March of the Machine is the final installment in the now four-part Phyrexian storyline, wrapping up the invasion ofMagic: The Gathering’smost terrifying antagonists through a massive, Multiverse-wide battle to save the planes. This set brought with it not onlysome of the harshest consequences yet seen by the Multiverse, but a wave of cards with interesting effects.
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Some of the most interesting cards in Magic: The Gathering are artifacts: they range a diverse set of Equipment, Vehicles, and Creatures, all aimed at offering a constant effect on the field. March of the Machine introduces at least a few artifacts that are worth grabbing to suit your next deck.
10Sword Of Once And Future
The Sword of Once and Future is another entrant into the “Swords of” series of weapons, which all cost three mana and give plus two power and toughness to the equipped monster. If you may only get one artifact from the entirety of March of the Machine, this one will get you the most bang for your buck.
On dealing damage to the opponent, this weapon gives a few perks: you can usethe surveil keywordto manage two cards from the top of your deck, then cast an instant or sorcery with a cost less than two mana from the graveyard for free. This can pack a punch even from the start of the game, since you can surveil and discard a spell from the top of your deck to immediately.
9Skittering Surveyor
Many of the artifacts in March of the Machine are a bit underpowered, and Skittering Surveyor just barely gets away from the depths of mediocrity thanks to its solid land-obtaining ability. The need to get specific lands is contextual, which makes this card fantastic in strategies that crave certain land cards.
Being able to place a Mana Confluence straight out the gate is one of those things that can set up a deck for success, and though Skittering Surveyor is merely okay in decks unconcerned about loading up on land, it will remain another great option for land-based decks.
8Phyrexian Archivist
The Phyrexian Archivist is like a Swiss army knife: no matter the format, this card will always have at least something to offer. Sure, it costs six mana, which means that you’re probably not going to be playing this in the early game, but the utility of its effect is good enough to justify the cost in the mid-to-late game.
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With the reach keyword and a solid power-toughness combo, Phyrexian Archivist is an artifact Creature that can block and dish out a decent amount of damage. Even better, its effect lets you pull a card out of the graveyard and back into its owner’s deck; this blocks reanimation, and can be used to bring a card onto the field with the correct set-up.
7Aetherwing, Golden-Scale Flagship
Aetherwing, Golden-Scale Flagship is another card that is exceptional in specific decks, but probably won’t see play across the board. What makes it good is its effect, which will give it a power value dependent on the number of artifacts you control.
If you can get a decent number of artifact tokens on the board, then you’re looking at a massive payday. Considering that Invasion of Kaladesh (which the Aetherwing transforms from) spawns an artifact token, you can count on at least one power no matter what.
6Holy Frazzle-Cannon
The Holy Frazzle-Cannon is great for decks that like playing a field of homogenous creatures, as every creature on your field of a creature type will receive a power and toughness increase if this Artifact is equipped to one when it attacks.
It makes sense for it to come out with this set, since many creatures here are going to be from the Phyrexian subtype. Unlike other March of the Machine Artifacts, which are only great if you pull them out of their natural environments, Holy Frazzle-Cannon and the Siege it transforms from can be played well from a deck built around the set.
5Guildpact Paragon
Guildpact Paragon is another artifact that transforms from a Siege, this time coming from Invasion of Ravnica. If you’re playing a deck that loves two-colored spells, then this artifact’s effect will help you get a decent amount of deck control at any given time.
The effect in question will allow you to look six cards deep into your deck whenever you play a two-colored spell, giving you the chance to put a spell of matching colors into your hand after revealing it. This effect will have to be played as a sorcery, of course, so do mind that any strategies you prepare will only be possible a turn after.
4Bladed Battle-Fan
The Bladed Battle-Fan is an artifact Equipment card whose sole purpose is offensive power, being useful for buffing up a target creature and ensuring their longevity so that they can cause maximum carnage on the battlefield.
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The measly one increase in power may seem overshadowed by nearly any other offensive artifact, but the key aspect is the Indestructible keyword it brings with it. This way, there are no easy outs for your opponent if you play a particularly chunky card– they have to beat it in combat, or not at all.
3Flywheel Racer
The Flywheel Racer card offers up a multicolor mana as long as it’s a creature, which can only be achieved by tapping a a creature with at least one power tothe vehicle’s crew effectevery turn. The price isn’t too steep, making this a good way for your five-color decks to get a foot in the door.
This will lose out to most multicolour lands any day of the week, as any number of things can happen to put Flywheel Racer out of commission that lands just wouldn’t fall to; regardless, another source of multicolor mana should never be rejected.
2Mirran Banesplitter
At the speed of an instant and a four mana cost, Mirran Banesplitter is a fairly good artifact to boost power and very little else. The price is a little steep for a two-power boost, but the Flash keyword makes it all worth it for the speed.
You generally want to go with the Bladed Battle-Fan when trying to push your most valuable attacker, so Mirran Banesplitter is a lot better for buffing creatures that will pose a threat as you set up your big player.
1Ozolith, The Shattered Spire
Ozolith, The Shattered Spire is near the top of the list for cards to get from March of the Machine, artifact or not. Being able to pay two mana for an increase of one power and toughness to a creature is great, and the built-in effect adds one to that and all other power-toughness boosts as well.
Combined with the already great Holy Frazzle-Cannon, you’re looking at an entire field of creatures gaining four power and toughness every turn with the right amount of mana. If you’re running a stompy deck with a focus on overwhelming an opponent, this is one of those cards that are fantastic for your gameplan.
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