Riddlesmith MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Artificer
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Riddlesmith enables efficient deck cycling, granting card advantage with each artifact played.
  2. It synergizes with graveyard strategies, but necessitates a discard which can thin out your hand.
  3. Its inclusion in decks is dependent on meta relevance and the prominence of artifact strategies.

Text of card

Whenever you cast an artifact spell, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.

The Neurok see the artificer as an archaeologist, clearing away falsehoods to see the truth hidden beneath.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Riddlesmith offers a repeatable loot effect, allowing players to draw a card and then discard a card whenever they cast an artifact spell. This mechanism can help sift through the deck for key components while keeping the hand refreshed with new options.

Resource Acceleration: The discard element can serve as an enabler for strategies focusing on graveyard synergies or resource acceleration. By discarding artifacts that can be easily recast or that have recursion abilities, Riddlesmith can effectively accelerate your resource deployment.

Instant Speed: While the Riddlesmith itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the looting effect it generates takes place immediately upon casting an artifact. This interaction grants the player the flexibility to optimize card choices both during their turn and in response to opponents’ actions as long as it’s triggered within the rules of casting artifacts.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Riddlesmith demands that you discard a card whenever you cast an artifact, which can deplete your hand quickly if you’re not generating enough draw.

Specific Mana Cost: This artificer enters the battlefield for a blue mana cost, making it exclusive to blue-centric or multicolored decks, potentially hindering its inclusion in broader strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a two-mana value (one blue, one generic), there may be alternative lower-cost creatures or spells that provide more immediate value or versatility without the discard condition.


Reasons to Include Riddlesmith in Your Collection

Versatility: Riddlesmith offers adaptability to different deck archetypes by providing consistent card draw every time you cast an artifact. This blue creature slides smoothly into artifact-centric builds, fueling hand options and maintaining a formidable game presence.

Combo Potential: With its ability to let you draw a card whenever you cast an artifact, Riddlesmith excels in engines that churn through your deck, looking for key pieces. It pairs brilliantly with low-cost artifacts, turning each one into a potential new draw.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts play a significant role, Riddlesmith becomes a highly relevant addition. Its ability to filter through your deck and keep the cards flowing can be indispensable, letting you stay on par with the ever-changing battlefield dynamics.


How to beat Riddlesmith

Riddlesmith, a unique fixture in the blue artifact decks of Magic: The Gathering, offers a strategic advantage by allowing you to draw and discard cards upon casting an artifact. This card synergizes well with artifact-heavy playstyles, emphasizing deck cycling to find key pieces for combos or to maintain momentum.

To counteract Riddlesmith’s benefit, consider disrupting the artifact synergy. Artifact removal spells, like Abrade or Shatter, can hinder your opponent’s ability to trigger Riddlesmith consistently. Moreover, targeting Riddlesmith directly with removal spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can eliminate this threat early on, before your opponent can capitalize on its card advantage engine.

Additionally, playing cards that benefit from your opponent drawing cards, such as Notion Thief, can turn their advantage into yours. Preventative measures, like Pithing Needle named on Riddlesmith, can also entirely negate its ability. Ultimately, efficiently managing Riddlesmith hinges on timely disruption and strategic counterplays, aligning your removal resources to mitigate its card cycling potential and keeping the playing field level.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re serious about optimizing your MTG deck with cards that blend creativity and strategy, Riddlesmith is a card worth considering. Its unique ability to offer card advantage through a loot effect whenever an artifact is cast can be a pivotal tactic in the right setting. By integrating this artificer into decks that thrive on artifact synergy, you can maintain a flow of card options, carving a path to victory. Eager to refine your artifact-based deck or explore new combo horizons? Dive deeper into the multifaceted world of MTG with us and discover strategies that will make Riddlesmith an ace in your game plan.


Cards like Riddlesmith

In the intricate world of Magic: The Gathering, Riddlesmith offers a unique twist to the looting mechanic – that is, the ability to draw and discard. This card compares to other looters like Merfolk Looter, which gives a consistent draw and discard effect albeit only once per turn. What sets Riddlesmith apart is its specificity: it triggers whenever you cast an artifact, which can be multiple times per turn in the right deck.

Looking towards the stars, we find Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain, who offers a similar but more inclusive trigger, drawing a card for every historic spell you cast, encompassing artifacts, sagas and legendary spells. The contrast here is Jhoira’s broader scope against Riddlesmith’s focus on artifacts. Additionally, there’s Vedalken Archmage, which becomes especially potent in a deck flooded with artifacts by providing a card draw with each artifact played.

Analyzing these cards shows that Riddlesmith can hold its own for MTG enthusiasts who favor artifact-heavy strategies. The synergy it creates in such decks, and the potential for multiple draws per turn, renders it a valuable asset in the realm of card draw and discard effects.

Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Archmage - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Archmage - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Riddlesmith MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Double Masters, 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 Riddlesmith and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Riddlesmith Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by Eric Deschamps.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 402003NormalBlackEric Deschamps
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 652015NormalBlackEric Deschamps
32022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 962015NormalBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Riddlesmith has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Riddlesmith card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-08-07 An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
2020-08-07 You draw a card and discard a card all while Riddlesmith's ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.

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