Thran War Machine MTG Card

Urza's Legacy (ULG)
1999-02-15 - Number 134

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ULG-134

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Abilities	Echo
Power	4
Toughness	5

Key Takeaways

Thran War Machine excels in artifact strategies, offering strong board presence by creating creature tokens.
Its specific mana cost and discard requirement require strategic deck building and resource management.
Though powerful, it can be overcome by flying creatures, removal spells, and anti-artifact strategies.

Text of card

Echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) Thran War Machine attacks each turn if able.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thran War Machine’s ability to summon artifact creature tokens adds to your board presence, indirectly leading to a card advantage as you are effectively getting more utility out of a single card.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes with decks that are focused on artifacts, where it can provide an uptick in your resource production by enhancing the effect of other artifact-related cards.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Thran War Machine can benefit from instant-speed interactions commonplace in artifact-based strategies, granting you flexibility in how you manage your resources and react to your opponent’s moves.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thran War Machine necessitates discarding a card to activate its ability. This can deplete your hand, especially if you have a limited number of cards or are seeking to maintain a strategic set of options throughout the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Thran War Machine’s key ability is tied to a distinct mana requirement which can be restrictive. Builders will need to carefully consider their mana base and overall deck strategy to effectively incorporate and utilize this card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher than average mana cost for its class, Thran War Machine may not be the most cost-effective choice in a deck. It competes with other impactful cards in the same mana slot which could deter players from including it in optimized deck builds.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thran War Machine offers flexibility across various deck builds. Harnessing its artifact nature, it’s easily slotted into builds that capitalize on artifact synergies and buffs.

Combo Potential: Given its inherent ability to become a creature, Thran War Machine pairs seamlessly with strategies revolving around artifact animation and recursion, opening the door to powerful and unexpected combinations in gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame evolves, cards that can adapt quickly rise in value. Thran War Machine’s dual nature as both an artifact and creature means it can pivot as needed to meet the demands of ever-changing competitive landscapes.

How to beat

Thran War Machine presents a unique challenge on the battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering. This artifact creature can be a formidable foe, offering players both a robust defense and offense capabilities. When considering strategies to overcome this mechanized giant, one effective approach is to exploit its lack of evasion. Cards with flying or reach can safely block and apply pressure without risking direct damage. Removal spells are crucial, especially those that can specifically target artifacts or nonland permanents.

Enchantment-based control options like Pacifism, or even exile effects found in white spells such as Path to Exile, can effectively neutralize the War Machine without triggering potential death effects. Moreover, boarding in artifact destruction from your sideboard, such as Abrade or Shatterstorm, can directly address this threat and remove it from play.

Lastly, remember that disrupting synergy is key against any artifact-centric strategy. Hindering your opponent’s ability to utilize combinations with Thran War Machine can turn the tide of battle in your favor, ensuring that this mechanical behemoth does not dominate the game unchecked.

Cards like Thran War Machine

Thran War Machine is a unique artifact creature that has its own niche in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. It can draw parallels with other artifact creatures like Steel Overseer, which also manipulates and evolves the power of artifact creatures on the battlefield. However, the Thran War Machine stands out because it often becomes a formidable force over time without the need for additional card interactions.

Analogous to the Thran War Machine is the Myr Enforcer, another artifact creature with a potentially low casting cost. Still, Thran War Machine brings more consistent power to the table without dependency on the number of artifacts you control. Closer in resemblance to its abilities might be Juggernaut, a creature known for its mandatory attack each turn. While both share this aggressive trait, the Thran War Machine offers more resilience as it can bypass this restriction by sacrificing other creatures.

What makes Thran War Machine remarkable is its balanced blend of high toughness and its synergistic potential in artifact-centric decks. This keeps it in strong standing among similar artifacts in the game, marinating popularity with players who favor sturdy and relentless creatures.

Juggernaut - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Thran War Machine by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

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Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)

Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)

Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)

Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thran War Machine MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy and The List, 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 Thran War Machine and other MTG cards: