Workshop Elders MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 318
2022-11-18 - Number 102
2023-04-21 - Number 245
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Artificer |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Workshop Elders enable powerful card draw and mana ramp, enhancing artifact-heavy deck strategies.
- The instant speed activation allows players to react during any phase, adding strategic depth.
- High casting cost and specific mana requirements can limit deck integration and flexibility.
Text of card
Artifact creatures you control have flying. At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may have target noncreature artifact you control become a 0/0 artifact creature. If you do, put four +1/+1 counters on it.
"Fear not what's under the bed. The toys are watching." —*Beyond the Great Henge*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Workshop Elders have the ability to grant an additional card draw, ensuring that its controller can effectively replace the card in hand and potentially draw into more action or answers to the board state, promoting a continuous flow of resources.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels in providing players with resource acceleration by allowing them to tap untapped artifacts they control for mana. It’s a significant boon in artifact-heavy decks, ensuring that players can cast high-cost spells earlier than they typically would, which can be a game-changer during tight situations.
Instant Speed: The formidable ability of Workshop Elders to tap artifacts is not bound by phase or turn limitations, offering the flexibility to be utilized at instant speed. This allows for strategic depth, enabling the player to adapt to complex board states and gain an advantage at the most opportune moments during the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Workshop Elders card play hinges on an extra discard cost. This becomes a steep price to pay when your hand is already running low on cards, potentially setting you back in a game where every card in hand can be pivotal.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this artifact creature demands a precise blend of mana, including at least one blue. This requirement potentially restricts its integration, as it demands a degree of commitment to blue mana that may not blend seamlessly into every deck strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Fielding Workshop Elders implies a considerable investment of four mana. When considering the card’s overall impact and the dynamic MTG landscape, players might find the initial mana cost steep compared to other cards offering quicker or more impactful board presence.
Reasons to Include Workshop Elders in Your Collection
Versatility: Workshop Elders is a unique card that easily slots into artifact-focused decks. Its ability to grant your artifacts flying as long as you control an artifact land enhances both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities, especially in synergistic builds that can exploit the flying trait or benefit from artifact creatures. Think of the plays involving card interactions that buff flying creatures or use artifact creatures for various effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts are prevalent or utility lands are key, Workshop Elders becomes a powerful tool. It responds well to evolving deck types and can be a formidable force when paired with the right support cards.
How to beat
Workshop Elders, a formidable artifact synergizing card, can be a linchpin in Magic: The Gathering artifact-centric decks. Its ability to provide cost reductions and fabricate tokens makes it a target that needs removal on sight. Overcoming Workshop Elders hinges on efficient removal strategies or preventing its activation by disrupting artifact synergies. Cards like Abrade offer a quick solution by damaging the Elders while also being versatile enough to target other troublesome artifacts.
Counterspells also serve as a preemptive strike to keep Workshop Elders from ever hitting the battlefield. Should the Elders land in play, enchantment-based removal like Oblivion Ring can circumnavigate the indestructible nature of many artifacts. Additionally, since Workshop Elders lean on the assembly of multiple artifacts, board wipes such as Shatterstorm can dismantle the artifact network, rendering the Elders’ abilities insignificant. A well-timed artifact sweep can be the perfect countermeasure to reclaim the game.
It’s vital to stay ahead, or at least keep up, in the arms race against artifacts. Including versatile and efficient answers in your deck ensures you’ll stand a chance against Workshop Elders’ powerful influence on the artifacts of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Workshop Elders
Workshop Elders is an intriguing artifact creature that offers a unique synergy with artifact tokens in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Master Trinketeer, which boosts Servo and Thopter tokens. However, Workshop Elders grant flight to artifact creatures at the beginning of combat on your turn as long as you control an artifact with a mana ability. This not only augments the versatility of your token forces but also opens new avenues for aerial assaults.
In a similar context, we can draw parallels with Chief of the Foundry, another artifact-centric powerhouse that buffs up your artifact creature army, although it lacks the ability to provide evasion like the Elders do. Then we peek at Shimmer Myr, which shares affinities with Workshop Elders by favoring artifacts and offering the game-changing ability to cast those spells as though they had flash, adding surprise elements to your strategy.
Summing up, Workshop Elders may seem situational but for enthusiasts who weave a deck teeming with artifacts, it becomes a valuable linchpin that not only empowers but also elevates artifact creatures above the ground game, giving them an edge over earthbound contenders.
Cards similar to Workshop Elders by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Workshop Elders MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and The Brothers' War Commander, 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 Workshop Elders and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Workshop Elders Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Iain McCaig.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 318 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig | |
| 2 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 102 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig | |
| 3 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 245 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Iain McCaig |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Workshop Elders has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Workshop Elders card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | An artifact that becomes a creature due to Workshop Elders can't attack unless you've controlled it continuously since your turn began. |
| 2019-10-04 | If another effect later causes the artifact to become a creature and sets its power and toughness as it does so, that creature will have that base power and toughness; it won't be 0/0. Notably, crewing a Vehicle does not set its power and toughness, so a Vehicle's base power and toughness remain 0/0 if you crew it. |
| 2019-10-04 | The effect of Workshop Elders's triggered ability lasts indefinitely. It doesn't wear off during the cleanup step. |
