Armament Master MTG Card


Armament Master - Zendikar
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kor Soldier
Released2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar
Set codeZEN
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number1
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred bySteven Belledin

Key Takeaways

  1. Increase your Kor creatures’ power substantially without additional cards using Armament Master.
  2. Armament Master’s synergies provide tactical advantages during combat phases.
  3. Equipment reliance can affect deck flexibility and mana allocation.

Text of card

Other Kor creatures you control get +2/+2 for each Equipment attached to Armament Master.

"We prepare for the known with daggers, rations, rope, and pitons. But we also prepare for the unknown with billycat tails, pikku roots, hedron chips . . ."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Armament Master itself doesn’t draw cards, it directly bolsters every equipped Kor you control, potentially turning each equipment into an additional source of power. In a Kor-focused deck, this can mean a significant and quick build-up of board presence without expending additional cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Armament Master excels in decks packed with inexpensive equipment. Its ability to significantly increase the power of equipped creatures can accelerate your game plan, allowing you to deal out more damage at a faster rate without the need for costly spells or abilities.

Instant Speed: While Armament Master operates at sorcery speed, its synergy with instant-speed equip abilities can catch opponents off guard. By equipping at instant speed during your opponent’s turn, you can maximize Armament Master’s effect right before a crucial block or end-of-turn situation, making it a tactical asset during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize Armament Master’s potential, you often have to allocate precious card slots to equipment cards. This condition could force you to discard potentially more valuable cards to make room, diminishing your hand resources and possibly impacting the overall synergy of your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Armament Master requires a specific mana allocation of white, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that run heavily on white mana or dual-color decks that may not always have the right mana available at the crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitantly high, the cost of playing Armament Master alongside the necessary equipment can add up quickly, limiting your ability to deploy multiple threats in a single turn. As a result, there might be other creatures or enhancers that provide a more direct and less mana-intensive benefit to your board state.


Reasons to Include Armament Master in Your Collection

Versatility: Armament Master provides a broad utility as a front-line creature. Its ability to boost equipped creatures can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, especially those tailored around Equipment synergies.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to dramatically increase the power of equipped allies, Armament Master works wonders in combo strategies. When paired with the right Equipment cards, it can transform an ordinary board state into a formidable array of attackers.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its niche but potent ability, Armament Master has relevance in metas where Equipment decks can shine. It offers a unique angle of attack and can tip the scales during matches by empowering creature-based offensive lines where timing and Equipment accessibility are key.


How to beat

Armament Master is a niche yet potent card in MTG that can be pivotal in Kor tribal and equipment-focused decks. With its ability to boost equipped creatures, it can quickly turn the tide in a match. Facing down an Armament Master requires a strategic approach to dismantle its synergy and reduce the threat level it presents on the board.

Effective strategies against Armament Master include prioritizing the removal of equipment cards to negate its power amplification. Cards that can destroy, exile, or otherwise neutralize artifacts should be highly considered when tailoring your deck to counter equipment-heavy opponents. Another tactic is to remove Armament Master itself before it becomes too much of a threat, using direct removal spells or abilities that can deal with creatures regardless of their size. Like most creature-centric strategies, maintaining control over the board is crucial; thus, board wipes can be a recovery tool in dire situations where the battlefield has been overrun by boosted creatures.

Ultimately, recognizing and disrupting the synergistic elements that make Armament Master a formidable force is key to overcoming this card. Adjust your removal suite accordingly, and the Armament Master’s impact will diminish significantly in your MTG battles.


Cards like Armament Master

Armament Master is a unique role-player in the world of MTG creature enhance cards. Much like the venerable Lord of the Unreal, Armament Master provides a boost to other creatures you control, in this case Kor soldiers. It bears a resemblance to other lords but is distinct in its dependency on a tribal theme. Unlike Lord of the Unreal, which universally reinforces all Illusions, Armament Master requires a more focused deck-build to maximize its effectiveness.

Examining Steel Overseer, another card that augments your creatures, we see a strategy that is less tribe-specific but requires incremental investment to reap similar benefits. Armament Master, with its immediate impact on Kor allies, offers a surge in power without a need for the repetitive activations that Steel Overseer demands. Similarly, Catapult Master presents a tribe-specific influence, yet its ability leans towards utility rather than boosting offensive might. Armament Master stands out with its potential for creating swiftly overwhelming board states in the right deck.

Ultimately, when evaluating the potential of Armament Master within MTG, it competes effectively in its niche. While reliant on tribal synergies, in the proper configuration, it can provide an impressive force multiplier, marking its place in the game’s broad spectrum of creature support cards.

Lord of the Unreal - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Catapult Master - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Unreal - Magic 2012 (M12)
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Catapult Master - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Armament Master by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Soul Shepherd - Weatherlight (WTH)
Soltari Monk - Tempest (TMP)
Talon Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Keeper of the Light - Exodus (EXO)
Faith Healer - Urza's Saga (USG)
Angelic Page - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Avenger en-Dal - Nemesis (NEM)
Spirit Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Voice of the Blessed - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Stoneforge Mystic - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Drannith Magistrate - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Leonin Lightscribe - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silver Knight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Longbow Archer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Flumph - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cloudreach Cavalry - Legions (LGN)
Samite Healer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Kor Firewalker - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Armament Master MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Armament Master and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Armament Master has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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