Ugin's Construct MTG Card
2015-01-23 - Number 164
2002-06-24 - Number 55761
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Construct |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Ugin's Construct enters the battlefield, sacrifice a permanent that's one or more colors.
While trapping the Eldrazi on Zendikar, Ugin learned little from Sorin, but he gleaned the rudiments of lithomancy from Nahiri.
Cards like Ugin's Construct
Ugin’s Construct offers an intriguing element in the world of artifact creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Its likeness could be compared to Darksteel Sentinel, which also provides a formidable defensive presence with vigilance and indestructible. However, Ugin’s Construct requires a sacrifice of a permanent upon entering the battlefield, which can be strategically advantageous or a drawback depending on the scenario. Unlike the Sentinel, Ugin’s Construct demands a trade-off which potentially aligns with sacrifice-based decks to trigger powerful effects or combos.
In the realm of sacrifice-driven mechanics, Solemn Simulacrum resembles Ugin’s Construct, benefiting the player upon entering and leaving the battlefield. Commonly referred to as Sad Robot, this card draws you a card upon death, unlike Ugin’s Construct, and ramps your mana upon its arrival without demanding an immediate sacrifice.
Analysing further, we notice Phyrexian Triniform as another massive artifact creature that requires a significant initial investment but pays off by leaving behind three smaller golem tokens upon its demise. This differing dynamic provides continuous board presence, which contrasts with Ugin’s Construct’s one-time effect. Balancing cost, board impact, and strategic depth, Ugin’s Construct holds its ground as a unique piece in the MTG artifact creature suite.
Cards similar to Ugin's Construct by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ugin’s Construct provides an automatic benefit upon entering the battlefield by letting you manifest the top card of your library. This sets you up with a potential creature that can turn the tide by becoming an unexpected blocker or a surprise attacker once turned face up.
Resource Acceleration: The ability to put a card directly onto the battlefield as a 2/2 creature can also act as a form of resource acceleration. This saves you from spending mana on your next turns and optimizes your mana usage, allowing for more significant plays to be made sooner.
Instant Speed: Although Ugin’s Construct is a permanent, the synergy it can create with spells that can be cast at instant speed is noteworthy. It coordinates well with cards that allow you to flip manifested creatures at instant speed, turning into a formidable surprise during combat or end of turn scenarios, which can significantly shift the game’s momentum.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Ugin’s Construct often requires you to sacrifice a permanent, which might result in losing a critical asset. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re already behind on the board.
Specific Mana Cost: Ugin’s Construct demands a precise mana arrangement to cast, making it less flexible and harder to accommodate in multicolored decks that might not consistently produce the required colorless mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost being on the higher end, Ugin’s Construct competes with other significant late-game threats or impactful permanents that could provide immediate board presence or advantages. This cost factor makes it a less appealing option when considering the tempo of your deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ugin’s Construct offers flexibility across various deck archetypes due to its intrinsic synergies with colorless spells and permanents. It provides hefty board presence and can slot into decks that capitalize on artifact strategies.
Combo Potential: This powerful artifact creature complements engines that can exploit its sacrifice requirement, paving the way for various combos and interactions, particularly in decks that recycle or benefit from artifacts hitting the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: As the metagame periodically shifts, Ugin’s Construct remains a competitive choice in environments heavy with artifacts or those that prioritize beefy creature plays. With the right support cards, this creature can influence the battlefield significantly.
How to Beat Ugin’s Construct
Ugin’s Construct brings an interesting dynamic to creatures in Magic: The Gathering. The artifact creature is known for its impact on the board due to its formidable base stats. Unlike some other creatures, Ugin’s Construct requires a player to sacrifice a permanent that’s a permanent with one or more colors the moment it enters the battlefield, which can pose a strategic disadvantage if not played correctly. This is a key element to focus on if you’re trying to overcome an opponent’s Ugin’s Construct.
One efficient method to beat Ugin’s Construct is to use removal spells that can bypass its sizable bulk. Cards like Path to Exile offer a clean and immediate resolution, exiling it regardless of its power and toughness. Alternatively, countering the spell upon casting can prevent it from ever hitting the board, which is where blue spells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak come into play, pun intended. Another strategy is to take advantage of its entrance ability by using cards like Clone or Phyrexian Metamorph to create a copy without the drawback, essentially turning the tables on your opponent.
Considering these strategies, players can prepare their decks to handle Ugin’s Construct effectively, ensuring that this formidable artifact creature doesn’t stand in the way of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ugin's Construct MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Fate Reforged, 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 Ugin's Construct 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 Ugin's Construct Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2015-01-23. Illustrated by Peter Mohrbacher.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 55761 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Mohrbacher | ||
| 2 | 2015-01-23 | Fate Reforged | FRF | 164 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Mohrbacher |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ugin's Construct has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ugin's Construct card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-11-24 | If you control only colorless permanents as the ability resolves (for example, basic lands and face-down permanents), you won’t sacrifice anything. |