Contraption Cannon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set name	Unstable
Set code	UST
Number	144
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Silver
Illustred by	Mike Burns
Un-set :-)	This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

Card advantage through artifact reuse offers a unique edge without depleting resources.
Instant speed firing aligns attacks with game dynamics, enhancing strategic impact.
Resource acceleration by repurposing artifacts increases efficiency and firepower.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Contraption Cannon: It deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of Contraptions you control.

Common side effects include headaches, ringing in ears, and excessive smithereens. In some cases, a small hole in space-time may develop.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Contraption Cannon provides a unique edge by allowing you to repeatedly use artifacts for beneficial effects without losing them, effectively turning each artifact in your hand into potential damage against your opponents while maintaining a full grip of resources.

Resource Acceleration: By utilizing artifacts that have already served their main purpose or those that generate additional value when they leave the battlefield, Contraption Cannon accelerates your resource management, converting what might be a dead draw into a powerful shot against your adversary’s life total.

Instant Speed: The ability to launch an artifact at instant speed gives you the flexibility to decide the best moment to strike, aligning your attack with the pace of the game or in response to your opponent’s actions, thus maximizing the cannon’s impact each time it fires.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The functionality of Contraption Cannon hinges on discarding a nonland card, which can be a significant setback when aiming to maintain card advantage. This cost can deplete your hand quickly, potentially leaving you vulnerable to an opponent’s strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Contraption Cannon demands a specific combination of mana, including colorless mana, to activate. This restricts its integration into multi-colored decks and can prove to be a hurdle when you are managing a mana base that aims to support a broader spectrum of spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Activating Contraption Cannon’s ability comes at a relatively steep cost compared to other artifacts in MTG. The mana investment required could perhaps be better allocated towards advancing board presence or casting impactful spells that can change the tide of the game more decisively.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Contraption Cannon offers a unique addition to decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or a strategy involving numerous cheap artifacts. Its ability to potentially dish out significant damage dynamically adjusts based on your board state.

Combo Potential: This card can be the linchpin in a combo, making it particularly attractive for players fond of constructing intricate and rewarding interactions. It shines in scenarios where it’s paired with cards that can duplicate artifacts, generate tokens, or return artifacts to play.

Meta-Relevance: Given that artifact-heavy strategies often make waves in various formats, having Contraption Cannon in your arsenal ensures you’re prepared to leverage these trends. In metas where artifacts play a central role, the Cannon can serve as an unexpected game finisher.

How to beat

The Contraption Cannon is an intriguing artifact card in Magic: The Gathering that can catch an opponent off guard with its potential for direct damage. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to focus on strategies that can neutralize artifacts or deprive your opponent of the resources needed to activate its abilities. Artifact removal spells like Abrade or Naturalize are perfect for the task as they can destroy the cannon outright. Alternatively, employing counterspells when the cannon is being cast can nip the problem in the bud before it starts affecting the game state.

Disruption strategies also play a key role. By attacking your opponent’s hand with cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, you can remove key pieces that synergize with Contraption Cannon, limiting its effectiveness. Moreover, playing your own threats at a rapid pace forces the cannon wielder to use their resources defensively, which might lead to suboptimal plays or divert energy away from utilizing the cannon to its full potential.

In summary, maintaining control over the board, managing your opponent’s resources, and including effective removal or disruption in your deckbuilding are surefire tactics to overcome the challenges posed by the ingenious Contraption Cannon.

Contraption Cannon

Contraption Cannon is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that offers a twist to the typical damage-dealing cards. It allows a player to fling a noncreature artifact at the opponent, with the quirkiness of dealing damage equal to the artifact’s mana cost. This makes it a versatile tool, ideal for artifact-heavy decks where you have ample objects to convert into ammunition.

Cards like Contraption Cannon

When evaluating Contraption Cannon, it’s insightful to look at other artifact-centric damage-dealing cards. Shrapnel Blast is a noteworthy comparison, demanding the sacrifice of an artifact to deal a flat five damage at instant speed. While Shrapnel Blast forgoes versatility for consistent damage, Contraption Cannon’s effect scales with the cost of the sacrificed artifact, potentially yielding even higher damage numbers.

Goblin Charbelcher presents another intriguing parallel. Initially, it might seem less related due to its dependency on a library’s land count, but like Contraption Cannon, it can be a game-ender. Whereas Charbelcher averages out damage unpredictably, the Cannon’s consistency can be more reliable in artifact-dense builds.

Overall, in Magic: The Gathering, players looking for innovative ways to utilize artifacts for direct damage find Contraption Cannon’s flexibility to be a highly strategic inclusion in their deck-building arsenal.

Cards similar to Contraption Cannon by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Contraption Cannon MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Contraption Cannon and other MTG cards: