Top 10 Commanders for Artifact Decks
Building an artifact deck in Magic: The Gathering can be both exciting and rewarding. The right commander can maximize your strategy, allowing you to effectively utilize the myriad of artifacts available. Here, we present the top 10 commanders for your artifact deck, featuring their strengths, weaknesses, and price points.
1. Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge
- Mana Cost: 4
- Abilities: +2: Look at the top five cards of your library. You may put an artifact card from among them into your hand.
- -3: Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge deals X damage to each opponent, where X is the number of artifacts you control.
- -8: You get an emblem with “Artifacts you control have protection from blue.”
Pros:
- Excellent card draw ability.
- Can deal damage based on your artifacts.
- Provides strong protection for your artifacts.
Cons:
- High mana cost.
- Requires careful planning to maximize abilities.
Price: $14.99
Link to Amazon
2. Sai, Master Thopterist
- Mana Cost: 3
- Abilities: Whenever you cast an artifact spell, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.
- Pay 1 colorless mana: Sacrifice two Thopters: Draw a card.
Pros:
- Generates tokens consistently.
- Great synergy with artifact spells.
- Low mana cost for a powerful effect.
Cons:
- Can be vulnerable to board wipes.
- Requires a critical mass of artifact spells.
Price: $1.06
Link to Amazon
3. Urza, Lord High Artificer
- Mana Cost: 4
- Abilities: Tap: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with “This creature gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.”
- Tap an untapped artifact you control: Add one blue mana.
Pros:
- Mana generation from artifacts.
- Ability to create powerful creatures quickly.
- Excellent late-game potential.
Cons:
- Can be a target for removal.
- Requires a hefty investment of mana upfront.
Price: $5.99
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4. Jhoira of the Ghitu
- Mana Cost: 3
- Abilities: Tap: Draw two cards, then discard two cards. Return an artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
Pros:
- Great card advantage.
- Ability to recur artifacts from the graveyard.
- Low cost and versatile abilities.
Cons:
- Requires careful management of your hand.
- Can be slow without a good setup.
Price: $9.57
Link to Amazon
5. Breya, Etherium Shaper
- Mana Cost: 4
- Abilities: Pay 2: Sacrifice two artifacts: Breya deals 3 damage to target player or planeswalker and you gain 3 life.
- Pay 2: Create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.
Pros:
- Offers versatility and flexibility.
- Life gain and damage abilities.
- Strong in multiplayer formats.
Cons:
- Needs a variety of artifacts to be effective.
- Can be overly complicated for new players.
Price: $14.99
Link to Amazon
6. Mishra, Artificer Prodigy
- Mana Cost: 3
- Abilities: Whenever you cast an artifact spell, you may pay 1. If you do, target opponent discards a card.
Pros:
- Disruption while building your board.
- Low mana cost to start the game.
- Can generate card advantage.
Cons:
- Requires a balance of artifacts and spells.
- Can be ineffective against certain decks.
Price: $7.27
Link to Amazon
7. Arcbound Ravager
- Mana Cost: 1
- Abilities: Sacrifice an artifact: Put a +1/+1 counter on Arcbound Ravager.
Pros:
- Can become a massive threat quickly.
- Synergizes well with other artifact cards.
- Low initial cost.
Cons:
- Requires other artifacts to be effective.
- Vulnerable to removal spells.
Price: $7.99
Link to Amazon
8. Ghirapur Aether Grid
- Mana Cost: 3
- Abilities: Tap an untapped creature you control: Ghirapur Aether Grid deals 1 damage to each opponent.
Pros:
- Consistent damage output.
- Simple mechanics that are easy to learn.
Cons:
- Can be slow without a good board presence.
- Requires a lot of creatures to be effective.
Price: $1.44
Link to Amazon
9. Aetherflux Reservoir
- Mana Cost: 4
- Abilities: Whenever you cast a spell, you gain 1 life for each spell you’ve cast this turn.
- Pay 50 life: Aetherflux Reservoir deals 50 damage to target creature or player.
Pros:
- Powerful life gain and win condition.
- Works well in combo decks.
Cons:
- Requires careful management of life total.
- Can be slow to set up.
Price: $19.99
Link to Amazon
10. Auriok Salvagers
- Mana Cost: 3
- Abilities: Pay 1: Return an artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
Pros:
- Great recursion ability.
- Works well with sacrificial strategies.
Cons:
- Requires you to have artifacts in your graveyard.
- Can be outclassed by stronger creatures.
Price: $1.75
Link to Amazon
Conclusion
Choosing the right commander for your artifact deck can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Each of these commanders brings unique strengths and strategies to the table, allowing for a variety of play styles and tactics. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of each commander, and select the one that best fits your overall strategy!