Steelclad Serpent MTG Card

Steelclad Serpent provides card advantage and can synergize well with artifact-focused strategies. Resource depletion from a discard requirement and color-specific mana can limit deck integration. Despite its drawbacks, the card’s potential in artifact-rich metas makes it a collection consideration.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Serpent
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	4
Toughness	5
Number	59
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Carl Critchlow

Text of card

Steelclad Serpent can't attack unless you control another artifact.

"From the highest towers to the deepest sea, all life must be touched by etherium." —Lodus of the Ethersworn

Cards like Steelclad Serpent

Steelclad Serpent occupies a unique niche within artifact creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with other artifact creatures that have a conditional attack capability, like Barricade Breaker. However, the Steelclad Serpent requires you to have an artifact in play to attack, while Barricade Breaker can attack as long as you pay its upkeep cost. Notably, the Serpent also boasts a sturdy defensive value like Spire Golem, which gains a discount on its casting cost for each Island you control.

Comparing it with Foundry Assembler, which also benefits from the artifact synergy by allowing a reduced casting cost through improvise, Steelclad Serpent stands out because it doesn’t reduce its cost but demands a constant artifact presence for aggressive strategies. Additionally, Gearseeker Serpent is another correlate that can be cheaper to cast in a dedicated artifact deck and can also become unblockable, while our Steelclad Serpent solely relies on the artifact condition to initiate an attack.

Each artifact creature card offers a different advantage depending on the deck’s construction, but for players valuing resilience and maintaining a board presence, the Steelclad Serpent proves its worth in MTG battles where artifacts reign supreme.

Cards similar to Steelclad Serpent by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the landscape of MTG, Steelclad Serpent shines as a beneficial addition for players seeking to fortify their hand while controlling the board. The card’s utility lies in its ability to contribute to card advantage by replacing itself or even generating additional draw through other card interactions.

Resource Acceleration: This serpent may not directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense like producing mana or Treasure tokens. However, it can be an asset in decks that operate under artifact synergy. Its presence can enable strategies that untap artifacts or use artifact count as a resource to fuel powerful effects, indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Steelclad Serpent doesn’t operate at instant speed, its interaction with instant-speed mechanics can be invaluable. For instance, when coupled with cards that allow you to flash in artifacts, the serpent can suddenly become a surprising blocker or a piece of a puzzle that comes together at the crux of a combat phase.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Steelclad Serpent demands that you discard another artifact card to cast it, which can be a serious setback, particularly when your hand is already artifact-light. This condition not only depletes your resources but also restricts the card’s synergy in artifact-poor decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost is predominantly blue, which may not slot well into multi-colored decks, especially those that are not foundationally blue. Decks without a strong blue mana base will likely struggle to meet the serpent’s demanding color-specific mana requirements. This puts it at a disadvantage compared to more flexible cards with generic mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the steeper side, this serpent might consume your entire turn’s mana, leaving no room for other spells or abilities. In the fast-paced environment of competitive play where efficiency is key, there may be more cost-effective creatures or control elements to include in your deck over the Steelclad Serpent.

Reasons to Include Steelclad Serpent in Your Collection

Versatility: The Steelclad Serpent distinguishes itself by being a resilient threat in decks that can consistently meet the metalcraft condition. Its ability to evade common forms of removal makes it a solid defensive option across various game situations.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on artifacts. Pairing it with cards that allow you to quickly amass artifacts can turn the Steelclad Serpent into a formidable attacker that’s hard to block effectively.

Meta-Relevance: Given that artifact-themed decks are quite prevalent in certain metas, Steelclad Serpent can play a key role. Especially in an environment where having a critical mass of artifacts enables powerful synergies, this card could prove to be a valuable asset in maintaining board presence against various opponents.

How to beat

Steelclad Serpent presents a unique challenge on the battlefield for Magic: The Gathering players. This artifact creature card is known for its substantial defensive presence. Its key feature is that it can’t attack unless you control another artifact which could limit your offensive strategies. Hence, the trick to overcoming this serpent lies in effectively managing the artifacts on the board.

Gameplay strategy against the Steelclad Serpent may involve artifact removal spells or abilities, allowing you to stifle your opponent’s capacity to attack with the creature. By targeting the supporting artifacts with removal effects, you can keep the serpent at bay. Additionally, controlling the pace of the game and maintaining pressure can prevent your opponent from establishing the necessary board state to utilize their Steelclad Serpent effectively.

In conclusion, while the Steelclad Serpent can be a formidable foe, its dependency on other artifacts offers a strategic vulnerability. Players should leverage this by focusing on disrupting artifact synergy and maintaining control over the battlefield, thereby neutralizing the serpent’s threat and paving the way to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Steelclad Serpent 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 Steelclad Serpent and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Steelclad Serpent has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Steelclad Serpent 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 two Steelclad Serpents, they’ll enable each other to attack.
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.