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| + | |subtype=[[Artifact type]] |
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| + | '''Artifacts''' are [[permanent]]s that represent magical items, animated constructs, pieces of equipment, or other objects and devices.<ref>{{DailyRef|top-50-artifacts-all-time-2005-02-28|The Top 50 Artifacts of All Time|[[Zvi Mowshowitz]]|February 28, 2005}}</ref> Artifact, the card type, is broader than [[Wikipedia:Cultural artifact|the normal definition]]. Natural items can be a ''[[Magic]]'' “artifact”.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185840078538/artifact-an-object-made-by-a-human-being|title=Artifact: an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest...|June 25, 2019}}</ref> |
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| − | [[File:Artifact symbol.svg|thumb|left|100px|The ''Future Sight'' symbol for Artifact cards.]] |
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| + | ==History== |
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| ⚫ | "Artifacts matter" has been a major mechanical theme of several sets and blocks. These include ''[[Antiquities]]'', the [[Urza's block]], the [[Mirrodin block]], the [[Esper]] shard of the [[Alara block]], the [[Scars of Mirrodin]] block, the [[Kaladesh]] block, and the [[historic]] mechanic from ''[[Dominaria]]''. |
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| ⚫ | Up until the introduction of the colorless, non-artifact [[Eldrazi]] cards in the ''[[Rise of the Eldrazi]]'' set, artifacts were distinct from other card types in that they were the only existing cards that had wholly [[generic mana]] costs<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/just-artifacts-ma’am-2005-02-28|Just the Artifacts, Ma’am|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 28, 2005}}</ref> (meaning they can be cast using any type of mana), excluding certain cards which cost {{0}}. |
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| ⚫ | "Artifacts matter" has been a major mechanical theme of several sets and blocks. These include ''[[Antiquities]]'', the [[Urza's block]] ([[Artifacts Cycle]]), the [[Mirrodin block]], the [[Esper]] shard of the [[Alara block]], the [[Scars of Mirrodin]] block, the [[Kaladesh]] block, and the [[historic]] mechanic from ''[[Dominaria]]''. |
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Many artifacts are also [[Artifact creatures|creatures]]. They can attack and defend like other creatures and are affected by anything that affects creatures (or artifacts). |
Many artifacts are also [[Artifact creatures|creatures]]. They can attack and defend like other creatures and are affected by anything that affects creatures (or artifacts). |
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| − | ''[[Mirrodin]]'' introduced [[color]]ed [[activation cost]]s for artifacts.<ref>{{ |
+ | ''[[Mirrodin]]'' introduced [[color]]ed [[activation cost]]s for artifacts.<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/artifacts-and-color-2003-10-03|Artifacts and Color|[[Randy Buehler]]|October 3, 2003}}</ref> |
| − | [[Colored artifact]]s have colored [[mana cost]]s. The ''[[Dissension]]'' expansion introduced the concept of colored artifacts with <c>Transguild Courier</c>, which did |
+ | [[Colored artifact]]s have colored [[mana cost]]s. The ''[[Dissension]]'' expansion introduced the concept of colored artifacts with <c>Transguild Courier</c>, which did not yet require colored mana to cast.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/gold-artifact-2006-04-25|The Gold Artifact|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 25, 2006}}</ref> The ''[[Future Sight]]'' expansion's <c>Sarcomite Myr</c> was the first and only artifact card at the time of the set's release to require colored mana for its casting cost. The ''[[Shadowmoor]]'' expansion's <c>Reaper King</c> was the first artifact card with a hybrid mana cost that contained colored mana symbols, but which enabled players to not have to pay any colored mana to cast the card due to the specifics of the card's hybrid mana cost. |
| − | The use of colored artifacts as a game concept was taken even further in [[Esper]] shard theme of ''[[Shards of Alara]]'', which was the first expansion to contain many artifacts that require specific colors of mana to cast, and the entire [[Alara block]] prominently features colored artifacts that require colored mana to cast. Colored artifacts returned in ''[[New Phyrexia]]''<ref>{{ |
+ | The use of colored artifacts as a game concept was taken even further in [[Esper]] shard theme of ''[[Shards of Alara]]'', which was the first expansion to contain many artifacts that require specific colors of mana to cast, and the entire [[Alara block]] prominently features colored artifacts that require colored mana to cast. Colored artifacts returned in ''[[New Phyrexia]]''<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/phyrexian-powers-international-mana-mystery-2011-04-25|Phyrexian Powers: International Mana Mystery|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 25, 2011}}</ref> and in a minor capacity in the third Artifact block, [[Kaladesh block|Kaladesh]].<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/artifacts-and-color-identity-2016-09-30|Artifacts and Color Identity|[[Sam Stoddard]]|September 30, 2016}}</ref> By ''[[Core Set 2020]]'' they had become [[deciduous]].<ref name="Core Than">{{DailyRef|making-magic/core-meets-eye-2019-06-24|Core Than Meets The Eye|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 24, 2019}}</ref> |
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| − | ==Subtypes== |
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| + | [[White]] and [[blue]], as the colors of civilization, are both very friendly with artifacts. [[Red]] is [[secondary]] and tends to be associated with [[Equipment]] and [[Vehicle]]s (along with white) or using artifacts as a [[resource]] (interacting with things like treasure artifact tokens).<ref name="Color Pie 2017">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05|Mechanical Color Pie 2017|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pie Changes">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2021-changes-2021-10-18|Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 18, 2021}}</ref> |
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| − | === |
+ | ===Unfriendly to artifacts=== |
| ⚫ | [[Artifact destruction]] most frequently occurs in [[Green]] or [[Red]], and occasionally in white. Green is also the color which receives [[protection]] from artifacts. Green rarely interacts with artifacts positively. Red tends to be the color to gain benefit from sacrificing artifacts. Of the five colors, [[black]] generally has the fewest cards that interact on any level with artifacts, with almost all of those cards coming in "artifacts matter" sets. |
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| − | [[Clue]] is a subtype unique to tokens created by [[Investigate]]. |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Rules== |
| + | {{CR+G|Artifact|s}} |
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| − | [[Contraption]] was only mentioned on <c>Steamflogger Boss</c> until ''[[Unstable]]'' featured cards with this subtype.<ref name="Mechanics">{{NewRef|card-preview/unstable-mechanics-2017-11-13|''Unstable'' Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|November 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Saga 2">{{NewRef|making-magic/un-ending-saga-part-2-2017-11-13|The Un-Ending Saga, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 13, 2017}}</ref> They are played from a seperate [[Contraption deck]]. |
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| − | === |
+ | ===Subtypes=== |
| + | The [[subtype]] for artifacts is called [[artifact type]] and is exclusive to artifacts. |
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| − | [[Equipment]] cards enter the battlefield just like any other artifact, but may be attached to creatures using their [[Equip]] ability. Unlike Auras, however, if an Equipment is attached to a creature and the creature leaves the battlefield, the Equipment remains on the battlefield. |
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| + | ==Obsolete Terminology== |
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| − | ===Fortification=== |
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| + | ''Mono'', ''Poly'', and ''Continuous'' are terms found on the type lines of artifact cards printed prior to ''[[Revised]]'', also known as ''Third Edition''. They served to identify how often and whether artifacts could be activated.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/change-better-2004-10-04|Change For the Better|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 04, 2004}}</ref> There was also a rule from ''[[Alpha]]'' until ''[[Sixth Edition]]'' that stated that for tapped artifacts "effects of the artifact cease until it is untapped", giving them rules baggage like [[Wall]]s. As the rules became more precise, this language was abandoned<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/and-2002-04-10|Off and On|[[Ben Bleiweiss]]|April 10, 2002}}</ref>. Artifacts printed prior to this now no longer carry this additional baggage as to avoid printed-card errata, it left traces through three cards: {{Card|Winter Orb}}, {{Card|Howling Mine}}, and {{Card|Static Orb}}. |
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| − | [[Fortification]]s act just like Equipment above, except that fortifications attach to lands using [[Fortify]]. |
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| + | {{CR|glossary|Mono Artifact}} |
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| − | ===Treasure=== |
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| + | {{CR|glossary|Poly Artifact}} |
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| − | [[Treasure]] is a subtype unique to tokens created by some cards from [[Ixalan block]]. |
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| + | {{CR|glossary|Continuous Artifact}} |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Tokens== |
| + | Predefined [[artifact token]]s were introduced in 2016 (''[[Shadows over Innistrad]]'') with [[clue]]s. Since then, [[Food]], [[Gold]], [[Treasure]] and [[Blood]] tokens have been added.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/666339934022631424/generating-small-value-tokens-clue-food-gold|title=Is there a word for these ever-changing kinda-generic artifact tokens?|October 28, 2021}}</ref> |
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| − | [[Vehicle]] is an artifact which can temporary become an [[artifact creatures|artifact creature]] by assigning a [[crew]].<ref>{{NewRef|feature/kaladesh-mechanics-2016-09-02|''Kaladesh'' Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|September 2, 2016}}</ref> |
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| + | The following is a list of the only artifact tokens without a subtype. |
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| − | [[Blue]] loves artifacts and, as such, is the [[primary]] color that interacts the most with them.<ref name="Color Pie 2017">{{NewRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05|Mechanical Color Pie 2017|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 5, 2017}}</ref> [[White]]'s interaction is mostly with Equipment, while [[red]] often likes to use artifacts as a [[resource]]. |
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| − | ===Unfriendly to artifacts=== |
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| ⚫ | Artifact destruction most frequently occurs in [[Green]] or [[Red]], and occasionally in white. Green is also the color which receives [[protection]] from artifacts. Green rarely interacts with artifacts positively. Of the five colors, [[black]] generally has the fewest cards that interact on any level with artifacts, with almost all of those cards coming in "artifacts matter" sets. |
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| − | ==Rules== |
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| − | {{CR|Artifacts}} |
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| − | ==Artifact tokens== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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| − | *{{ |
+ | *{{DailyRef|beyond-basics/drafting-artifacts-2016-09-27|Drafting Artifacts|[[Gavin Verhey]]|September 27, 2016}} |
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{{Card types|state=collapsed}} |
{{Card types|state=collapsed}} |
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{{CR Navbox|300}} |
{{CR Navbox|300}} |
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| + | [[Category:Artifacts| ]] |
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Revision as of 20:02, 25 April 2022
| Artifact | |
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| Subtype | Artifact type |
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Artifacts are permanents that represent magical items, animated constructs, pieces of equipment, or other objects and devices.[1] Artifact, the card type, is broader than the normal definition. Natural items can be a Magic “artifact”.[2]
History
Up until the introduction of the colorless, non-artifact Eldrazi cards in the Rise of the Eldrazi set, artifacts were distinct from other card types in that they were the only existing cards that had wholly generic mana costs[3] (meaning they can be cast using any type of mana), excluding certain cards which cost 
.
"Artifacts matter" has been a major mechanical theme of several sets and blocks. These include Antiquities, the Urza's block (Artifacts Cycle), the Mirrodin block, the Esper shard of the Alara block, the Scars of Mirrodin block, the Kaladesh block, and the historic mechanic from Dominaria.
Variations
Many artifacts are also creatures. They can attack and defend like other creatures and are affected by anything that affects creatures (or artifacts).
Mirrodin introduced colored activation costs for artifacts.[4]
Colored artifacts have colored mana costs. The Dissension expansion introduced the concept of colored artifacts with Transguild Courier, which did not yet require colored mana to cast.[5] The Future Sight expansion's Sarcomite Myr was the first and only artifact card at the time of the set's release to require colored mana for its casting cost. The Shadowmoor expansion's Reaper King was the first artifact card with a hybrid mana cost that contained colored mana symbols, but which enabled players to not have to pay any colored mana to cast the card due to the specifics of the card's hybrid mana cost.
The use of colored artifacts as a game concept was taken even further in Esper shard theme of Shards of Alara, which was the first expansion to contain many artifacts that require specific colors of mana to cast, and the entire Alara block prominently features colored artifacts that require colored mana to cast. Colored artifacts returned in New Phyrexia[6] and in a minor capacity in the third Artifact block, Kaladesh.[7] By Core Set 2020 they had become deciduous.[8]
Colors' interaction with artifacts
Friendly to artifacts
White and blue, as the colors of civilization, are both very friendly with artifacts. Red is secondary and tends to be associated with Equipment and Vehicles (along with white) or using artifacts as a resource (interacting with things like treasure artifact tokens).[9][10]
Unfriendly to artifacts
Artifact destruction most frequently occurs in Green or Red, and occasionally in white. Green is also the color which receives protection from artifacts. Green rarely interacts with artifacts positively. Red tends to be the color to gain benefit from sacrificing artifacts. Of the five colors, black generally has the fewest cards that interact on any level with artifacts, with almost all of those cards coming in "artifacts matter" sets.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Artifact
- A card type. An artifact is a permanent. See rule 301, “Artifacts.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 301. Artifacts
- 301.1. A player who has priority may cast an artifact card from their hand during a main phase of their turn when the stack is empty. Casting an artifact as a spell uses the stack. (See rule 601, “Casting Spells.”)
- 301.2. When an artifact spell resolves, its controller puts it onto the battlefield under their control.
- 301.3. Artifact subtypes are always a single word and are listed after a long dash: “Artifact — Equipment.” Artifact subtypes are also called artifact types. Artifacts may have multiple subtypes. See rule 205.3g for the complete list of artifact types.
- 301.4. Artifacts have no characteristics specific to their card type. Most artifacts have no colored mana symbols in their mana costs, and are therefore colorless. However, there is no correlation between being colorless and being an artifact: artifacts may be colored, and colorless objects may be card types other than artifact.
- 301.5. Some artifacts have the subtype “Equipment.” An Equipment can be attached to a creature. It can’t legally be attached to anything that isn’t a creature.
- 301.5a The creature an Equipment is attached to is called the “equipped creature.” The Equipment is attached to, or “equips,” that creature.
- 301.5b Equipment spells are cast like other artifact spells. Equipment enter the battlefield like other artifacts. They don’t enter the battlefield attached to a creature. The equip keyword ability attaches the Equipment to a creature you control (see rule 702.6, “Equip”). Control of the creature matters only when the equip ability is activated and when it resolves. Spells and other abilities may also attach an Equipment to a creature. If an effect attempts to attach an Equipment to an object that can’t be equipped by it, the Equipment doesn’t move.
- 301.5c An Equipment that’s also a creature can’t equip a creature unless that Equipment has reconfigure (see rule 702.151, “Reconfigure”). An Equipment that loses the subtype “Equipment” can’t equip a creature. An Equipment can’t equip itself. An Equipment that equips an illegal or nonexistent permanent becomes unattached from that permanent but remains on the battlefield. (This is a state-based action. See rule 704.) An Equipment can’t equip more than one creature. If a spell or ability would cause an Equipment to equip more than one creature, the Equipment’s controller chooses which creature it equips.
- 301.5d An Equipment’s controller is separate from the equipped creature’s controller; the two need not be the same. Changing control of the creature doesn’t change control of the Equipment, and vice versa. Only the Equipment’s controller can activate its abilities. However, if the Equipment grants an ability to the equipped creature (with “gains” or “has”), the equipped creature’s controller is the only one who can activate that ability.
- 301.5e If an effect attempts to put an Equipment that isn’t also an Aura (see rule 303.4i) onto the battlefield attached to either an object it can’t legally equip or an object that is undefined, the Equipment enters the battlefield unattached. If the Equipment is a token, it’s created and enters the battlefield unattached.
- 301.5f An ability of a permanent that refers to the “equipped creature” refers to whatever creature that permanent is attached to, even if the permanent with the ability isn’t an Equipment.
- 301.6. Some artifacts have the subtype “Fortification.” A Fortification can be attached to a land. It can’t legally be attached to an object that isn’t a land. Fortification’s analog to the equip keyword ability is the fortify keyword ability. Rules 301.5a–f apply to Fortifications in relation to lands just as they apply to Equipment in relation to creatures, with one clarification relating to rule 301.5c: a Fortification that’s also a creature (not a land) can’t fortify a land. (See rule 702.67, “Fortify.”)
- 301.7. Some artifacts have the subtype “Vehicle.” Most Vehicles have a crew ability which allows them to become artifact creatures. See rule 702.122, “Crew.”
- 301.7a Each Vehicle has a printed power and toughness, but it has these characteristics only if it’s also a creature. See rule 208.3.
- 301.7b If a Vehicle becomes a creature, it immediately has its printed power and toughness. Other effects, including the effect that makes it a creature, may modify these values or set them to different values.
Subtypes
The subtype for artifacts is called artifact type and is exclusive to artifacts.
Obsolete Terminology
Mono, Poly, and Continuous are terms found on the type lines of artifact cards printed prior to Revised, also known as Third Edition. They served to identify how often and whether artifacts could be activated.[11] There was also a rule from Alpha until Sixth Edition that stated that for tapped artifacts "effects of the artifact cease until it is untapped", giving them rules baggage like Walls. As the rules became more precise, this language was abandoned[12]. Artifacts printed prior to this now no longer carry this additional baggage as to avoid printed-card errata, it left traces through three cards: Winter Orb, Howling Mine, and Static Orb.
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Mono Artifact (Obsolete)
- An obsolete term that appeared on the type line of artifacts with activated abilities that caused the artifact to become tapped as a cost. Cards printed with this text have received errata in the Oracle card reference to simply say “Artifact,” and those abilities now include the tap symbol in their costs.
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Poly Artifact (Obsolete)
- An obsolete term that appeared on the type line of artifacts with activated abilities that didn’t cause the artifact to be tapped as a cost. Cards printed with this text have received errata in the Oracle card reference to simply say “Artifact.”
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Continuous Artifact (Obsolete)
- An obsolete term that appeared on the type line of artifacts without activated abilities. Cards printed with this text have received errata in the Oracle card reference to simply say “Artifact.”
Tokens
Predefined artifact tokens were introduced in 2016 (Shadows over Innistrad) with clues. Since then, Food, Gold, Treasure and Blood tokens have been added.[13]
The following is a list of the only artifact tokens without a subtype.
| Token Name | Color | Type Line | P/T | Text Box | Source | Printings |
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| Banana | Colorless | Artifact |  , Sacrifice this artifact: Add  or  . You gain 2 life.
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| Etherium Cell | Colorless | Artifact | , Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.
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| Land Mine | Colorless | Artifact | , Sacrifice this artifact: This artifact deals 2 damage to target attacking creature without flying.
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| Scrap | Colorless | Artifact | ||||
| Feather | Red | Artifact |  , Sacrifice Feather: Return target Phoenix card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
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| Icy Manalith | Colorless | Snow Artifact | : Add one mana of any color.
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| Replicated Ring | Colorless | Snow Artifact | : Add one mana of any color.
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| Tamiyo's Notebook | Colorless | Legendary Artifact | Spells you cast cost  less to cast. : Draw a card.
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| Volo's Journal | Colorless | Legendary Artifact | Hexproof Whenever you cast a creature spell, note one of its creature types that hasn't been noted for this artifact. |
References
- ↑ Zvi Mowshowitz (February 28, 2005). "The Top 50 Artifacts of All Time". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 25, 2019). "Artifact: an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 28, 2005). "Just the Artifacts, Ma’am". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Randy Buehler (October 3, 2003). "Artifacts and Color". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (April 25, 2006). "The Gold Artifact". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 25, 2011). "Phyrexian Powers: International Mana Mystery". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (September 30, 2016). "Artifacts and Color Identity". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 24, 2019). "Core Than Meets The Eye". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2021). "Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 04, 2004). "Change For the Better". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ben Bleiweiss (April 10, 2002). "Off and On". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 28, 2021). "Is there a word for these ever-changing kinda-generic artifact tokens?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Shawn Main (June 30, 2014). "Working with Some of the Best Minds in Gaming". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- Gavin Verhey (September 27, 2016). "Drafting Artifacts". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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