Living Armor MTG Card

The Dark (DRK)
1994-08-01 - Number 104

Chronicles (CHR)
1995-07-01 - Number 103

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact

Key Takeaways

Living Armor can transform creatures into durable threats while providing ongoing card advantage on the battlefield.
Despite its power, the discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit its inclusion in diverse decks.
Its defensive capabilities make it a versatile component, fitting into many strategies and metagame roles.

Text of card

oc T: Sacrifice Living Armor to put a +0/+X counter on target creature, where X is target creature's casting cost.

Though it affords excellent protection, few don this armor. The process is uncomfortable and not easily reversed.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Living Armor offers an ongoing advantage by potentially turning into a creature that can generate card value with its battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: As Living Armor attaches to a creature, it not only adds to your field but also sets up for possible synergies that could accelerate your resources in terms of enhancing creature capabilities or interacting with other cards.

Instant Speed: The ability to be played at instant speed provides the flexibility to respond to game changes, maximize turn efficiency, or surprise an opponent with a sudden shift in board state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Living Armor requires players to discard a card in order to activate its abilities, presenting a setback for those already struggling with maintaining hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a precise blend of mana, which may not seamlessly integrate into multicolored decks that have to manage varied mana bases.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to get Living Armor into play is substantial when compared with other artifacts that provide similar or more immediate benefits to the battlefield presence.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Living Armor can adapt to numerous deck archetypes due to its ability to enhance creatures defensively. It’s an ideal inclusion for both aggressive decks that need protection and control decks that seek to fortify their key creatures.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its capacity to synergize with strategies revolving around +1/+1 counters or life gain. The counter manipulation also opens up avenues for interaction with proliferate mechanics or other counter-centric cards.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies prevail, Living Armor’s potential to turn critical creatures into formidable blockers can disrupt your opponents’ plans. This makes it a particularly useful sideboard option or even a mainstay in specific metas.

How to beat

Living Armor poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, offering a blend of creature strengthening and strategic flexibility. When you come up against this artifact, you’re dealing with more than just a simple boost to a creature’s toughness. The real struggle is often dealing with the aftereffects of its equip ability.

To successfully navigate around this card, think about removal spells that can disrupt before the armor grafts onto a creature. Instant speed spells that can either destroy or exile artifacts ensure that Living Armor doesn’t get a chance to fortify an opponent’s position. Timing is crucial. If your adversary has mana open and creatures to equip, it is essential to act swiftly, interrupting the flow of their game plan. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are excellent tools in your arsenal, enabling you to maintain control of the board and neutralize potential threats preemptively.

Remember, versatility in your responses is key. Living Armor can quickly turn the tides, so focus on maintaining options in your hand and being proactive rather than reactive. Adaptability and awareness of your opponent’s strategies will give you the upper hand in ensuring Living Armor becomes a non-factor in your quest for victory.

Cards like Living Armor

Living Armor stands out as a noteworthy equipment card in the world of MTG, bringing unique attributes to the battlefield. When comparing its features to other equipment pieces, it’s essential to look at cards like Mortarpod and Flayer Husk. Mortarpod, for instance, grants a similar creature boost with the added utility of a sac outlet to deal damage. Though it lacks the sustained toughness increase that Living Armor provides.

Flayer Husk, while in the same vein, offers a living weapon element, immediately equipping to a 0/0 creature token upon entering the battlefield. This isn’t present in Living Armor, which instead focuses on bolstering a creature’s survivability over time. Another card to consider is Accorder’s Shield; it increases a creature’s toughness at no equipping cost but omits the gradual growth potential Living Armor can achieve with sustained life gain.

Assessing the strengths living armor presents compared to its peers, it’s clear that this card shines in decks designed around life gain and creature endurance. The ability to persistently fortify a creature makes Living Armor a card to watch in long-haul matches, where incremental advantages stack up to solidify a player’s board presence.

Cards similar to Living Armor by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Living Armor MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Chronicles, 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 Living Armor and other MTG cards: