and toughness 5/5 for as long as Skilled Animator remains on the battlefield.
Cards like Skilled Animator
In the realm of artifact synergy within Magic: The Gathering, Skilled Animator is a notable figure. This card resembles Tezzeret’s Touch in its fundamental ability to animate artifacts. Both cards instantly turn an artifact into a formidable creature, with Skilled Animator granting a base power and toughness of 5/5, while the latter bestows 5/5 stats along with the added resilience through its return-to-hand ability upon destruction.
Another comparable card is Ensoul Artifact, which shares the concept of artifact animation but attaches a static 5/5 attribute without relying on a creature’s presence on the battlefield. Yet, Skilled Animator holds an advantage in its creature form, giving you the potential for an additional attacker or blocker. Conversely, Ensoul Artifact allows for an earlier and a potentially more surprising play, lacking the dependency on a creature.
When considering utility and impact, Skilled Animator stands out for its ability to repeatedly turn new artifacts into significant threats, providing continuous value as long as you can protect the Animator itself. This ongoing threat generation can be critical in matches, making Skilled Animator a strong consideration for any artifact-centric deck in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Skilled Animator by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Skilled Animator. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-05 |
 | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-29 |
 | Simic Aggro | Pioneer | Artifact Aggro | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event |
 | Izzet Ensoul | Pioneer | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | NRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skilled Animator excels in transforming inanimate artifacts into formidable threats, essentially turning your artifacts into an additional army on the battlefield. This can provide significant card advantage as your non-creature artifacts, which previously may not have affected the board state, now can.
Resource Acceleration: By turning artifacts into creatures that can attack or block, Skilled Animator can be viewed as a resource acceleration tool. It allows you to make more efficient use of your available artifacts, effectively speeding up your gameplay and applying pressure faster than expected.
Instant Speed: While Skilled Animator itself is not an instant, the ability to animate artifacts at sorcery speed can still be powerful when timed correctly. It can instantly turn newly played artifacts into threats before your opponent has the chance to react on their next turn, providing a strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Skilled Animator does not directly require discarding cards, but it doesn’t prevent the loss of resources if the animated artifact is removed. You might find yourself down a vital artifact if your opponent has targeted removal, which can setback your board position significantly.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes blue mana, Skilled Animator may not fit seamlessly into multi-colored decks. This can be a drawback for players looking to integrate it into strategies not heavily focused on blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, players might expect a creature with a more impactful enter-the-battlefield effect or a stronger body. While its ability to animate artifacts is unique, there are other creatures and spells at a similar mana cost that could provide a more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Skilled Animator is a card that seamlessly integrates into artifact-centric decks, providing a quick power boost by turning any artifact into a formidable creature. Its low mana cost allows it to fit into a variety of strategies from aggro to controlling builds that focus on artifacts.
Combo Potential: With Skilled Animator, the synergy with inexpensive artifacts can lead to powerful combinations, as it easily transforms utility artifacts into threatening creatures. This can be a game-changer in decks that exploit artifacts for various effects.
Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, decks with a strong artifact theme tend to recur. Skilled Animator holds its value in such environments, effortlessly slotting into decks that aim to dominate by maximizing the value of artifacts on the battlefield.
How to beat
Skilled Animator is a unique card in MTG that transforms any ordinary artifact you control into a formidable 5/5 creature. Its strength lies in its ability to turn typically non-threatening items like a simple mana rock into a significant threat capable of dealing heavy damage or blocking crucial attacks. To effectively neutralize the advantage that Skilled Animator provides, players must focus on a strategy built around artifact removal or creature control.
Removing the artifact that has been animated is often the most straightforward method to undermine an opponent’s Skilled Animator. Cards that can target and destroy or exile artifacts can instantly deflate your opponent’s strategy, getting rid of the immediate threat of a 5/5 creature. Alternatively, countering the Skilled Animator when it’s cast is another effective strategy, ensuring the Animator’s ability never impacts the game. Lastly, control elements that deal with creatures can also manage the threats posed by Skilled Animator, such as using board wipes or single target removals that keep the board clear and maintain a strategic advantage over your opponent.
The key to overcoming Skilled Animator is preparation and quick response, ensuring your deck has the necessary tools to handle threats both before and after it hits the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skilled Animator MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Commander Legends, 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 Skilled Animator 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 Skilled Animator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 73 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 98 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 348 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skilled Animator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skilled Animator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | Effects that modify a creature's power and/or toughness, such as the ones created by Titanic Growth or a +/1+1 counter, will apply to the creature no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for any counters that change its power and/or toughness and effects that switch power and toughness. |
| 2020-11-10 | If an Equipment becomes an artifact creature, it usually can't be attached to another creature. If it was attached to a creature, it becomes unattached. |
| 2020-11-10 | If the artifact was already a creature, its base power and toughness will each become 5. This overwrites any previous effects that set the creature's base power and toughness to specific values. Any power- or toughness-setting effects that start to apply after Skilled Animator's ability resolves will overwrite this effect. |
| 2020-11-10 | Skilled Animator doesn't remove any abilities the target artifact has. |
| 2020-11-10 | The artifact retains any types, subtypes, or supertypes it has. |
| 2020-11-10 | The resulting artifact creature will be able to attack on your turn if it's been under your control continuously since the turn began. That is, it doesn't matter how long it's been a creature, just how long it's been on the battlefield. |