Arteeoh, Dread ScavengerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Arteeoh, Dread Scavenger is a 1/1 artifact creature with Flying and Deathtouch, making it difficult to block and dangerous to engage with. Its primary power lies in its triggered ability: whenever it deals combat damage to a player, you can target two other artifacts and swap who controls them. If you choose to perform this exchange, a second 'reflexive' triggered ability goes onto the stack, allowing you to create a 1/1 Squirrel copy of any artifact an opponent controls.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, Arteeoh must deal combat damage to a player. Once it does, you choose two other target artifacts currently on the battlefield. When the ability resolves, you exchange control of them. Note that for an exchange to happen, both targets must be on the battlefield as the ability resolves. Immediately after the exchange, the reflexive trigger fires. You then choose a target artifact you do not control. You create a token that is a copy of that artifact, but it gains the 'Squirrel' creature type, becomes green in addition to its other colors, and its power and toughness are set to 1/1.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking you can swap Arteeoh itself; the ability specifically says 'two other target artifacts.' Additionally, if one of the two targets leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, the exchange cannot happen, and you will not get to create the Squirrel token. Remember that the token copy keeps all the original artifact's abilities, including 'enters the battlefield' triggers, which can be extremely potent.

When to Play It

Arteeoh is best played in decks that can protect it or grant it Haste, ensuring it survives to deal combat damage. It excels in games where opponents have high-value artifacts like mana rocks or powerful equipment. By swapping a cheap artifact you own for an opponent's key piece, and then copying a different threat, you generate a massive swing in board state that is hard for opponents to recover from.

Interaction examples

The Golem Swap

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control a Solemn Simulacrum and an opponent controls a powerful non-creature artifact, you can use Arteeoh to swap them. You give your opponent the Golem and take their artifact. Because the exchange occurred, you then trigger Arteeoh's second ability to target another artifact an opponent controls, creating a 1/1 Squirrel version of it for yourself.

Creature Interactions

Eternal Witness

While Eternal Witness is not an artifact and cannot be targeted by Arteeoh's exchange ability, it can be used to return Arteeoh to your hand if it is destroyed. Once Arteeoh is back on the field and deals damage, you can target an opponent's artifact creature to swap it for a different artifact, effectively using Arteeoh's Deathtouch to ward off blockers while your utility creatures like Eternal Witness provide graveyard recursion.