In Magic: The Gathering, creatures are summoned to fight for the players. Even though the creatures are the ones that do the work, other cards like equipment cards are used to benefit the creature and make it more powerful. More points on stats and more powerful traits on your creatures? Sure! In this article, let’s figure out these ten best MTG equipment cards that will make your creatures a lot more powerful.
What are Equipment Cards in MTG?
Equipment cards in MTG are a subtype of artifacts that can be attached to creatures to boost their stats or grant them new abilities. They are like tools or weapons your creatures can wield to gain an edge in battle.
The Importance of Equipment Cards
Equipment cards are a vital part of any successful MTG strategy. They offer a reliable way to increase a creature’s power and toughness or to provide additional abilities. This can turn even a simple creature into a formidable threat.
Top 10 Best MTG Equipment Cards
1. Loxodon Warhammer
Loxodon Warhammer has been a pretty decent equipment card to use. Appearing in boosters of 2003’s Mirrodin set, it has been one of the first equipment cards that came up. It’s a pretty simple and straightforward card but never underestimate it.
Getting a buff of +3/+0 for a start, with that damage, bringing trample to the creature really made it a treat to you. Well, at the same time, you are trying to kill the creature with Loxodon Warhammer. It’s gaining life all the time.
Loxodon Warhammer can either make a cheap and useless creature into something you have to pay attention to or create a powerful creature even more powerful. With its insane traits and buffs, the Loxodon Warhammer will surely be one of the best MTG equipment.
PS: here are the MTG Best Angels and MTG Best Planeswalkers for your reference.
2. Cranial Plating
Even though this card requires some artifacts to make it worthwhile, Cranial Plating is still a powerful card in many cards. Not only that the equipped creature will get a significant amount of damage boost for a low cost, but you can also equip it instantly for two black mana. Cranial Plating is not the only equipment to do that, but it’s argued to be the top five equipment card.
Unlike Loxodon Warhammer, the Cranial Plating does not provide any traits, but it can also make some creatures more powerful than you think for boosting power and the low price. Who doesn’t want to attack with a 9/1 Vault Skirge?
3. Blade of Selves
Remember when I said the Lightning Greaves is suitable for a commander format? The Blade of Selves can do a great job in commander format too. It only cost two mana of any color to cast and cost four mana of any color to equip.
A reasonably low price for its ability? Deal. The creature that had Blade of Selves on has myriad, in which a token copy is made for each opponent. Each token creature attacks one opponent. The Blade of Selves works even better with ETB ability.
Also, any commander creature can equip this power, which can easily lead to your victory. Attacking with a “few” more copies of your prominent scary commander at the same time, why not?
The Blade of Selves works well if your commander creature is powerful and as well as alive. Attacking with a commander with Blade of Selves will easily break the enemy’s defense and lead you to victory. As a reminder, be sure to protect your commander with the Blade of Selves well and not let your opponent just exile it and lost your chance to victory.
Also, here is everything about the most strong MTG Werewolf Commander Deck for your reference
4. Sword of Fire and Ice
Like Loxodon Warhammer, the Sword of Fire and Ice appeared in the first Mirrodin block deck. This card is one of the cards that showed MTG players the worth of equipment cards, the Sword of Fire and Ice and the Sword of Light and Shadow are indeed legends during their time period.
A +2/+2 stats boost is now commonly seen in the best equipment cards. Getting protection from red and blue, on the other hand, is pretty rare and valuable. It protects you from spells and effects from these colors.
Not only that, you can draw a card and do two damage to a creature or player. Altogether, this legendary equipment will give you a devastating advantage on cards and will surely be on the best equipment card list.
5. Godsend
Like its name, if you equip it to a creature, it will feel like a godsend. It requires white mana to cast, but at least its equip cost is three colorless mana, and things start to get better from here.
It brings the buff of +3/+3 stats at first. Not only that, it shines from its abilities. If the creature with Godsend gets blocked, it can instantly exile one of those creatures (before combat applies). As a matter of fact, your opponent cannot play any more copies of the creature exiled by this ability.
Godsend will be wondrous when equipped on to an attacker, in which the creature will be “unstoppable” when trying to break the defense of your enemy creatures. Either the stats boost or the ability of Godsend brings a significant benefit to the equipped creature.
With the high stats, your opponent will somehow manage to use their powerful creature to block, and poof! It’s gone. Godsend will be excellent equipment to break down the enemy defense to let your own creatures deal decent damage. One of the best MTG equipment? Sure.
6. Nim Deathmantle
Being another piece of equipment with a decent stats boost, the Nim Deathmantle is pretty much worth its cost. Two mana of any color to cast, and four mana of any color to equip. The equipped creature turns to a black zombie and gets 2+/2+ for its stats.
Not only that, you can bring creatures back to life. If one of your non-token creatures dies, you can pay four mana and get it back to life, with Nim Deathmantle equipped! Did you die? Nah, come back and do some work!
The Nim Deathmantle is counted as one of the best equipment in MTG because of its infinite revival ability and, of course, its stats boost. Whenever you revive a non-token creature, you are able to revive another due to its equipped Nim Deathmantle. However, be sure you have enough mana to revive all these black zombies with high stats.
7. Skullclamp
Starting with the Skullclamp, these equipment cards are the truly powerful ones. The Skullclamp cost only one mana to cast and one mana to equip. The equipped creature will gain one power… and loses one toughness.
Some people might ask why it is good? Well, as a matter of fact, you will be happier if the equipped creature dies. If the equipped creature dies, you can draw two cards!
Many decks use this equipment card and will use it with a creature that has only one toughness. Using this way will increase the speed for either their land growth or their development of creature numbers.
Besides, if you are searching for the MTG Biggest Creatures Cards, click to read more.
8. Basilisk Collar
For its meager price, the Basilisk Collar is significantly impressive. It cost one mana of any color to cast and two mana of any color to equip. The creature with the Basilisk Collar will gain lifelink and deathtouch, of which both are potent abilities.
The Basilisk Collar can work well with many combinations. Think of Niv-Mizzet the Firemind with Basilisk Collar, which can kill a creature whenever you draw a card. You can also play the variety of Basilisk and Avenger or three colored Oros. They can clear all the non-white creatures when their ability is triggered.
Combining with any creature, either a commander creature or a wretched creature, can prove its worth. Equip it with your commander creature, and it can make it more powerful with the deathtouch and heal a significant amount of life to yourself.
When you equip it with a cheaper creature, this creature will turn into something that your opponent needs to pay attention to and will do a terrific amount of damage if not killed. That’s why it’s one of the best MTG equipment.
9. Lightning Greaves
Some of the equipment cards are great in Legacy or Modern, but Lightning Greaves is Commander staples instead. Even though the equipped creature won’t get any buff on its stats, it will get shroud and haste.
Shroud is a trait that will bring the creature max protection, as it cannot be targeted by any spell or abilities. It will be ideal for your expensive commander creature as unknown abilities won’t just exile it. The haste allows your creature to hit the ground running.
Lightning Greaves is counted as one of the best equipment in MTG because of its use of protection. In many matches, your expensive, powerful creature that you worked hard for will just be exiled by any abilities or spells (in which many cards in MTG have the ability to exile targets). With the Lightning Greaves, your commander creature will be well protected and will have the time to do its job.
10. Batterskull
Most of the equipment cards come on the battlefield and wait for a creature to pick them up. Batterskull is different. It has the Living Weapon ability and enters the battlefield with a 0/0 black Germ creature, equipped.
It’s argued to be the best equipment with Living Weapon, and people don’t care it costs five mana to cast or equip. The Batterskull has a 4/4 lifelink and vigilance and is ready to attack immediately.
If you don’t want it on the black Germ creature, you can pay five mana to equip it on any creature you like. As a bonus, pay three mana, and you can return it to your hand. This ability can prevent it from being destroyed, and when you cast it again, you got a new germ! Who doesn’t want an army of embryos ready to fight?
Batterskull is one of the best MTG equipment because of its usefulness against commander cards and different combinations. Artifact removal? Nah doesn’t work for me.
How to Choose the Right Equipment Cards
Choosing the right equipment cards depends on your deck’s strategy and the meta you’re playing in. Consider the synergies with your existing cards and the threats you’re likely to face.
FAQs
Q1: Are equipment cards considered artifacts?
Yes, all equipment cards are artifacts.
Q2: Can equipment cards be countered?
Yes, just like any other spells, equipment cards can be countered.
Q3: Can I equip more than one equipment card to a creature?
Yes, a single creature can carry multiple equipment cards.
Q4: What happens to the equipment card when the equipped creature dies?
The equipment card stays on the battlefield and can be equipped to another creature.
Q5: Can I equip a creature on my opponent’s turn?
No, you can only equip a creature during your own main phase.
Conclusion
Equipment cards are a powerful addition to any MTG deck. Choosing the right ones can bolster your game, whether you need to protect your creatures, increase their stats, or add unique abilities to your arsenal.