Academy ManufactorHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Replacement Effect Works

Academy Manufactor features a replacement effect, indicated by the word 'instead'. It watches for any event where you would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token. When that event happens, it replaces it with the creation of one Clue, one Food, and one Treasure. If you were supposed to create multiple tokens of one type, you will instead create that many of each type.

Stacking Multiple Manufactors

If you control more than one Academy Manufactor, the effects apply sequentially. For example, if you have two on the field and would create one Treasure, the first replaces it with one Clue, one Food, and one Treasure. Then, the second Manufactor applies to each of those replacements, resulting in three of each token (nine total). This grows rapidly; eighteen Manufactors would result in over 129 million of each token type!

Investigating vs. Creating

It is important to note the difference between 'Investigating' and creating a Clue token. While Investigating results in a Clue, the replacement effect only changes the output. If a card triggers 'whenever you investigate,' it only triggers once based on the original action, even if Academy Manufactor causes you to create multiple Clue tokens from that single investigation.

When to Play It

Academy Manufactor is best played in decks that generate tokens repeatedly rather than all at once. Because it is an artifact creature, it is vulnerable to many forms of removal, so try to play it the same turn you plan to generate tokens to ensure you get value before your opponents can respond.

Interaction examples

Multiplying Riches

TreasureClueFood

You cast a spell that tells you to create one Treasure token. Because Academy Manufactor is on the battlefield, the game checks if you are creating a Clue, Food, or Treasure. It sees the Treasure and replaces that event. Instead of one Treasure, you put one Treasure, one Clue, and one Food token onto the battlefield simultaneously.

Type Synergy with Golems

Solemn SimulacrumRoaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Golem' chosen, and your Solemn Simulacrum dies, its triggered ability triggers twice. If you then had a way to turn that card draw into a Clue, Food, or Treasure creation, Academy Manufactor would apply to each trigger separately. While Roaming Throne doesn't double Academy Manufactor (as it is an Assembly-Worker and uses a replacement effect, not a triggered ability), it doubles the sources that generate the tokens Academy Manufactor thrives on.