Steel Overseer MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
: Put a +1/+1 counter on each artifact creature you control.
"The world is already run by all manner of machines. One day, they'll remind us of that fact." —Sargis Haz, artificer
Cards like Steel Overseer
Steel Overseer has carved its niche into the fabric of artifact-focused decks in Magic the Gathering. Resembling the mechanics of other artifact-centric cards, the Overseer assumes a key role by empowering your artifact creatures incrementally. Comparing it to the likes of Arcbound Ravager, another artifact staple, we see a difference in resource management; the Ravager requires a sacrifice of an artifact to garner its benefits immediately, whereas the Overseer’s strength builds over time.
When we look at Hangarback Walker, it also interacts with +1/+1 counters, much like our Overseer. The Walker, though, can operate independently, producing Thopter tokens upon death, providing utility even after leaving the battlefield. Steel Overseer, in contrast, builds a formidable army while it’s in play but doesn’t offer an immediate board presence or an aftermath effect.
Overall, Steel Overseer remains a potent piece in decks that capitalize on synergies with +1/+1 counters and artifacts. Its ability to steadily increase the threat level of your artifact creatures gives it a unique spot among cards designed to enhance your board state. Its utility becomes evident as games progress, making it a formidable force for opponents to contend with.
Cards similar to Steel Overseer by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Steel Overseer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jeskai Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024 | ||
Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | ||
Hardened Scales | Modern | Hardened Scales | Campeonato de Espaa de Modern 2023 | |
Mono-Green Hardened Scales | Modern | Hardened Scales | Modern Challenge 96 2023-12-02 (1) | |
Colorless | Vintage | Vintage League 2024-01-21 | ||
Gruul Hardened Scales | Modern | Hardened Scales | Modern League 2023-12-25 | |
Aggro Shops | Vintage | Aggro Shops | Vintage League 2023-12-09 | |
Gruul Combo | Pioneer | Gruul Hardened Scales | DreamHack Atlanta 2023 - Sun. 11AM Pioneer 5k Open 8-Slot RCQ | |
Azorius Powerstones | Pioneer | Artifact Aggro | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event | |
Azorius Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: By augmenting the power of all artifact creatures you control, Steel Overseer enhances your board presence without expending additional cards from your hand. This can lead to overwhelming your opponent with a formidable artifact creature army, providing significant card advantage as you convert a single card into multiplied threats on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Steel Overseer rapidly accelerates your artifact creatures’ capabilities, effectively adding more resources to your side. Instead of spending additional mana on casting more creatures, it lets you bolster your current lineup, maximizing the utility of your deployed resources.
Instant Speed: While Steel Overseer doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, its ability to increase the power and toughness of artifact creatures can be activated at the end of your opponent’s turn. This strategic timing can apply pressure during the opponent’s turn by boosting your artifacts when they least expect it, all set for an impactful attack on your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Steel Overseer demands players to maintain a board presence, particularly with artifact creatures, to capitalize on its ability. Without such a setup, its potential plummets, making it less viable in decks that cannot consistently meet this requirement.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires colorless mana, this card may seem easy to play in any deck. However, it fits optimally in decks that support a heavy artifact theme, hence its playability is narrower than it appears.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment of two mana for a 1/1 creature can be steep, considering its impact is not immediate. Decks aiming for a faster pace might find Steel Overseer a bit sluggish, as it needs to survive a turn to start incrementing value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Steel Overseer is a dynamic card that can slide into various artifact-centric decks. Whether you are bolstering a casual construct or refining a competitive brew, its ability to consistently amp up your artifact creatures’ power and toughness makes it a solid addition.
Combo Potential: The tweakable nature of Steel Overseer means it synergizes well with cards that multiply counters or take advantage of +1/+1 markers. Its inclusion can unlock powerful interactions and elevate your deck’s performance on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: With the perpetual evolution of the MTG metagame, maintaining a deck that holds its ground is paramount. Steel Overseer remains a relevant piece in setups that aim to build formidable board states quickly, giving artifact decks that needed edge over a diverse array of opponents.
How to beat
Steel Overseer is a potent artifact creature that can dominate the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering by consistently bolstering other artifacts’ power and toughness. To effectively counter this card, players need to adopt a strategy that disrupts the Steel Overseer’s ability to accumulate counters. Targeted removal spells such as Abrupt Decay and Fatal Push can swiftly eliminate the Overseer before it becomes too much of a threat. Artifact removal, like Shatter or Naturalize, is also highly effective against the Overseer, ensuring that it doesn’t have the chance to activate its ability even once.
Moreover, negating the Overseer’s activations through cards like Damping Matrix prevents it from generating additional value turn after turn. For a more proactive approach, using cards like Pithing Needle to specifically name Steel Overseer upon entering the battlefield renders the card inert, essentially transforming it into a vanilla creature with no abilities. Maintaining board control and keeping removal at hand for key threats like Steel Overseer is essential. Doing this denies your opponent the snowballing power that Steel Overseer can bring to artifact-centric decks.
BurnMana Recommendations
If the capabilities of Steel Overseer have sparked your interest, we’re here to guide you deeper into the world of MTG. Strengthening your deck with this pivotal artifact creature can tip the scales in your favor, fostering a board state that opponents will dread. Its synergy with artifact-centric strategies unveils opportunities for dominating matches. Whether you’re a seasoned player tweaking a fine-tuned machine or a newcomer building an arsenal, understanding the intricacies of such impactful cards is crucial. Elevate your gameplay and navigate the ever-shifting landscape of MTG with confidence. Dive into our detailed guides and take your collection to the next level.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Steel Overseer MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Kaladesh Inventions, 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 Steel Overseer 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 Steel Overseer Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 214 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
2 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Inventions | MPS | 27 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
3 | 2019-07-12 | Core Set 2020 | M20 | 239 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
4 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 267 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
5 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 164 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
6 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 798 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
7 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 241 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
8 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 487 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
9 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 1015 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken | |
10 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 769 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daarken |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Steel Overseer has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Steel Overseer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2019-07-12 | Steel Overseer's ability puts a +1/+1 counter on each artifact creature you control, including Steel Overseer. |