Makeshift MunitionsHow it works & interactions with other cards

Turning Scrap into Firepower

Makeshift Munitions features a repeatable activated ability: by paying one generic mana and sacrificing either an artifact or a creature, you deal one damage to any target. Because this is an activated ability, you can use it as many times as you can pay the costs, and it can be activated at instant speed. This allows you to respond to your opponent's spells or abilities by 'cashing in' your permanents before they are destroyed or exiled.

The Resolution Process

First, you announce the activation and choose your target, which can be a player, a planeswalker, or a creature. Second, you pay the total cost by spending one mana and choosing a qualifying permanent to sacrifice. Note that sacrificing the permanent is part of the cost, so players cannot respond to the sacrifice itself to stop the ability; they can only respond to the ability once it is already on the stack. Finally, once both players pass priority, the ability resolves and deals one damage.

Double-Dipping and Timing

A common mistake involves trying to sacrifice the same permanent for two different costs. For example, if a creature has an ability that allows you to sacrifice it to add mana to your pool, you cannot use that same sacrifice to also trigger Makeshift Munitions. You must choose one or the other. Additionally, remember that you can sacrifice Makeshift Munitions to its own ability if it somehow becomes an artifact or creature, but normally it cannot sacrifice itself.

Strategic Deployment

Play Makeshift Munitions when you expect a long game where small increments of damage matter, or when you have a high density of tokens. It serves as an excellent 'finisher' in decks that generate Treasure or Food tokens. It also acts as a deterrent against board wipes, as you can sacrifice your entire board in response to a sweep to deal a significant amount of damage to your opponent's life total.

Interaction examples

Aggressive Pings

Impact Tremors

With Impact Tremors on the battlefield, every creature you play deals one damage to your opponents. Once those creatures are no longer useful for attacking, you can pay one mana to sacrifice them to Makeshift Munitions, dealing another point of damage to any target. This sequence effectively doubles the damage output of every small creature you summon.

Graveyard Recurrence

Underworld Breach

If you have Underworld Breach active, you can cast cheap artifacts or creatures from your graveyard using their escape costs. Once they enter the battlefield, you can immediately sacrifice them to Makeshift Munitions to deal damage. This creates a loop where your graveyard becomes a secondary hand full of ammunition, provided you have the mana and cards to exile for the escape costs.