By far the best creature in Magic, letting you get artifacts in play for a near-to-free cost.
bark_at_the_moonn
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
At one time, it was the best creature in Magic. It still has an astoundingly powerful effect, and is blazingly fast. However, there is not the metagame for it at the time of this post.
stygimoloch
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(3 votes)
I'd hesitate to call it the best creature in the game - it has too narrow a number of decks it's useful in. But certainly, where it's good, it's outstanding.
Anke_
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This was great fun in my old deck full of Modular creatures... when it wasn't zapped immediately.
Ace_Rimmer
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Card's simply amazing. the Oracle text, very badly worded. "sacrifices the artifact, then returns the artifact..." that just doesnt sound right.
MasterOfEtherium
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(13 votes)
Oh My God The Ruling Text On This Card Is Confusing As ***. Looks Like An Awesome Card Though I Think?
Rainyday2012
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Not a biggie, but the the flavour text is wrong, there should be an exclamation mark there. I don't see why this is a red card, either. It's flavourful, sure, but... Well, at least it's a powerhouse.
ObsessedAddict
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Good for decks that run around Tangle Wires and Smokestacks.
Batstewart
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Got a friend that uses an artifact deck with Darksteel Forge. This card would ruin his plans, haha.
LeMaK
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(3 votes)
all i need is a way to make this guy untap for nothing and could make an infinite combo with two artifacts and Scrapheap.
InjuryMan
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Untap for nothing you say? Like through Thornbite Staff? Of course, that only works if the two artifacts you're switching are creatures, but still.
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Pretty amazing, acts as both a rapid-artifact deployer, and you can hose your opponent by swapping his Sharding Sphinx for his Ornithopter.
The card is also a goblin, so he gets the benefit of all of that combos for the clan.
While not perfect for every deck, he is devastating in any deck that is built with him as a component.
4.5/5
Kryptnyt
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Trash for Treasure on legs for 2 less mana that can target opponents. wow... just... wow.
NeverendingDream
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(8 votes)
Soot counters getting you down? Reset that pesky smokestack and start afresh! Renew your Tangle Wire today! Goblin Welder, Just one red mana, while supplies last
GradiustheFox
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The wording is appallingly convoluted, but once you figure out what it actually does, it's a real beast. And the flavor text is awesome. Cute little gobby tech ^^
ropebreezy
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Most likely your opponent is running artifacts and so are you. 4/5 though because it's not immediately useful unless there's artifacts in play
DFG_Danger
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
The flavor text should read, "I wrecked your ashtray, boss. But look! I made you a metal guy!"
Baconradar
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
How is this not a 5?
Still arguably the most powerful creature ever.
GrimjawxRULES
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The flavor text never ceases to amuse me :)
Just felt like pointing out that the errata text can be misunderstood due to lack of clarification on the whereabouts of the artifacts. "Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield." ^Of course, you sacrifice the artifact that is currently on the battlefield and then returns the artifact that was in your graveyard as you chose targets for this ability, but the way it's written could lead some people to think that you'd just sacrifice the artifact on the battlefield and then return it to the battlefield again.
Leshrac_Nightwalker
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Haha, I love it! This is almost certainly the one Goblin Artificer that nobody would argue is marginal.
I have loved and collected goblins for a long time... when Urza's Legacy was still relatively fresh and new, I remember seeing so many of these in a vendor's dollar rare box. I looked at the card, thought "Meh... but it's a goblin"... and bought one.
I still kick myself for that to this day.
@Grimjaw: Agreed re: flavour text, 100%. The temptation to ask an opponent if they have any ashtrays in their graveyard is just too strong to pass up.
"Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield."
I did too on first pass, and thought the exact same thing. But if you notice it refers to "artifact" for the one on the battlefield (because it's a artifact permanent), and "artifact card" for the one in the graveyard (because it's a card in the graveyard of type "artifact"), it makes sense.
And I agree the flavour text rocks. I lol'd when I first read this back in the day.
bijart_dauth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
so many combos, most of them very very mean and very, very efficient. Though I find it funny that the prices for this card online range from 7 dollars to 150.
BlackKWYte
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5 for the flavor text alone =)
tavaritz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
And you both missed that it's "... and ..." which denotes simultaneous effects, not "... then ..." which would allow you to return the sacrificed artifact.
non1337
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This creature deserved to be ranked among top 3 of one-drop 1/1 creature in the history of magic, it is so insanely broken, yet still being legal for legacy and unrestricted.
This is perfect- first of all, to fully appreciate this card, you want to read the Artifacts Cycle books. There are lots of these guys running around doing stuff in the background, and a only a few people realize 'wait, I could use friends like that, lol'.
Second, the flavor text is epic.
Third- I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY THOUGHT TINKER WAS OK TO MAKE! "Counter target Tinker" indeed, blink!
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
*one turn later* "I wrecked your ashtray, boss. But look! I made you a metal guy."
Trygon_Predator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
One of the best, most combo-able goblins in the game. And he just costs .
GlassJoetheChamp
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I could totally imagine a mirror match between two of these:
"Well I trade my Memnite for a Mycosynth Lattice, use Voltiac Key to untap the Welder, then trade your Blightsteel Colossus for an Ornithopter.
"Well I trade my Ornithopter for a Dross Scorpion, use Voltiac Key to untap the Welder, trade your Welder for your Shifting Wall. It dies, so I untap Welder to trade your Voltiac Key for a Shifting Wall then it dies, so I untap Welder and trade my Ornithopter for a Blightsteel Colossus."
According to the flavor (text), it would make more sense if it read
Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard with a converted mana cost equal or less to the converted mana cost of the artifact. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield.
As it is, the flavor text might as well read: "I wrecked your ashtray, boss. But look I made you a metal guy."
(Since he apparently is able to do just that, i'm pretty sure he got a promotion after that incident.) I mean, damn. If he's got the scrap metal, he can turn a Darksteel Relic into a whole Darksteel Forge. Now tell me that's not impressive!
Salient
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turns Intuition into Tinker. Tinker's the best card in the game.
Neither Intuition nor Welder are restricted or banned in any format.
Draw your own conclusions. ; )
Aquillion
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fun with Modular creatures. Also, note that it can be used to fizzle anything that targets one of your artifacts.
But of course its real power is serving as a reusable one-mana animate dead for artifacts.
Also: I'm not quite sure where this belongs on the color wheel, but red is the last place I would have put it. Blue would be a lot more logical. Sure, you can use it on your opponent's artifacts, but most of the time you won't be putting it in your deck for that (if only because you can't rely on your opponent having two artifacts that you want to swap, one in their graveyard.) That's more a happy side-benefit to its real power.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"I wrecked your bauble, but I made you a Spine of Ish Sah. Did I do good..?"
Rite of Flame x2, Faithless Looting, Goblin Welder, Lightning Greaves + target in the yard. Seems good.
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I seriously want to ask these guys if they were even thinking. To make this fair, would have to be same cmc as the card you sacrificed. This block needed more experienced play testers.
.5/5 Unbalanced and poorly tested cards deserve no more then half star.
SAUS3
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The errata on this card is terrible: "that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifactcard to the battlefield."
One is an artifact, and the other is an artifact card, but the wording just sounds terrible.
-Does not search library, card needs to be in graveyard. Comboes with Entomb, Buried Alive, but that requires splashing black -Summoning sickness -1/1 body dies to absolutely everything and anything
"Um... boss? I'm sorry about this but... uh... I somehow wrecked your favorite ashtray. But it's okay; I somehow managed to dig up this weird bird-lion-lady-thing in the process. Oh, and look; she brought your ashtray back! How 'bout that? Tell ya' what boss; I feel really bad 'bout smashin' it, so I'll just go agead and put some fresh polish on it..."
*a few minutes later...*
"Hey boss, uh... funny story; you're not going to believe this, but... um... Ibrokeyourashtrayagain. Whoa, whoa, hold up; before you punch out another of my teeth, I just wanted to point out that I somehow managed to take the scrap metal and make this... uh... thing out of it. Looks like it could really knock some heads, eh boss? Though I gotta say, I don't really like the way it's lookin' at me..."
Comments (43)
The card is also a goblin, so he gets the benefit of all of that combos for the clan.
While not perfect for every deck, he is devastating in any deck that is built with him as a component.
4.5/5
Still arguably the most powerful creature ever.
Just felt like pointing out that the errata text can be misunderstood due to lack of clarification on the whereabouts of the artifacts.
"Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield."
^Of course, you sacrifice the artifact that is currently on the battlefield and then returns the artifact that was in your graveyard as you chose targets for this ability, but the way it's written could lead some people to think that you'd just sacrifice the artifact on the battlefield and then return it to the battlefield again.
I have loved and collected goblins for a long time... when Urza's Legacy was still relatively fresh and new, I remember seeing so many of these in a vendor's dollar rare box. I looked at the card, thought "Meh... but it's a goblin"... and bought one.
I still kick myself for that to this day.
@Grimjaw: Agreed re: flavour text, 100%. The temptation to ask an opponent if they have any ashtrays in their graveyard is just too strong to pass up.
With Intuition as a graveyard feeder, welder decks are extremely powerful. I've also had plenty of fun using welder and Careful Study.
This card enables many winning strategies, all for 1 red mana.
5/5
"Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield."
I did too on first pass, and thought the exact same thing. But if you notice it refers to "artifact" for the one on the battlefield (because it's a artifact permanent), and "artifact card" for the one in the graveyard (because it's a card in the graveyard of type "artifact"), it makes sense.
And I agree the flavour text rocks. I lol'd when I first read this back in the day.
Using Bazaar of Baghdad and Mass Hysteria, play your
Or Nullstone Gargoyle if you really hate their control deck
Second, the flavor text is epic.
Third- I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY THOUGHT TINKER WAS OK TO MAKE! "Counter target Tinker" indeed, blink!
"I wrecked your ashtray, boss. But look! I made you a metal guy."
"I trade my Ornithopter for a Blightsteel Colossus."
"Well I trade my Memnite for a Mycosynth Lattice, use Voltiac Key to untap the Welder, then trade your Blightsteel Colossus for an Ornithopter.
"Well I trade my Ornithopter for a Dross Scorpion, use Voltiac Key to untap the Welder, trade your Welder for your Shifting Wall. It dies, so I untap Welder to trade your Voltiac Key for a Shifting Wall then it dies, so I untap Welder and trade my Ornithopter for a Blightsteel Colossus."
"Screw it, here's a Lightning Bolt."
Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player's graveyard with a converted mana cost equal or less to the converted mana cost of the artifact. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield.
As it is, the flavor text might as well read:
"I wrecked your ashtray, boss. But look I made you a metal guy."
(Since he apparently is able to do just that, i'm pretty sure he got a promotion after that incident.)
I mean, damn. If he's got the scrap metal, he can turn a Darksteel Relic into a whole Darksteel Forge.
Now tell me that's not impressive!
Neither Intuition nor Welder are restricted or banned in any format.
Draw your own conclusions. ; )
But of course its real power is serving as a reusable one-mana animate dead for artifacts.
Also: I'm not quite sure where this belongs on the color wheel, but red is the last place I would have put it. Blue would be a lot more logical. Sure, you can use it on your opponent's artifacts, but most of the time you won't be putting it in your deck for that (if only because you can't rely on your opponent having two artifacts that you want to swap, one in their graveyard.) That's more a happy side-benefit to its real power.
Did I do good..?"
.5/5
Unbalanced and poorly tested cards deserve no more then half star.
"that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield."
One is an artifact, and the other is an artifact card, but the wording just sounds terrible.
-Only costs {R} to come out, subsequent activations FREE
-Reusable
-Destroyed artifacts can be fished back out
-Hits opponents
Cons compared to Tinker:
-Does not search library, card needs to be in graveyard. Comboes with Entomb, Buried Alive, but that requires splashing black
-Summoning sickness
-1/1 body dies to absolutely everything and anything
*a few minutes later...*
"Hey boss, uh... funny story; you're not going to believe this, but... um... Ibrokeyourashtrayagain. Whoa, whoa, hold up; before you punch out another of my teeth, I just wanted to point out that I somehow managed to take the scrap metal and make this... uh... thing out of it. Looks like it could really knock some heads, eh boss? Though I gotta say, I don't really like the way it's lookin' at me..."