Armorcraft Judge is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When this creature enters, draw a card for each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it.
Complete guide
Armorcraft Judge is a powerful utility creature that rewards you for spreading +1/+1 counters across your board. As an Elf Artificer, it provides significant card advantage in decks that utilize scaling growth and synergy. Understanding how its triggered ability counts your creatures is the key to maximizing its value.
What It Does
When Armorcraft Judge enters the battlefield, its triggered ability checks your board for any creatures you control that have at least one +1/+1 counter on them. You draw exactly one card for each such creature. It does not matter how many counters are on a single creature; whether a creature has one counter or ten, it only contributes one card draw to the total.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, Armorcraft Judge enters the battlefield and its 'enters' ability is put onto the stack. At this point, players have the opportunity to respond with spells or abilities. The actual counting of creatures with +1/+1 counters happens only when the ability starts to resolve. If a creature gains or loses its counters in response to the trigger, the final number of cards you draw will change accordingly. Once the count is determined, you draw all the cards at once.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming that multiple counters on a single creature result in multiple cards drawn; remember, the ability counts creatures, not the counters themselves. Additionally, if Armorcraft Judge itself has a +1/+1 counter on it when the ability resolves (perhaps from a static effect or an instant-speed buff), it will count itself, but it does not naturally enter with one.
When to Play It
This card is best played mid-to-late game once you have established a board presence. Since it is a creature that provides card draw upon entry, it functions similarly to other 'Value' creatures that replenish your hand. It is particularly effective in strategies that use proliferate or wide-scale counter placement to ensure the maximum number of creatures qualify for the draw.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control a Solemn Simulacrum that has a +1/+1 counter on it, and you cast Armorcraft Judge, the Judge's ability will resolve and see one creature with a counter. You will draw one card from the Judge's ability. If the Simulacrum later dies, you will draw another card from its own triggered ability, keeping your hand full of resources.
Eternal WitnessImagine you have three creatures with +1/+1 counters and Armorcraft Judge in your graveyard. You play Eternal Witness to return Armorcraft Judge to your hand. When you subsequently cast Armorcraft Judge, its ability will check the board, see your three modified creatures, and allow you to draw three cards, effectively turning the Witness's recursion into a massive draw engine.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Armorcraft Judge
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The number of creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them is counted only as Armorcraft Judge's triggered ability resolves. Players may respond to the triggered ability by trying to change that number.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Armorcraft Judge's ability counts the number of creatures, not the number of counters. A creature with more than one +1/+1 counter won't cause you to draw more than one card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Armorcraft Judge
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.