Foundry Inspector MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Reduces artifact casting costs, enabling a higher volume and efficiency of card plays per turn.
  2. Enhances instant-speed artifacts, increasing flexibility to outmaneuver opponents during play.
  3. Maintains hand advantage without discard requirements, important for artifact strategy consistency.

Text of card

Artifact spells you cast cost less to cast.

Automaton inspectors ensure that the Consulate's stringent standards for mass production are upheld.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Foundry Inspector players don’t gain extra cards outright, but its ability to reduce the cost of artifact spells can translate into playing more cards per turn. This increase in volume leads to a form of card advantage as you’re able to deploy your hand more efficiently.

Resource Acceleration: Foundry Inspector offers a passive form of resource acceleration by making your artifacts cost one less to cast. This can significantly speed up your game, allowing you to outpace opponents by playing higher-cost artifacts earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: While Foundry Inspector itself is not an instant, the cost reduction it provides benefits instant artifacts or abilities that can be activated at instant speed. This synergy enhances your flexibility, letting you react to opponents’ moves more resourcefully without committing additional mana.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Foundry Inspector does not have any discard requirements, allowing players to maintain hand advantage while deploying artifacts with reduced costs.

Specific Mana Cost: Foundry Inspector’s casting cost requires three mana, one of which is specifically colorless. This can impact mana flexibility, particularly in multicolor decks that may prioritize colored mana for other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the ability to reduce the mana cost of artifact spells is beneficial, Foundry Inspector itself comes with a mana cost of three. This is relatively high for an effect that is dependent on having a board presence of other artifacts to maximize value.


Reasons to Include Foundry Inspector in Your Collection

Versatility: Foundry Inspector is a flexible addition to any deck that plays a high volume of artifacts. Its ability to reduce the cost of artifact spells means it’s a seamless fit for artifact-centric builds or even general decks looking to capitalize on artifact synergies.

Combo Potential: Foundry Inspector’s cost-reduction effect can be the key to unlocking powerful combos. It allows for early and rapid deployment of artifacts, turning what might be a slow buildup into a swift and overwhelming board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts play a prominent role, Foundry Inspector can be a game-changer. Decks that otherwise might fold to faster aggro or more resilient control can outrun and outgun opponents by making efficient use of the Inspector’s economic boost.


How to beat

The Foundry Inspector is a staple in artifact-centric decks across MTG, praised for its ability to cheapen the cost of your artifacts. This can swiftly tilt the game in favor of players utilizing heavy artifact strategies, giving them a significant edge by allowing a flurry of artifact plays in a single turn. To effectively counter this, removal spells that can specifically target creatures, like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, are crucial as they can disrupt the cost reduction engine. Additionally, board wipes that clear multiple threats at once, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can be particularly effective against decks that aim to flood the board with artifacts.

Direct disruption strategies such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can be instrumental in dismantling the opponent’s game plan before it fully develops. They allow you to remove key pieces like Foundry Inspector from their hand. Moreover, maintaining a diverse array of answers in your deck, including counter spells and permanent-based removals, will enhance your resilience against strategies relying on Foundry Inspector. Watch out for timing; removing the Inspector before a big turn can seriously hamper your opponent’s momentum.


Cards like Foundry Inspector

Foundry Inspector emerges as a unique artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to reduce the cost of your artifact spells. It’s akin to Etherium Sculptor, which similarly offers cost reductions, but instead of affecting all artifacts, it only applies to the first spell each turn. This makes Foundry Inspector a more versatile choice for continuous artifact play.

In the same category, Jhoira’s Familiar is also worth mentioning. While it has a higher casting cost compared to Foundry Inspector, it shares the trait of reducing artifact spell costs. Notably, Jhoira’s Familiar extends this benefit to historic spells as well, showcasing a broader range of utility in specific decks. Semblance Anvil, meanwhile, allows for a greater cost reduction for artifacts, but it requires the exiling of a permanent as part of its imprint ability – a potentially higher initial cost.

Analyzing these alternatives highlights Foundry Inspector’s balanced position in artifact-centric strategies in Magic: The Gathering, combining a reasonable cost with a powerful and continuous artifact support role in the game.

Etherium Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Jhoira's Familiar - MTG Card versions
Semblance Anvil - MTG Card versions
Etherium Sculptor - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Jhoira's Familiar - Dominaria (DOM)
Semblance Anvil - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Foundry Inspector by color, type and mana cost

Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
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The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Training Drone - MTG Card versions
Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
Alloy Myr - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Herald's Horn - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Sword of Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - Ice Age (ICE)
Clay Pigeon - Unglued (UGL)
Ashnod's Altar - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Jalum Tome - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Patchwork Gnomes - Odyssey (ODY)
The Stasis Coffin - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Captain's Hook - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Spellweaver Helix - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scale of Chiss-Goria - Mirrodin (MRD)
Lightning Coils - Mirrodin (MRD)
Loxodon Warhammer - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sword of Feast and Famine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Training Drone - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Pristine Talisman - New Phyrexia Promos (PNPH)
Alloy Myr - Jumpstart (JMP)
Guardians of Meletis - Magic Origins (ORI)
Vedalken Shackles - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Herald's Horn - Treasure Chest (PZ2)
Manalith - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Sword of Vengeance - Commander 2017 (C17)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Foundry Inspector MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Mystery Booster, 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 Foundry Inspector and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Foundry Inspector Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Jason A. Engle.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 2152015normalblackJason A. Engle
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15852015normalblackJason A. Engle
32020-09-26The ListPLST KLD-2152015normalblackJason A. Engle
42020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 2412015normalblackJason A. Engle
52020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3102015normalblackJason A. Engle
62022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 1522015normalblackJason A. Engle
72022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 791997normalblackJason A. Engle
82022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 79z1997normalblackJason A. Engle
92022-11-18The Brothers' War Art SeriesABRO 592015art_seriesborderlessJason A. Engle
102022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 161997normalblackJason A. Engle
112023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3852015normalblackJason A. Engle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Foundry Inspector has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-09-20 If an artifact spell has in its mana cost, choose the value for X first, and then reduce the cost by . For example, an artifact that costs with X chosen as 4 costs to cast if you control Foundry Inspector.
2016-09-20 Once a player has announced an artifact spell, no player may take actions to try to remove Foundry Inspector from the battlefield before that spell's cost is locked in.

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