I ran two of these at the Prerelease, this thing is phenomenal in limited, so many things can be shut down, and you can use it to squeeze poison counters out of a Relic Putrescence.
Eternal_Blue
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(4 votes)
temporarily shuts down any artifact for a mere 4 mana unless opponent has a shatter or a lightning bolt. it also doubles as a chump blocker! ... this card isn't very good.
Kimris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Im wondering, if you can tap and lock down multiple artifacts with this card.
The question I see is this: Does it cancel the ability when it uptaps this artifact?Ordoes it check during the upkeep if it is tapped or not to end the effect?
majinara
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(7 votes)
To answer Kimris question: the only way to keep multiple artifacts tapped with this, is by using rings of brighthearth. By itself, it will never be able to tap down more than one at the same time.
The card is cute, but bad. 1/3 for three mana is bad. Having to wait one turn to be able to use it is bad. Having to spend more mana to activate it is bad. And then it's not even real removal... 1/5
metalevolence
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Let's just hope they don't start working together. We could have a rustic clachan on our hands.
roguepariah
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(10 votes)
If I'm thinking straight, (which is questionable at times) voltaic key would also let you tap two artifacts with this.
step 1: put rust ticks ability on the stack step 2: put voltaic keys ability on the stack step 3: let the keys ability resolve step 4: put rust ticks ability on the stack step 5: let both of the rust ticks abilities resolve
Since rust tick "remains tapped" after both instances of the ability resolve, you effectively lock down two artifacts. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though.
HuntingDrake
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
It's... Phyrexian Gremlins! Ironically, working for the Mirran forces this time.
Darktryst
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Lets say you change a non-artifact permanent to an artifact using Liquimetal Coating, will the permanent remain tapped, assuming you leave Rust Tick tapped, even after the coating disappears? I'm thinking yes, since it was an artifact when it was tapped by the Tick...Another question, lets say you do not untap Rust Tick during your untap step but untap it some other way during your turn and target another artifact, will Rust Tick "let go" of the other artifact it tapped before? I'm thinking YES on this one as well but I'm not sure...
BioPrince
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Liquimetal Coating does combo : tap target artifact >>> IT <<< doesn't untap Q.E.D.
Tommy9898
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Want a limited wombo combo? In response to taping it, play Vault Skyward to untap it so you can tap down another artifact as well, using the voltaic key method described here.
Wraique
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You're right roguepariah. That's precisely how that would go down. Unless of course, like as kimiris points out, it might be that if rust tick ever becomes untapped at any point, the other artifact can will once again be able to untap.
Judge!
Artscrafter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
majinara has it right. You can't use a Voltaic Key or similar untap effect to be able to keep multiple artifacts tapped down with this, but Rings of Brighthearth will work.
The reason for this is because of how effect durations work. To quote the relevant section in the rules: 611.2b Some continuous effects generated by the resolution of a spell or ability have durations worded "for as long as . . . ." If the "for as long as" duration never starts, or it ends before the moment the effect would first be applied, the effect does nothing. It doesn't start and immediately stop again, and it doesn't last forever.
In roguepariah's example, the activation from step 1 will not keep the target locked down because the duration of its effect will have ended before it resolved. The activation from step 4 will go through though.
Mindslaver users take note: If a player uses Rust Tick to tap down another of their own artifacts, that other artifact won't untap on their next turn, period. (The player can untap the Rust Tick to end the effect, but by that point it'll be too late to also untap the other artifact.) If a Rust Tick taps itself down, it can never untap during the untap step unless it gets untapped some other way.
@Darktryst: 1. Yes, you can use Liquimetal Coating as you described. The effect only cares about whether the target is an artifact long enough for the ability to be activated and to resolve. The thing you tap down can freely stop being an artifact after that and will stay tapped down. 2. The effect that prevents the artifact from untapping ends immediately whenever Rust Tick becomes untapped, no matter how it happens. (It still won't untap until its controller's next untap step unless they also have some other way to untap it.)
terran50
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So, can you tap an artifact that doesn't actually tap?
My friend swears up and down that you can (this is for the purpose of then using something like 'Destroy target tapped artifact'). Anybody able to shed some light on this for me?
SeiberTross
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Eh I take it over Phyrexian Gremlins. Strange this is Mirran, since they're practically the same card.
Comments (21)
The question I see is this: Does it cancel the ability when it uptaps this artifact? Or does it check during the upkeep if it is tapped or not to end the effect?
The card is cute, but bad. 1/3 for three mana is bad. Having to wait one turn to be able to use it is bad. Having to spend more mana to activate it is bad. And then it's not even real removal... 1/5
step 1: put rust ticks ability on the stack
step 2: put voltaic keys ability on the stack
step 3: let the keys ability resolve
step 4: put rust ticks ability on the stack
step 5: let both of the rust ticks abilities resolve
Since rust tick "remains tapped" after both instances of the ability resolve, you effectively lock down two artifacts.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though.
Judge!
The reason for this is because of how effect durations work. To quote the relevant section in the rules:
611.2b Some continuous effects generated by the resolution of a spell or ability have durations worded "for as long as . . . ." If the "for as long as" duration never starts, or it ends before the moment the effect would first be applied, the effect does nothing. It doesn't start and immediately stop again, and it doesn't last forever.
In roguepariah's example, the activation from step 1 will not keep the target locked down because the duration of its effect will have ended before it resolved. The activation from step 4 will go through though.
Mindslaver users take note: If a player uses Rust Tick to tap down another of their own artifacts, that other artifact won't untap on their next turn, period. (The player can untap the Rust Tick to end the effect, but by that point it'll be too late to also untap the other artifact.) If a Rust Tick taps itself down, it can never untap during the untap step unless it gets untapped some other way.
@Darktryst:
1. Yes, you can use Liquimetal Coating as you described. The effect only cares about whether the target is an artifact long enough for the ability to be activated and to resolve. The thing you tap down can freely stop being an artifact after that and will stay tapped down.
2. The effect that prevents the artifact from untapping ends immediately whenever Rust Tick becomes untapped, no matter how it happens. (It still won't untap until its controller's next untap step unless they also have some other way to untap it.)
My friend swears up and down that you can (this is for the purpose of then using something like 'Destroy target tapped artifact'). Anybody able to shed some light on this for me?