Artifacts in Magic: The Gathering are the colourless mainstays of the game, offering everything from game-winning combo pieces to mana acceleration and card draw. They work in most decks, meaning they are amongst the most valuable and versatile cards you can have. From the seasoned veteran wanting the competitive edge to the novice building a Commander deck, it is important to know which artifacts are worth investing in. Our list of the most important artefacts includes a variety of formats and explains why they make a great addition to your collection.
The Foundation of Mana and card advantage
If a deck is to function smoothly, it requires a strong mana foundation, and that’s where some of the most essential artifacts are needed. They make it possible to play your most powerful spells ahead of schedule, providing you a significant advantage over your opponents.
Sol Ring
In the Commander format, Sol Ring is a legendary card. It is so powerful that it is included in every pre-constructed Commander deck. For one mana it taps for just two colourless mana. This level of explosive mana acceleration means on turn two you can cast a four-mana spell, a three-mana on turn one or just build an unbeatable board faster than other players.
Arcane Signet
This is a staple Commander because of its flexibility. It is a two-mana artifact that can tap for one mana of any colour within the colour identity of your Commander. This rather simple capability makes it one of the formats most-played cards. It is a reliable and efficient method of colour fixing, allowing you to cast any spell from your deck.
Esper Sentinel
This one-mana artifact creature is now considered to be a Commander and Modern staple. Esper Sentinel has the ability to tax the non-creature spells of an opponent and, in return, draw you a card. As a card advantage this makes it a valuable source. Opponents find themselves considering whether they should pay the tax and risk falling behind on tempo – or draw a card.
Urza, Lord High Artificer
A legendary creature, and a master of artifacts himself, Urza is a one-man army. He changes your other artifacts into mana sources which allow you to create a significant amount of mana with an inexpensive board of artifacts. He also gives a huge card-drawing capability and a rather impressive 5/5 body. Urza is the heart of many of the more dominant artifact-centric decks, which makes him an excellent investment.
The win conditions and combo pieces
Not every artifact is about value; winning the game is also important. There are a number of artifacts that will serve as the finishers in the deck or that enable powerful, game-ending combos.
Blightsteel Colossus
This is an indestructible 11/11 artifact creature with both Trample and Infect and it is one of the game’s most feared creatures. It’s so strong that it’s capable of winning a game in a single attack. While the 12-mana cost is off-putting, decks that play Blightsteel Colossus are built around the underhanded concept of bringing it into play early with cards such as Sneak Attack or Indomitable Creativity, creating a terrifying and often supreme threat.
Walking Ballista
A contemporary all-star and key piece for many infinite combos. Walking Ballista starts the battlefield with several +1/+1 counters which can be removed when they deal damage. Most infamously paired with Heliod, Sun-Crowned, which granted it Lifelink and allowed for an infinite damage loop. This was so powerful a combo it resulted in a ban in Pioneer.
Artifacts are the bond holding many of the most powerful strategies in Magic together. From the ever-present mana rocks that fast-track your game to the game-ending threats that appropriate wins, they are amongst the most versatile and powerful cards in the game. When you build your collection with these top-tier artifacts it’s an almost guaranteed way of improving the power level and value of your deck.
