Duskworker MTG Card


Duskworker - Mirrodin
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Released2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin
Set codeMRD
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number166
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Duskworker provides card advantage and versatile instant speed options, enhancing strategic play depth.
  2. Carrying both pros and cons, such as a discard requirement, it demands careful deck integration.
  3. From resource acceleration to combo potential, Duskworker can be a formidable asset in the right setup.

Text of card

Whenever Duskworker becomes blocked, regenerate it. : Duskworker gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

At the setting of each sun, it emerges to clean Mirrodin's floor of the day's carrion.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When playing the Duskworker, its ability provides the potential for drawing additional cards, effectively replenishing your hand and giving you options for future turns. This can be particularly powerful in formats where maintaining a hand with multiple choices is key to outmaneuvering the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The Duskworker can play a pivotal role in ramping up your resources. Whether it’s by generating energy counters or another form of incremental advantage, the Duskworker can help you deploy threats earlier than usual or enable demanding spells to be cast ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed interactions cannot be overstated. With the ability to act at the end of your opponent’s turn, you can optimize your play by either deploying the Duskworker or holding up resources for other reactive measures based on the current state of the game. This kind of flexibility is a significant strategic pro for any card in MTG.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Duskworker card entails sacrificing a card from your hand, which may deplete your hand size at critical moments, leaving you with fewer options for subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Duskworker card demands a very specific mana alignment to cast. Deck builders would need to consider the implications on their mana base, potentially impacting deck consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the utility of Duskworker against its mana investment reveals that the card can be costly for its effects. Many players might find alternative cards that provide a better cost-to-benefit ratio for deck efficiency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Duskworker offers adaptability across various deck types due to its general utility in both aggressive and control strategies. As an artifact creature, it can also enhance synergies in decks that capitalize on those card types.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Duskworker can become a formidable asset. Whether it’s enabling improvise mechanics or adding to the artifact count for a powerful finisher, the card has potential to be a linchpin in intricate combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting dynamics of the game, Duskworker’s moderate mana cost and combo capabilities make it a card worth considering in a meta that favors versatility and the strategic depth of artifacts.


How to beat

Duskworker is an intriguing card that can be a resilient threat in the right MTG deck setup. It harnesses the power of charge counters, allowing it to grow stronger each time it’s activated. However, overcoming this mechanical construct isn’t as daunting as it seems. Key is disabling its scalability. Targeted removal spells are exceptionally effective. Consider casting something like Path to Exile or Murder, which can swiftly remove it from play before your opponent gets the chance to accumulate sufficient charge counters.

Another strategy is to use counter magic. When your opponent attempts to cast Duskworker or activate its ability, having a card like Counterspell or Negate can nullify their efforts, staving off the potential powerhouse. Lastly, you can employ artifact removal spells that are specifically designed to handle these types of threats. Cards like Disenchant or Shatter will provide a straightforward removal option, leaving your opponent’s plans in tatters.

Taking the proactive approach against Duskworker ensures that what could have been a perpetual threat remains a fleeting concern. Prepare your deck with these strategies, and you’ll find beating Duskworker less challenging than anticipated, keeping you ahead in the game.


Cards like Duskworker

Duskworker joins the ranks of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering with a unique blend of abilities. When examining artifacts with similar roles, we can contrast it with something like Myr Enforcer, which also benefits from a reduced cost mechanic known as Affinity for Artifacts. While Duskworker requires energy counters to become a threat, Myr Enforcer’s strength scales with the number of artifacts in play, often entering the battlefield earlier and at a consistent power level.

Stepping into the realm of energy counters, Aether Herder is another card that draws a parallel in utility. Though it taps into the energy mechanic, Aether Herder provides immediate energy upon entering the battlefield and creates Creature tokens, which Duskworker does not. The utility of generating a board presence as opposed to the potential growth of Duskworker is a strategic consideration for deck builders.

Evaluating the synergy within a deck, Duskworker presents an interesting option for those looking to exploit energy counters. Its build-up potential mirrors cards like Voltaic Brawler, though with a focus on long-term investment over immediate impact. This distinction positions Duskworker as a card that could excel in the right energy-centric setup within MTG.

Myr Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Aether Herder - MTG Card versions
Voltaic Brawler - MTG Card versions
Myr Enforcer - Mirrodin (MRD)
Aether Herder - Aether Revolt (AER)
Voltaic Brawler - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Duskworker by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Tower of Fortunes - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Tower of Fortunes - Commander 2013 (C13)
Coercive Portal - Conspiracy (CNS)

Where to buy

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

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Duskworker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-12-01 Setting up the regeneration shield doesn’t remove Duskworker from combat. However, Duskworker is removed from combat if it would be destroyed and then regenerates.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks