Viashino Weaponsmith MTG Card

Viashino Weaponsmith offers card advantage by fetching and playing equipment, saving both resources and mana. It enables indirect resource acceleration by reducing the mana cost of equipping, freeing up mana for other plays. The card works well with instant-speed play, allowing greater flexibility and maintaining board control.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Viashino
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	226
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dermot Power

Text of card

Whenever a creature blocks it, Viashino Weaponsmith gets +2/+2 until end of turn.

Within the rig settlement, those who have mastered the making of weapons earn highest honor.

Cards like Viashino Weaponsmith

The Viashino Weaponsmith has a unique slot within creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, especially when compared to other card options. It bears similarity to creatures like Armory Automaton, which also interacts with equipment but does so by automatically equipping all Equipment when it enters the battlefield or attacks. The Weaponsmith, while not equipping directly, facilitates powerful equipment strategies by providing a cheaper cost for the first piece.

Another comparison can be drawn with Auriok Steelshaper. This card reduces equipment costs and beefs up equipped creatures, though it doesn’t offer the immediate discount on casting like Viashino Weaponsmith does. The Steelshaper shines in decks with a high volume of low-cost equipment, making it a linchpin in such builds.

Delving deeper into the strategic nuances, the Weaponsmith excels in decks looking to deploy a key piece of equipment quickly. While not as broad-reaching as the Steelshaper or as dynamic as the Automaton, it serves a specific purpose for decks that focus on a pivotal piece of equipment to turn the game.

Cards similar to Viashino Weaponsmith by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Viashino Weaponsmith comes equipped with the ability to enhance your hand by tutoring a specific type of equipment from your deck directly onto the battlefield. This saves not just one card from your deck but also the mana usually needed to cast that equipment, keeping your hand full and ready for action.

Resource Acceleration: This card effectively reduces the cost of equipping your creatures, which is a form of indirect resource acceleration. The saved mana each time an equipment is attached can be invested in deploying additional threats or holding up mana for key plays, keeping you ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: While the Viashino Weaponsmith itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant-speed interactions. By attaching equipment at sorcery speed, you free up your mana for instant-speed responses during your opponent’s turn, thus maintaining flexibility without sacrificing board development.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Inclusion of Viashino Weaponsmith in your deck means that you need to be prepared to let go of valuable cards from your hand, impacting your overall strategic reserves. This condition can be particularly taxing if your hand is already nearing depletion and you’re forced to discard something pivotal to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Viashino Weaponsmith is not only color-specific but it also requires a combination of different types of mana. This can restrict your deck-building options and make it harder to cast the card in a timely manner, especially in a multi-color deck that might not always have the right mana available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Viashino Weaponsmith may not always represent the best value for investment. Players may find its summoning cost prohibitive when there are alternatives that can provide similar or better benefits for less mana, making it a less attractive option in a format where efficiency and speed are often key to victory.

Reasons to Include Viashino Weaponsmith in Your Collection

Versatility: The Viashino Weaponsmith shines in a variety of deck builds that prioritize aggressive gameplay and equipment synergies. Its ability to provide equipment versatility without additional mana investment makes it a valuable asset in red-centric or artifact-oriented decks.

Combo Potential: With a keen potential for combos, this creature offers strategic depth by enabling artifact-centric interactions. It can serve as a catalyst for equipment-based strategies, paving the way for powerful plays and a crescendo of battlefield dominance.

Meta-Relevance: In the ever-shifting metagame, a card like Viashino Weaponsmith can prove particularly impactful. Its seamless inclusion in decks can challenge prevalent control or combo decks, providing a swift and sturdy offensive that adapts to various competitive landscapes.

How to beat

Viashino Weaponsmith enters the battlefield as a formidable card that can prove to be quite an obstacle in MTG. Its ability to possibly create a 3/3 red and green Dinosaur creature token with trample makes it a card that demands an immediate answer. To effectively deal with Viashino Weaponsmith, controlling the board is key. Board wipes or removal spells cast before tokens are created can neutralize this threat early on. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile are valuable in swiftly removing the Weaponsmith before it can impact the game.

Another strategy is to take advantage of its arrival timing. Since its ability triggers when it enters the battlefield, countering the Weaponsmith with spells like Cancel or Mana Leak can preemptively stop the problem in its tracks. Alternatively, playing cards that limit the activation of abilities or the casting of creature spells, such as Cursed Totem or Torpor Orb, can hinder the efficiency of Viashino Weaponsmith.

In summary, keeping a close eye on your opponent’s board state and having the right answers in hand can assure that the Viashino Weaponsmith doesn’t overrun the game with its powerful token-spawning ability.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Viashino Weaponsmith MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Viashino Weaponsmith and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Viashino Weaponsmith has restrictions

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