Unforge MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Number	71
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Unforge provides card advantage by disrupting opponent strategies with instant-speed answers.
At low cost, Unforge allows resource acceleration while maintaining mana for other plays.
Despite its strengths, Unforge’s casting requirements can limit its utility in varied decks.

Text of card

Destroy target Equipment. If that Equipment was attached to a creature, Unforge deals 2 damage to that creature.

Compared to the fire of the forge, the strength of steel is nothing.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delving into the strengths of Unforge in MTG, it becomes clear that one key upside is the potential card advantage it offers. The ability to potentially remove an opponent’s key artifact during their turn can not only disrupt their strategy but also exchanges one card for another, ensuring you maintain a hand that can respond to future threats.

Resource Acceleration: While Unforge may not produce resources in the traditional sense, its low casting cost contributes to resource acceleration. By spending minimal mana to deal with artifacts, you maintain mana availability for playing other spells or advancing your board state swiftly.

Instant Speed: The strength of Unforge’s instant speed cannot be underestimated. This capability grants you flexibility in play, allowing you to respond to threats immediately or at the end of your opponent’s turn. This unpredictability can give you the upper hand in any match, making Unforge a tactical asset in any deck that faces artifact-heavy opponents.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unforge necessitates discarding another card as part of the casting cost, which can be a strategic setback when your hand size is already diminished or if the discarded card is crucial to your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s demand for red mana means it’s tailored for red-centric or compatible two-colored decks, potentially restricting its utility in a multi-color deck where red mana might not be as readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its effect, Unforge might not always be the go-to option, especially when other cards could deal with artifacts more efficiently or at a lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Unforge in Your Collection

Versatility: Unforge delivers flexibility to your deck with its ability to target artifacts, a common card type across various decks, making it a useful addition in multiple game scenarios.

Combo Potential: As a low-cost instant, Unforge can fit into strategies centered on spellslinger decks or those looking to capitalize on opponents’ artifacts while paving the way for your own synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of powerful artifacts in many meta decks, having Unforge can give you an edge by efficiently handling threats or key pieces in your adversary’s strategy.

How to beat

Unforge is a unique removal spell that can dictate the pace of artifact strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Its sole target is equipment, a staple in many MTG decks that rely on buffing creatures to gain an advantage. Confronting an Unforge requires a nuanced strategy, as it’s a silver bullet against equipment-reliant decks. When facing Unforge, consider diversifying your threat assessment beyond just equipment. Include enchantments, creatures, or other non-equipment artifacts, so you’re not overly susceptible to a single Unforge cast.

An effective approach is running counterspells or bait spells to exhaust your opponent’s mana and removal resources before they can target critical equipment. Remember, resilience in your deck’s design can mitigate the setback Unforge poses. By deploying a variety of threats, your opponent’s Unforge will lose its potency, leaving your most dangerous artifacts safe, and your game plan intact.

It’s also beneficial to have a few instant-speed responses when your vital equipment is endangered by an Unforge. This fosters an environment where an opponent must think twice before playing Unforge, as they risk having it negated, effectively wasting their turn and giving you the upper hand.

Cards like Unforge

Unforge is an intriguing entry in the realm of spot removal spells within Magic: The Gathering, sharing similarities with cards like Shatter, which also targets and destroys artifact assets. What makes Unforge notably distinct is its ability to exile the artifact instead, ensuring it cannot be retrieved from the graveyard. Shatter, by contrast, simply sends artifacts to the graveyard, potentially allowing opponents to recover their use.

Comparatively, we encounter Smash to Smithereens, which not only destroys an artifact but also deals damage to the artifact’s controller, upping the stakes of the removal. Although Smash to Smithereens lacks the exile aspect of Unforge, the added damage can accelerate the pace towards victory. Another familiar spell is By Force, which scales in power depending on the mana available, permitting the demolition of multiple artifacts in one fell swoop. However, unlike Unforge’s exile capability, By Force deposits the destroyed artifacts into the graveyard.

Ultimately, amidst the range of artifact removal spells available in Magic: The Gathering, Unforge firmly holds its ground with its distinctive exile effect, ensuring that troublesome artifacts are not just gone, but gone for good, adding a strategic layer to gameplay for any MTG aficionado.

Smash to Smithereens - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Unforge by color, type and mana cost

Path of Anger's Flame - MTG Card versions

Flames of the Blood Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unforge MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Unforge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unforge has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-12-01	Unforge deals damage only to the creature that the Equipment was attached to when the Equipment was destroyed. It doesn’t deal damage to creatures that the Equipment had previously equipped.