Crackdown Construct MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Released	2017-01-20
Set symbol
Set name	Aether Revolt
Set code	AER
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	148
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johannes Voss

Key Takeaways

Crackdown Construct grows without extra card costs, maintaining your card advantage on the battlefield.
Instant speed activation makes the Construct a versatile and unpredictable threat during any game phase.
Its synergy with zero-cost activated abilities offers high combo potential, making it a strategic asset.

Text of card

Whenever you activate an ability of an artifact or creature that isn't a mana ability, Crackdown Construct gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"All buildings are subject to search. Resistance will be punished." —Enforcer-Chief Ranaj

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crackdown Construct shines when combined with abilities or spells that allow you to repeatedly activate its ability without requiring a card. This can result in the Construct growing substantially without expending additional cards from your hand, thus keeping your card advantage intact.

Resource Acceleration: In decks built around artifact synergies, Crackdown Construct can act as an engine to accelerate your resources. It becomes exceptionally powerful when you’re able to untap it or generate multiple activations in a single turn, leading to an increasingly threatening board presence.

Instant Speed: The ability of Crackdown Construct to trigger and pump up at instant speed means it becomes an adaptable threat during any phase of the game. Whether you’re fending off attackers, surprising an opponent during their turn, or simply strengthening it before your attack phase, the Construct operates on an instant scale, making it a formidable card in the right setup.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Crackdown Construct itself doesn’t demand discarding cards, it needs other cards to trigger its ability, potentially depleting your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Crackdown Construct’s colorless mana cost might seem flexible, but it often requires a deck with artifact synergies or sufficient mana acceleration to be effective.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana for a 2/1 creature, Crackdown Construct may come across as a costly investment before optimizing its potential through other card interactions.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crackdown Construct offers unique adaptability across different play styles. Its ability to grow with each activated ability of an artifact or creature can benefit a myriad of strategies, from aggressive to experimental decks.

Combo Potential: This card’s combo potential is high, particularly with cards that have zero-cost activated abilities. Each time an ability is activated, Crackdown Construct gets bigger, potentially creating an unstoppable threat out of nowhere.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to become a major force on the battlefield with the right combo, Crackdown Construct remains relevant in metas where creature-based strategies dominate, providing a solid response or complementary piece to such tactics.

How to beat

Crackdown Construct is a unique creature card in MTG that can quickly escalate in power. When combined with an artifact ability that doesn’t require a mana cost, its power can grow to formidable levels, creating a powerhouse on the battlefield. To effectively counteract this, consider using instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile before the Construct’s power becomes unmanageable. This way, you can eliminate the threat immediately and prevent your opponent from utilizing tricks or combos that could make the Construct a game-ending force.

Furthermore, cards that prevent activated abilities from being used can cripple the Construct’s main strength. Pithing Needle stands out in this category, allowing you to name Crackdown Construct and effectively shut down the combo potential. Cards that change the rules of engagement, like Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can also be potent deterrents by halting the continuous power boosts the Construct feeds on. In essence, the trick to overpowering Crackdown Construct lies in preemptive disruption and grasping the opportunity to remove it before it spirals out of control.

In a matchup against Crackdown Construct, prioritizing its removal or ability disruption can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Proactive play and strategic card choices will ensure this construct does not crack your game plan.

Cards like Crackdown Construct

Crackdown Construct shines in the wide realm of combo enablers in Magic the Gathering. It bears a similarity to creatures like Arcbound Ravager, which also exploits the synergy of abilities to grow in power. Nevertheless, Crackdown Construct takes a unique approach by relying on activated abilities; every time one is activated, it grows without any cost of resources, unlike Arcbound Ravager that requires sacrificing artifacts.

Conversely, consider Walking Ballista, a creature that can place +1/+1 counters through mana investment and doubles as a removal tool. Whereas Walking Ballista provides immediate impact with its ability to deal damage, Crackdown Construct requires a buildup of activated abilities, but at zero resource cost. These dynamics suggest varied strategies depending on the deck’s design and the player’s style.

Evaluating these mechanics and strategic nuances, Crackdown Construct offers an intriguing potential for explosive growth, particularly attractive for players who favor decks rich with activated abilities. Its capacity for unlimited power increment makes it a formidable entity once the board is set up to exploit its unique asset.

Cards similar to Crackdown Construct by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crackdown Construct MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Crackdown Construct and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crackdown Construct has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2017-02-09	Activated abilities are written in the form “Cost: Effect.” Some keyword abilities, such as equip and crew, are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder texts.
2017-02-09	An ability whose cost is simply can be activated as many times as you’d like. Each activation causes Crackdown Construct’s ability to trigger.
2017-02-09	An activated mana ability is one that adds mana to a player’s mana pool as it resolves, doesn’t have a target, and isn’t a loyalty ability.
2017-02-09	Crackdown Construct’s ability doesn’t trigger if you activate an ability of an artifact or creature card not on the battlefield.