Smelting Vat MTG Card
2022-11-18 - Number 18
2022-11-18 - Number 65
2002-06-24 - Number 105854
2002-06-24 - Number 105852
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice another artifact: Reveal the top eight cards of your library. Put up to two noncreature artifact cards with total mana value less than or equal to the sacrificed artifact's mana value from among them onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Cards like Smelting Vat
The Smelting Vat is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering, providing a specific utility that parallels cards like Trading Post. Just as Trading Post allows players to convert various resources into others, such as drawing a card or generating a creature token, Smelting Vat lets players turn creatures into artifact tokens. However, Smelting Vat’s focus is narrower, requiring the sacrifice of a creature to create a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token.
Another similar card is Mimic Vat, which also banks on the idea of imprinting and exploiting creature cards, albeit in a different manner. It imprints a creature card when it dies, later allowing you to create a token copy. While Mimic Vat has more versatility in copying any creature that dies, Smelting Vat is restricted to your own creatures but provides the advantage of having a fixed 3/3 token without additional mana costs per use.
All in all, while Smelting Vat may not offer the broad versatility of cards like Trading Post or Mimic Vat, it’s an excellent choice for strategies that benefit from consistent artifact creature production, playing a unique role in decks that thrive on such synergies.
Cards similar to Smelting Vat by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Smelting Vat. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Colorless Combo | Vintage | 2023 NA Vintage Champs | |
| Painter | Vintage | Painter | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-01-13 |
 | Mono-Blue Shops | Vintage | Blue Tinker | 2023 Asia Vintage Championship |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Smelting Vat in MTG offers a unique mechanism to turn artifacts into potential card draw. Using this can significantly tip the scales by replenishing your hand and maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: As a contract to traditional ramp, this card can convert existing artifacts into a sudden burst of mana, propelling you ahead in resources and allowing for a big play sooner than expected. It’s perfect for decks that can multiply or recycle artifacts.
Instant Speed: Its ability to be activated at instant speed provides flexibility, enabling players to respond to threats or opportunities at the end of an opponent’s turn. This makes Smelting Vat not just a card advantage tool, but also a strategic asset in managing the ebb and flow of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The gameplay around Smelting Vat comes with the stipulation of having to discard a card to activate its ability. This can strain your hand, especially in long, drawn-out matches where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Smelting Vat demands a precise mana configuration to be cast and activated. With its inherent colorless requirement, integrating it into multi-colored mana bases can be tricky and may require adjustments to the deck’s mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Smelting Vat promises intriguing gameplay dynamics, its activation cost is sizeable. Other options within the same mana range could potentially offer more immediate or impactful results, prompting players to weigh their deck strategy carefully.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Smelting Vat offers flexibility in deck building, seamlessly integrating into artifact-focused strategies while also providing a useful mana sink for decks that generate a lot of colorless mana.
Combo Potential: This card has the ability to untap itself, enabling looped activations in the right setup. When paired with cards that duplicate artifact abilities or untap permanents, Smelting Vat can become a key piece in an unexpected winning combination.
Meta-Relevance: Its role in the current playing environment can fluctuate, but in a meta heavy with artifact synergy or reliant on long game strategies, Smelting Vat has the capability to consistently generate advantage, making it a worthy addition to your arsenal.
How to beat
Smelting Vat is a unique artifact card in Magic: The Gathering that requires strategic approach to overcome. This powerful card can give an opponent the upper hand by converting their creatures into essential artifact tokens. To effectively beat Smelting Vat, the key is to either outpace it with aggressive strategies or neutralize it through card abilities. Removing it with artifact destruction spells is a straightforward method, and there are plenty of options like Disenchant or Naturalize. Alternatively, countering the Vat’s activations with instant-speed responses ensures that your opponent’s investments don’t yield returns.
Employing cards that limit the opponents’ ability to use the Vat is also a sound tactic. Pithing Needle, a card that blocks activated abilities, can effectively halt Smelting Vat’s function. It’s also vital to maintain pressure on your opponent, as an unused Vat poses little threat. Moreover, putting your opponent in a position where they must choose between utilizing the Vat and playing other significant spells can be to your advantage, as it splits their focus and resources.
Ultimately, being proactive and keeping versatile answers in your deck can diminish the impact of Smelting Vat, ensuring you maintain control of the game state.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Smelting Vat MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Smelting Vat 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Smelting Vat Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Robin Olausson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105854 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Robin Olausson | ||
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105852 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robin Olausson | ||
| 3 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 18 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Robin Olausson | |
| 4 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 65 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robin Olausson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Smelting Vat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Smelting Vat card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | If an artifact revealed this way has an is its mana cost, X is 0. |