Arsenal Thresher MTG Card

Alara Reborn (ARB)
2009-04-30 - Number 131

Planechase (HOP)
2009-09-04 - Number 96

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

Key Takeaways

Arsenal Thresher gains card advantage by deploying multiple artifacts through one card play.
It speeds up resource accumulation, crucial for a commanding board presence in games.
Synchronizes with instant speed strategies, allowing for surprise battlefield dominance.

Text of card

As Arsenal Thresher comes into play, you may reveal any number of other artifact cards from your hand. Arsenal Thresher comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each card revealed this way.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arsenal Thresher can potentially add multiple artifact cards to your board in a single move, which means gaining several assets while only using one card from your hand. This multiplicative effect can tip the scales in your favor, creating significant card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This powerhouse is part of a deck’s strategy to fast-track your resources. By enabling you to amass an army of artifacts more quickly, it accelerates the development of your in-game resources, setting the stage for a dominant presence.

Instant Speed: While Arsenal Thresher itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with other instant speed interactions in artifact-centric decks. For instance, flashing in artifacts during an opponent’s turn before laying down Arsenal Thresher can bolster your battlefield when most advantageous.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Arsenal Thresher’s ability requires discarding cards to assemble Contraptions, a mechanic that necessitates having a specific subset of cards in your deck, decreasing its versatility in play.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost includes three different colors, which demands a well-tuned mana base to cast consistently, posing a challenge in less flexible or multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end, Arsenal Thresher may compete with other impactful cards at the same cost bracket, limiting its inclusion in decks that prioritize efficiency and curve.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arsenal Thresher is not just another artifact creature. Its modular ability makes it a natural fit in artifact-centric decks, providing the flexibility to grow in power with each additional artifact you control.

Combo Potential: Known for its synergy in artifact combos, Arsenal Thresher can be a key cog in strategies that capitalize on artifact count or enhance +1/+1 counter distributions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where affinity decks and counter mechanics are ever-popular, including Arsenal Thresher ensures that your deck stays competitive, adapting and strengthening as the battlefield evolves.

How to beat

Arsenal Thresher may not be one of the most known creatures in Magic: The Gathering, but it can be a tricky card to handle once it hits the battlefield. This artifact creature becomes particularly relevant in formats that support artifact synergies, as its power and toughness depend on the number of artifacts one controls. As you might guess, the key to tackling an Arsenal Thresher revolves around disrupting the artifact count of your opponent.

Artifacts are often the core of the Thresher’s strength, hence including artifact removal options in your deck is a vital strategy. Cards that serve the purpose, such as Shatter or Naturalize, can effectively neutralize not only the Arsenal Thresher but also limit the support provided by other artifacts. Moreover, since Arsenal Thresher depends on ETB (Enter the Battlefield) mechanics, deny your opponent the chance to replay it through counterspells or instant speed removals which can directly target when the Arsenal Thresher is cast or summoned.

Always remember that staying ahead requires not only a keen understanding of the cards like Arsenal Thresher but also having a toolbox approach to your deck build. This allows you to adapt and maintain control of the game regardless of what your opponent brings to the table. Adapt your sideboard accordingly, and the Arsenal Thresher will be a minor bump on the road to victory.

Cards like Arsenal Thresher

Arsenal Thresher stands as an interesting modular card among creature options in Magic: The Gathering. This construct creature meshes well with others of its kind like Etherium Sculptor, which reduces the cost of artifact spells making it easier to deploy multiple artifacts to boost Arsenal Thresher’s power. Though Etherium Sculptor doesn’t pack a similar punch, its cost-reduction ability can quickly tip the scales in artifact-heavy decks.

Looking at Myr Enforcer, we see another artifact creature that benefits from having other artifacts in play. The Enforcer’s affinity for artifacts can make it a formidable force on the battlefield at a potentially lower cost. Unlike Arsenal Thresher, it doesn’t get a direct power and toughness boost from artifacts coming into play. Yet, its established presence in the affinity archetype still gives it a competitive edge.

In summary, while Arsenal Thresher can become quite the behemoth with the right setup, cards like Etherium Sculptor and Myr Enforcer each bring their own strategic advantages to the table, influencing the synergy and flow of artifact-centric MTG decks.

Cards similar to Arsenal Thresher by color, type and mana cost

Scornful Aether-Lich - MTG Card versions

Soundwave, Sonic Spy // Soundwave, Superior Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arsenal Thresher MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn and Planechase, 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 Arsenal Thresher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arsenal Thresher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-04-30 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Ralph Horsley.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2009-04-30	Alara Reborn	ARB		131	2003	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley
2	2009-09-04	Planechase	HOP		96	2003	Normal	Black	Ralph Horsley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arsenal Thresher 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 Arsenal Thresher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-05-01	If Arsenal Thresher and another artifact are entering the battlefield from your hand at the same time, you may reveal that other artifact for Arsenal Thresher. If that artifact is a second Arsenal Thresher, you may reveal each Arsenal Thresher for the other.
2009-05-01	If multiple Arsenal Threshers are entering the battlefield at the same time (for example, if Warp World is resolving), you may reveal the same artifact cards from your hand for each of them.