Chimeric Staff MTG Card


Chimeric Staff can be a repeatable creature source, weighing hand size against on-field presence. Its instant speed conversion to a creature offers surprising tactical shifts during gameplay. Despite its flexibility, the staff’s reliance on mana can constrain its effectiveness in a tight game.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Text of card

oo X Chimeric Staff is an artifact creature with power and toughness each equal to X until end of turn.

A snake in the grasp.


Cards like Chimeric Staff

Chimeric Staff is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that offers a versatile option for players keen on creature-based strategies. When pitted against other similar cards, Voltaic Servant stands out for its ability to untap another target artifact during each of your end steps. However, it doesn’t offer the flexible creature transformation that Chimeric Staff provides.

Another analog is Mishra’s Factory, a land capable of becoming a creature. While it can turn itself into a creature without needing mana expenditure that the Staff requires, its power and toughness are fixed. In contrast, Chimeric Staff’s creature size can vary, closely tied to the amount of mana a player invests, offering a dynamic advantage in combat situations. Not to be overlooked is Jade Statue, which also turns into a creature until the end of combat. Yet, it lacks the on-demand utility of Chimeric Staff, which can adapt to the available mana each turn.

Assessing these comparable cards, Chimeric Staff emerges as a flexible tool for players seeking to adapt their strategies on the fly. With the capacity to determine creature power and toughness each turn, it carves its unique niche in the MTG landscape.

Voltaic Servant - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
Voltaic Servant - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chimeric Staff by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
Mightstone - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Lich's Tomb - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Synod Centurion - MTG Card versions
Jade Idol - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Jade Monolith - MTG Card versions
Jade Statue - MTG Card versions
Mightstone - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Lich's Tomb - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Synod Centurion - MTG Card versions
Jade Idol - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Chimeric Staff. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Pit RackPit Rack PremodernEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chimeric Staff has the potential to be a repeatable creature generator, offering a strategic edge by effectively creating blockers or attackers turn after turn without depleting your hand of creature cards.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact can be a flexible component in decks that manipulate the number of artifacts on the field for greater power, effectively becoming a variable threat that scales with your available resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to become a creature at instant speed means Chimeric Staff provides surprise defensive or offensive capabilities, allowing you to adapt to battlefield changes quickly and unpredictably.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chimeric Staff demands that you discard a card to activate its ability. In tense moments when you’re striving to sustain your hand size, this can be a significant setback, leaving you vulnerable to your opponent’s next moves.

Specific Mana Cost: One of the limitations of Chimeric Staff lies in its mana cost that is colorless. While this gives some flexibility, the staff also requires a steady influx of mana each turn to maintain its activation, which could be a deterrent in mana-tight situations.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment and ongoing costs for Chimeric Staff can be steep compared to other artifacts in the game. For the mana that you sink into it, you may find that it doesn’t always align with the pace and strategy of your deck, especially if you’re looking to keep up the tempo against fast-paced opponents.


Reasons to Include Chimeric Staff in Your Collection

Versatility: Chimeric Staff offers a level of flexibility that appeals to many deck architectures. As an artifact, it can easily be incorporated into a variety of strategies, particularly those that capitalize on artifact synergies or those that require a scalable creature presence.

Combo Potential: This staff can become a creature with a variable power and toughness, which can be a cog in an engine of intricate combos. Coupled with cards that manipulate counters or artifacts, Chimeric Staff can serve as a crucial piece in some potent and surprising plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact manipulation is commonplace or games tend to stretch into the long-term, this card finds its stride. It adapts to the developing board state, providing a mutable threat that can adjust to the shifting tides of the game.


How to beat

Chimeric Staff is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, offering flexibility on the battlefield by transforming into a creature with power and toughness equal to the amount of mana spent to activate it. This trait makes it a variable threat that can adapt to different stages of the game. To counteract Chimeric Staff, one strategy is to keep removal spells in hand that can target either artifacts or creatures, ensuring you can respond regardless of its state. Cards like Abrade or Nature’s Claim are excellent choices as they can handle the Staff whether it’s an artifact or a creature after activation.

Another approach is to limit the opponent’s mana resources, thereby restricting the power of the Chimeric Staff’s creature form. Land destruction or mana disruption effects can be crucial in implementing this strategy. Additionally, since the Staff requires mana investment to become a creature, instant-speed removal used in response to the activation can dispose of it without having to deal with a creature attack. Always be wary of your opponent’s untapped mana and potential to activate the Staff, keeping your responses ready to maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chimeric Staff MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Tenth Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Chimeric Staff and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chimeric Staff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Michael Sutfin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 2881997NormalBlackMichael Sutfin
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3132003NormalBlackMichael Sutfin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chimeric Staff has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chimeric Staff card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-08-01 A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.
2009-10-01 If Chimeric Staff is already an artifact creature when you activate its ability, Chimeric Staff stays an artifact creature but the ability resets its creature types. You always apply the effect from this card before counters or other effects that modify power and toughness. For example, if you pay to make it a 3/3, then someone gives it -1/-1, it will be a 2/2. If you then activate the ability with , you will apply the “4/4” effect before the -1/-1 effect, so the end result will be a 3/3. Damage that was dealt to the creature stays on it.