Sword of the Meek MTG Card


Provides recurring value and board presence, greatly enhancing both control and life gain when paired with synergistic cards. Flexibly operates at instant speed, allowing for unexpected gameplay twists and improved mana utilization. Vital for artifact-based strategies, it bolsters creatures and reinforces both offensive and defensive plays effectively.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+2. Equip Whenever a 1/1 creature comes into play under your control, you may return Sword of the Meek from your graveyard to play, then attach it to that creature.


Cards like Sword of the Meek

Sword of the Meek is a notable artifact from Magic: The Gathering that brings a unique dynamic to thopter-based strategies. Its utility can be likened to cards such as Bonesplitter, which offers a power boost to creatures. Unlike Bonesplitter, Sword of the Meek also grants toughness and has the potential to recur from the graveyard whenever a 1/1 creature enters the battlefield under your control, providing a synergy that can be repeatedly exploited.

Looking at Cranial Plating, another artifact that scales with the number of artifacts under your control, we notice the potential for a massive increase in a creature’s power. However, Cranial Plating lacks the self-recurring property of Sword of the Meek, which is a centerpiece for combos and resilience. Batterskull is another equipment with a significant impact on gameplay, providing a hefty stat boost and lifelink but without the recursion synergy that makes Sword of the Meek a unique asset.

The advantage of Sword of the Meek within creature-based strategies, particularly those revolving around small creatures and artifact synergy, stands out. Its ability to recur provides an unrivaled grinding capability, making it a compelling choice for decks looking to capitalize on incremental advantages.

Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Cranial Plating - MTG Card versions
Batterskull - MTG Card versions
Bonesplitter - MTG Card versions
Cranial Plating - MTG Card versions
Batterskull - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sword of the Meek by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Thopter ComboThopter Combo ModernThopter ComboModern League 2024-04-04
Oops! All Spells!Oops! All Spells! ModernOops! All Spells*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* Modern $10K Trial - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 4:00 pm
Urza ThopterSwordUrza ThopterSword ModernThopter ComboMarted Modern @ Rivana Winter League Top8

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sword of the Meek ensures a recurring presence on the battlefield, meaning it can continually generate value without additional card investment. When paired with cards like Thopter Foundry, it creates a loop that provides a significant advantage in both board control and life gain.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly producing mana or treasure, the card indirectly accelerates resources by enabling artifact synergies. Artifacts returning to play can be used for convoke, improvise, or sacrificed for various effects, enhancing your overall resource availability and making your plays more efficient.

Instant Speed: The reattachment ability of Sword of the Meek operates at instant speed, which offers flexibility during gameplay. This allows the user to surprise opponents by bolstering creatures unexpectedly during combat or at the end of their turn, keeping mana open for other vital plays and responses.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike spells that serve you without sacrifice, Sword of the Meek demands an Artifact creature card to be sacrificed. This can hinder your battlefield presence and card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: It requires two specific types of mana, one generic and one black. This can restrict the decks it fits into, primarily affecting players who don’t run black mana or those with a stringent mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost might not seem steep, in the fast-paced MTG landscape, two mana can be significant. There are other equipment cards with lower equip costs that offer similar or better benefits more quickly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sword of the Meek offers flexibility in deck building as it can easily slip into artifact-centric strategies or any deck looking to capitalize on a sturdy equipment. It bolsters creatures and readies your board for defensive and offensive plays.

Combo Potential: This card is famously part of a powerful combo with Thopter Foundry, generating a stream of tokens and life points. It can be a game-changer, turning the tides by amassing an overwhelming presence on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Sword of the Meek thrives. It provides resilience against removal and strengthens creatures to survive through combat, making it a relevant addition in various meta conditions.


How to beat

Sword of the Meek is a powerful artifact that can be a cornerstone in many Magic: The Gathering decks, particularly those revolving around combo strategies that involve recurring creatures from the graveyard. The synergy it provides is especially strong with cards that generate 1/1 tokens, allowing those tokens to repeatedly trigger the sword’s resurrection ability. This can turn even the smallest of creatures into a significant threat over the course of a game.

To counteract this potent artifact, artifact removal spells are crucial. Game plans that incorporate ways to effectively manage artifacts can cripple a deck relying heavily on Sword of the Meek. Shatter effects, Naturalize, and other targeted removal options become invaluable tools in these match-ups. Additionally, graveyard disruption can stifle the sword’s recursion capability. Spells like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can prevent it from returning to the battlefield altogether, rendering it useless. It’s important for players to recognize the power of Sword of the Meek and equip their decks with answers to address this potential threat.

Effectively mitigating the Sword of the Meek’s influence requires a multifaceted approach that combines preparedness with timely execution. By staying alert and flexible, players can navigate around this card’s strengths and maintain control over their game strategies.


BurnMana Recommendations

With every card in MTG there’s an opportunity to harness strategic depth and the Sword of the Meek is no exception. This card offers prolific advantages from consistent board presence to combo potentials that could decisively pivot the momentum of a game. As you refine your deck’s engine and anticipate the ever-evolving MTG metagame, cards like Sword of the Meek should be on your radar, providing not just resilience but also the thrill of an elaborate strategy coming to life. Dive deeper with us to explore the synergies, counters, and deck-building philosophies that will sharpen your gameplay. Take the next step in your MTG journey and join our community for an edge in your next showdown.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sword of the Meek MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Double Masters, 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 Sword of the Meek and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sword of the Meek Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-05-04Future SightFUT 1652003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2992015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
32022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 591997NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
42022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 1221997NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
52022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 122z1997NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sword of the Meek has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 Any creature can be equipped with Sword of the Meek, not just 1/1 creatures.
2020-08-07 If Sword of the Meek can't be attached to the creature that caused its last ability to trigger, most likely because that creature has left the battlefield, Sword of the Meek returns to the battlefield and remains unattached.
2020-08-07 If a creature is entering the battlefield under your control, consider static abilities to determine whether its power and toughness are both 1. Spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities can't be used to raise or lower the creature's power and toughness in time to have the last ability trigger or to stop it from triggering.
2020-08-07 Once the last ability has triggered, changing the power or toughness of the creature won't stop you from returning Sword of the Meek and attaching it to the creature.
2020-08-07 Sword of the Meek's last ability triggers only if it's in your graveyard immediately after the 1/1 creature enters the battlefield.