Metalwork Colossus MTG Card


Card advantage and resource acceleration are key perks of Metalwork Colossus, offering significant in-game benefits. High mana cost and deck specificity present challenges but can be mitigated with the right strategy. Effective counters include exile spells and controlling the artifact resources of your opponent.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost11
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 10
Toughness 10

Text of card

This spell costs less to cast, where X is the total mana value of noncreature artifacts you control. Sacrifice two artifacts: Return Metalwork Colossus from your graveyard to your hand.


Cards like Metalwork Colossus

Metalwork Colossus stands as a notable giant among artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its kinship can be observed with creatures like Sundering Titan, which offers a game-twisting board control feature upon its entrance and departure from the battlefield. Yet, the Colossus skips disruptive impacts for a straightforward, powerhouse approach. Its affinity for noncreature artifacts provides a unique edge, easing its casting cost tremendously in the right build.

Another similarly towering entity is Ulamog’s Crusher, with sheer imposing presence as an 8/8 Annihilator that demands immediate attention from your opponent. However, it’s the cost-reducing mechanic of Metalwork Colossus that allows for an earlier game deployment that sets it apart, granting substantial tempo advantage. Phyrexian Colossus also shares a cost-reductive feature but its hefty upkeep in the form of life points presents a stark contrast to the self-recycling capability of Metalwork Colossus, enabling long-term, resilient play.

Analyzing the overriding features and benefits of these behemoths, Metalwork Colossus claims its rightful place in MTG with its harmonious blend of affordability, resilience, and raw power, becoming a powerhouse for artifact-centric decks keen on closing games with indomitable force.

Sundering Titan - MTG Card versions
Ulamog's Crusher - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions
Sundering Titan - MTG Card versions
Ulamog's Crusher - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Colossus - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Metalwork Colossus by color, type and mana cost

Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Golem - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Colossus // Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Golem - MTG Card versions
Darksteel Colossus // Darksteel Colossus - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Metalwork ColossusMetalwork Colossus PioneerMetalwork ColossusPioneer League 2023-11-23
Five-color BurnFive-color Burn ModernCalibrated Blast$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 9:00 am
TronTron ModernTronModern League 2024-02-21
Azorius Metalwork ColossusAzorius Metalwork Colossus PioneerMetalwork ColossusReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Pittsburgh - Friday - 2:00 pm (Bronze)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Metalwork Colossus offers a sizeable benefit when it comes to card advantage. Not only does it have the potential to return to your hand from the graveyard, ensuring you always have a massive threat available, but it also allows you to convert otherwise unused artifacts into a game-winning play.

Resource Acceleration: This powerful card can hit the battlefield at a vastly reduced cost thanks to its ability to reduce its casting cost by the total converted mana cost of noncreature artifacts you control. This can lead to a resource acceleration that outpaces your opponent by leveraging the artifacts you’ve played earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Metalwork Colossus’s synergy with instant speed artifact interaction can be a game-changer. Sacrificing two artifacts to return it from your graveyard to your hand can be executed at instant speed, allowing for surprise blocks or end-of-turn maneuvers that are hard for your opponent to predict and counter.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Metalwork Colossus does not require a card to be discarded, assembling enough noncreature artifacts to reduce its cost can deplete your hand quickly. This can be particularly problematic when facing disruption or requiring a strong board presence to be maintained.

Specific Mana Cost: Although Metalwork Colossus has the advantage of a potentially reduced mana cost, it does necessitate a specific deck build concentrating on artifacts. This can limit its inclusion to only certain strategies and not integrate well with decks that cannot support a high artifact count.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the cost reduction mechanic, the initial ten mana needed to cast Metalwork Colossus is undeniably steep. Players may find it challenging to reach this amount of mana before the game’s tempo outpaces the feasibility of casting such a high-cost card, especially in fast-paced formats.


Reasons to Include Metalwork Colossus in Your Collection

Versatility: Metalwork Colossus can slide into numerous deck archetypes given its unique cost reduction mechanic. It thrives in artifact-heavy builds where its nominal 11 mana cost can be reduced to nearly nothing, granting players a 10/10 creature at a fraction of the expected mana investment.

Combo Potential: This massive artifact creature can spearhead combos by synergizing with self-sacrificial artifact strategies or enabling graveyard recursion plays. Its ability to return from the graveyard by sacrificing two artifacts ensures it’s a recurring threat that can be leveraged multiple times over the course of a game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact decks are prominent, Metalwork Colossus shines as a hard-to-deal-with finisher. It is particularly impactful against decks that lack sufficient exile or artifact removal tools, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield and a must-consider for players looking to capitalize on its strengths.


How to beat

Overcoming the formidable Metalwork Colossus from MTG presents a unique challenge. This towering artifact creature can often hit the board at a reduced cost, thanks to its ability to consider other artifacts you control. The key to victory lies in preemptive planning and pinpoint removal. Effective artifact removal spells such as Naturalize can help by managing the smaller artifact creatures and mana rocks that reduce the cost of Metalwork Colossus. Another strategic move is to enforce exile effects using cards like Path to Exile or a universal solution such as Vandalblast to sweep away multiple artifacts at once, which can mitigate the risk of the Colossus returning.

Board control is equally important. Ensuring constant pressure on the opponent’s artifact resources will extend the Colossus’ casting cost. Utilize strategies involving counter spells like Negate or artifact-specific disruption like Damping Sphere to keep your opponent’s synergies in check. In the event of the Colossus hitting the battlefield, ensure you have readily available creature removal, as direct methods remain the most reliable way to deal with this massive threat once it’s active. Remember, staying ahead of your opponent’s game plan is your best defense against the Metalwork Colossus.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Metalwork Colossus in MTG is about understanding the synergy and strength it brings to your deck. It shines in artifact-centric strategies, offering a formidable presence that’s hard to rival when played efficiently. To leverage this gargantuan artifact creature’s full potential, keep expanding your artifact collection, and refine your deck’s synergy to reduce its casting cost effectively. If you’re keen to harness the power of the Colossus and turn the tides of battle in your favor, join our community of MTG enthusiasts. Together, we explore innovative deck builds, share expert insights, and provide guidance for players aiming to command the game with Metalwork Colossus’s impressive might.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Metalwork Colossus MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh Promos and Kaladesh, 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 Metalwork Colossus and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Metalwork Colossus Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 222s2015NormalBlackJaime Jones
22016-09-30KaladeshKLD 2222015NormalBlackJaime Jones
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3782015NormalBlackHyan Tran, age 6
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3772015NormalBlackChris Rahn, age 36
52020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 2522015NormalBlackJaime Jones
62022-11-18The Brothers' War CommanderBRC 1471997NormalBlackJaime Jones
72023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9602015NormalBlackJaime Jones

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Metalwork Colossus has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-09-20 If a permanent has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2016-09-20 If the total mana value of noncreature artifacts you control is 11 or greater, Metalwork Colossus costs to cast.
2016-09-20 Metalwork Colossus's last ability can be activated only if it is in your graveyard.
2016-09-20 Once a player has announced that they are casting Metalwork Colossus, no player may take actions to try to change the number of artifacts its controller controls before that spell's cost is locked in.
2016-09-20 The total cost to cast Metalwork Colossus is locked in before you pay that cost. For example, if you control three noncreature artifacts each with mana value 2, including one you can sacrifice to add to your mana pool, the total cost of Metalwork Colossus is . Then you can sacrifice the artifact when you activate mana abilities just before paying the cost.