Guardian Automaton MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Released	2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Origins
Set code	ORI
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	227
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Vincent Proce

Key Takeaways

Delivers card advantage upon destruction, replacing itself and sustaining your late-game momentum.
Pairs well with instant-speed spells, acting as an effective blocker with a beneficial death-triggered ability.
Specific mana cost can limit deck versatility, requiring careful considerations for mana base adaptability.

Text of card

When Guardian Automaton dies, you gain 3 life.

The wealthy in the city of Ghirapur outfit their lives with grand machines, entrusting even their children to filigree and gears.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Guardian Automaton provides potential card advantage upon being destroyed. This feature not only replaces itself in your hand but also keeps your resources topped off, which is critical in the later stages of a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana resources, the card ensures that upon its destruction, you gain life, essentially buying you more time to execute your strategy. This indirect resource acceleration can be the difference between victory and defeat, giving you an edge in maintaining a stable board presence.

Instant Speed: One of the hallmarks of any resilient MTG card is how it interacts on the opponent’s turn. Guardian Automaton may not have instant speed itself, but it pairs exceptionally well with instant-speed spells and abilities. It can act as an effective blocker during your opponent’s attack phase, potentially leading to beneficial trades and strategic advantage due to its death-triggered ability.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Guardian Automaton demands a card to be discarded whenever it activates its ability. In the heat of the match, this prerequisite can backfire, leaving you scrambling for options should your hand be nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature requires a particular amount of mana to summon. Decks focusing on mana flexibility might find the specific cost restrictive when trying to maintain a versatile mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Quality can be measured by cost-effectiveness, and the Guardian Automaton may fall short. It demands a significant investment of mana resources, which might not always correspond with the benefits provided within the ongoing gameplay, especially when options offering greater value loom in the meta.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Guardian Automaton offers an adaptable role in a variety of MTG decks. It’s a resilient artifact creature that can plug into strategies focused on defense, life gain, or enhancing artifact synergies.

Combo Potential: This card has a knack for combining well with life-based mechanics or abilities that trigger upon creature death. Whether it’s being sacrificed for gain or recovering resources after a board wipe, its exit ability adds a layer of strategy to your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggressive strategies prevail, the life cushion provided upon its death can be a deciding factor. For those aiming to stabilize the board and transition into the late game, the Guardian Automaton stands out as a valuable contributor against fast-paced decks.

How to Beat Guardian Automaton

Guardian Automaton may not top the list of most formidable artifacts in Magic: The Gathering, but it certainly can present a challenge with its death-triggered life gain ability. When Guardian Automaton dies, its controller gains 3 life, a potential swing that shouldn’t be underestimated in a tight match. The key to overcoming this is quite straightforward – managing the when and how of its destruction.

Players should consider using exile effects or removals that don’t trigger death effects, such as with Path to Exile or Reality Shift. Forcing a sacrifice is another tactic, rendered possible with spells like Diabolic Edict, bypassing the life gain altogether. Another approach could be to take control of the situation by using cards that swap control of creatures, like Control Magic, so that its demise will benefit you instead.

Guardian Automaton adds strategic depth to games, requiring thoughtful navigation to mitigate its life cushion effect. Through careful planning and the right removal tactics, players can ensure that this artifact is nothing more than a minor obstacle on the path to victory.

Cards like Guardian Automaton

Guardian Automaton offers an interesting dynamic in MTG as an artifact creature that combines solid offense with a resilience mechanism. When looking at peers like Pilgrim’s Eye, which also serves as a three-cost artifact creature, Guardian Automaton presents a sturdier body and the bonus of gaining life upon death. Pilgrim’s Eye, while thin on combat stats, fetches a basic land card upon entering the battlefield, providing a completely different kind of utility.

Another card worth mentioning is Solemn Simulacrum, fondly dubbed ‘Sad Robot’ by the community. It stands out with its ability to put a basic land onto the battlefield directly and draw a card upon its demise, which offers both mana ramp and card advantage. Though it comes at a higher casting cost, the added benefits can sometimes outweigh the advantages of Guardian Automaton’s life gain.

Each of these cards has its merits and ideal scenarios. Guardian Automaton shines in situations where maintaining a life total is crucial, whereas its counterparts excel in deck thinning and accelerating gameplay. Deciding which to include in a deck will often depend on the overarching strategy and the player’s preference for immediate impact versus potential longevity.

Cards similar to Guardian Automaton by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Guardian Automaton MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Guardian Automaton and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Guardian Automaton has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-06-22	If Guardian Automaton dies at the same time as your life total is reduced to 0 or less, you’ll lose the game before the triggered ability resolves.