Oviya, Automech Artisan — ruling 1

In some rare cases, a nonartifact card put onto the battlefield this way will get two +1/+1 counters because some other effect (like that of Mycosynth Lattice) makes it an artifact on the battlefield.

Oviya, Automech Artisan : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Oviya, Automech Artisan 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

Each creature that's attacking one of your opponents has trample. , : You may put a creature or Vehicle card from your hand onto the battlefield. If you put an artifact onto the battlefield this way, put two +1/+1 counters on it.

Complete guide

Oviya, Automech Artisan is a powerful green commander or utility creature that grants evasion to your offensive forces while cheating heavy hitters into play. Her ability to bypass mana costs makes her a dangerous engine for both creature and vehicle strategies. By utilizing her activated ability, you can surprise opponents with massive threats at instant speed.

Aggressive Support and Cheating Costs

Oviya provides a constant static effect: any creature attacking one of your opponents gains trample. This applies to your own creatures and even those of other opponents in a multiplayer setting, as long as they are attacking someone other than you. Her second ability allows you to pay one green mana and tap her to place a creature or vehicle from your hand directly onto the battlefield, potentially saving you massive amounts of mana.

The Artifact Bonus

When you resolve Oviya's activated ability, the game checks if the permanent entering the battlefield is an artifact. If the card is an artifact, it receives two +1/+1 counters. This check happens as the card is placed on the battlefield; if a non-artifact card becomes an artifact due to a global effect as it enters, it will still receive the counters.

Strategic Timing

Since Oviya's ability is an activated ability that does not specify a timing restriction, you can use it at any time you could cast an instant. This is perfect for bringing in blockers during your opponent's turn or deploying a large threat right before your own turn begins to avoid sorcery-speed removal. Note that you do not reveal the card until the ability is actually resolving.

Interaction examples

Deploying the Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

You activate Oviya, Automech Artisan by paying {G} and tapping her. Upon resolution, you choose Solemn Simulacrum from your hand. Because Solemn Simulacrum is an artifact, it enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters, becoming a 4/4 creature. Its own ability then triggers, allowing you to search for a basic land.

Recycling with the Witness

Eternal Witness

If you use Oviya's ability to put Eternal Witness onto the battlefield, it enters as a 2/1 creature. Since Eternal Witness is not an artifact, it does not receive the +1/+1 counters. However, you still get to trigger its ability to return a card from your graveyard to your hand for the low cost of a single green mana.

Trampling Over Defenses

Eternal Witness

Solemn Simulacrum

With Oviya, Automech Artisan on the field, if you attack an opponent with Eternal Witness and Solemn Simulacrum, both gain trample. Even if your opponent blocks with small tokens, the trample ability ensures that excess damage will carry through to the opponent's life total.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Oviya, Automech Artisan

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
In some rare cases, a nonartifact card put onto the battlefield this way will get two +1/+1 counters because some other effect (like that of Mycosynth Lattice) makes it an artifact on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.