Socketed Sprocketer MTG Card


Socketed Sprocketer - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Cyborg Knight
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number44
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byDavid Sladek
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Fetching cards from outside the game with Socketed Sprocketer can decisively shift gameplay momentum.
  2. Resource acceleration via counters makes it a valuable asset during critical turns.
  3. While powerful, this creature’s specific mana requirements could limit deck integration.

Text of card

: Uninstall all results from Socketed Sprocketer, then roll a six-sided die. Install the result on Socketed Sprocketer. (Put the die on this card.) You may uninstall a result from Socketed Sprocketer to use it for a die you rolled. Uninstall a 6 from Socketed Sprocketer: Draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Socketed Sprocketer enables the player to fetch the perfect tool for the situation from outside the game, providing a tactical edge and yielding card advantage as you get the exact piece you need without digging through your deck.

Resource Acceleration: By exchanging counters for useful cards, Socketed Sprocketer can speed up the resources at your disposal, essentially turning counters into direct value which can be used right away or saved for critical turns.

Instant Speed: Socketed Sprocketer’s ability can be activated at instant speed, offering the flexibility to adapt to the board state during crucial moments or at the end of an opponent’s turn. This adaptability can swing the game in your favor as it allows you to efficiently manage your turns and resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Socketed Sprocketer necessitates the discarding of a card as part of its activation. This can present a challenge when your hand is running low on cards, leaving you at a disadvantage as you’re forced to deplete valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: To get Socketed Sprocketer into play, you’ll need a precise combination of mana, including both colorless and red. This requirement can restrict the card’s integration into a deck, particularly for those that don’t run heavily on red mana or multicolored decks that value mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating three mana to summon this artifact creature can be quite steep, especially when you pit it against other options in the metagame. There are creatures and artifacts of equal or lesser cost that might provide you with a more immediate impact or greater advantage on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Socketed Sprocketer in Your Collection

Versatility: Socketed Sprocketer isn’t bound to just one type of strategy. Its ability to exchange a card in your hand for a card you’ve exiled earlier gives you flexibility in how you adapt during the game, making it a nimble addition suitable for various deck builds.

Combo Potential: The unique mechanics of this card allow for intriguing synergies, especially in decks that manipulate exile zones or benefit from selectively curating your hand. Its ability to interact with other cards even while in the exile zone can lead to unexpected and potentially game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: With decks that often center around specific synergies, having a card that can smoothly pivot strategies or disrupt an opponent’s expected plays can prove critical. Socketed Sprocketer could provide the tactical edge you need, especially in a shifting or diverse meta environment.


How to beat

The Socketed Sprocketer is a unique artifact creature that offers a different angle to game strategy with its ability to store cards for future use. This utility can become quite the enigma to overcome if it’s allowed to operate without interruption. To counter this, focus on removal spells that can target artifacts or creatures before the stored cards become an issue. Cards such as Naturalize or Shatter are effective at dealing with the Sprocketer directly, dismantling an opponent’s planned strategy.

Additionally, employing control elements can provide significant leverage. Counterspells to prevent the Sprocketer from hitting the battlefield or spot removal when it tries to activate its ability are key maneuvers. While the Sprocketer offers its controller a form of card advantage, keeping your hand equipped with answers to either quickly dispatch it or disrupt your opponent’s plan will ensure its advantage never fully materializes.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead of the Sprocketer by preempting its activation or having the means to neutralize it once in play is the essence of outwitting this card. Keep your strategy flexible and removal options ready, and you’ll find that this cunning creature can be rendered harmless, preserving your position in the game.


Cards like Socketed Sprocketer

Socketed Sprocketer adds a fun twist to creature cards in MTG. It shares similarities with contraption-crafting cards like Skilled Animator, which offers the ability to turn noncreature artifacts into creatures. However, what sets Socketed Sprocketer apart is its ability to interact with exiled cards, allowing you to swap a card in your hand with an exiled card whenever it deals combat damage to a player.

Another card worth comparing is Goblin Welder, a classic for artifact manipulation. Both cards have the capacity to swap artifacts from the hand or battlefield with those in the graveyard or exile zone, yet Goblin Welder focuses on the graveyard and does it at a cheaper mana cost. Karn, Scion of Urza presents yet another angle. Though more expensive, Karn generates card advantage through revealing and later drawing exiled cards, a longer game strategy compared to the immediate swap offered by Socketed Sprocketer.

Ultimately, these cards cater to players who appreciate an inventive approach to utilizing artifacts, yet Socketed Sprocketer claims its unique position in MTG with its blend of combat and strategic card exchange abilities.

Skilled Animator - MTG Card versions
Goblin Welder - MTG Card versions
Karn, Scion of Urza - MTG Card versions
Skilled Animator - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Goblin Welder - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Karn, Scion of Urza - Dominaria (DOM)

Cards similar to Socketed Sprocketer by color, type and mana cost

The Blackstaff of Waterdeep - MTG Card versions
Aether Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Sphinx's Herald - MTG Card versions
Flight Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Merchant's Dockhand - MTG Card versions
Blurry Beeble - MTG Card versions
Mantle of Tides - MTG Card versions
Witching Well - MTG Card versions
Giant's Amulet - MTG Card versions
Trickster's Talisman - MTG Card versions
Silver Raven - MTG Card versions
Secret Door - MTG Card versions
Network Disruptor - MTG Card versions
Moonsnare Prototype - MTG Card versions
Combat Courier - MTG Card versions
Font of Progress - MTG Card versions
Surgical Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Tome of Gadwick - MTG Card versions
K-9, Mark I - MTG Card versions
The Enigma Jewel // Locus of Enlightenment - MTG Card versions
The Blackstaff of Waterdeep - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Aether Spellbomb - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Sphinx's Herald - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Flight Spellbomb - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Merchant's Dockhand - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Blurry Beeble - Unstable (UST)
Mantle of Tides - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Witching Well - Commander Masters (CMM)
Giant's Amulet - Kaldheim (KHM)
Trickster's Talisman - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Silver Raven - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Secret Door - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Network Disruptor - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Moonsnare Prototype - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Combat Courier - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Font of Progress - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Surgical Skullbomb - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Tome of Gadwick - Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine (YWOE)
K-9, Mark I - Doctor Who (WHO)
The Enigma Jewel // Locus of Enlightenment - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Socketed Sprocketer MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Socketed Sprocketer and other MTG cards:

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Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-01-19 The first ability lets you roll a six-sided die and put that result on Socketed Sprocketer. This basically saves that result for later use. Say you roll a 5. Put the die on Socketed Sprocketer with the 5 face up. Later in the game, when you roll another die, you can choose to use the 5 instead of the result. (You’ll see the result before having to decide.) If you have a 6 installed on Socketed Sprocket, you can just uninstall it to draw a card. If you do this, the 6 is gone and can’t be used to replace a future die roll.

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