Synod Artificer 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
,
: Tap X target noncreature artifacts.
Complete guide
Synod Artificer is a versatile Vedalken utility creature that provides unparalleled control over the board's machinery. By manipulating the flow of energy, it can shut down enemy tools or recharge your own artifacts at a moment's notice. Whether you are looking to freeze your opponent's mana or reuse your own powerful noncreature permanents, this Artificer is your go-to specialist.
Mastering Artifact Manipulation
Synod Artificer features two activated abilities, both costing X and requiring it to tap. The first ability allows you to tap X target noncreature artifacts, effectively neutralizing them. The second ability allows you to untap X target noncreature artifacts. Crucially, these abilities only target noncreature artifacts; any artifact that is also a creature is an invalid target for these specific effects.
Step-by-Step Resolution
To use Synod Artificer, you first choose which ability to activate and the value for X. You then choose X specific noncreature artifacts as targets and pay the mana cost plus the tap cost. Upon resolution, the ability checks if the targets are still legal (meaning they are still noncreature artifacts). If they are, the chosen artifacts are either tapped or untapped simultaneously. Note that since the tap symbol is part of the cost, you cannot use both abilities in the same turn without a way to untap the Artificer itself.
Common Pitfalls
The most frequent mistake players make is attempting to target Artifact Creatures. Because the text explicitly specifies 'noncreature artifacts,' you cannot use this card to tap down an attacker or untap a blocker if that artifact has a creature type. Additionally, remember that X must be a specific number; you cannot choose more targets than you have mana to pay for, and you must have exactly X legal targets available to activate the ability.
Strategic Timing
The best time to use the tapping ability is during your opponent's beginning of combat phase or their upkeep to deny them mana from artifact sources. Conversely, use the untapping ability during your own turn to get a second use out of artifacts with powerful tap abilities, or right before your turn begins to ensure your utility artifacts are ready for action.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, you might want to untap it to use a hypothetical ability. However, because Solemn Simulacrum is an 'Artifact Creature', Synod Artificer cannot target it with either of its abilities. The 'noncreature' restriction is absolute.
Roaming ThroneEven if you choose 'Vedalken' for Roaming Throne to double your Artificer's triggers, the Artificer uses activated abilities, not triggered ones, so the Throne provides no synergy here. Furthermore, Roaming Throne is an 'Artifact Creature', meaning Synod Artificer cannot target it to tap or untap it.
With four mana available, you can activate Synod Artificer for X=3. You tap the Artificer and pay three mana to target three noncreature artifacts your opponent controls, such as a Sol Ring and two Signets. Upon resolution, those three artifacts become tapped, preventing your opponent from using them for mana.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Synod Artificer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Synod Artificer + Freed from the Real + Gilded Lotus
- 1Activate Gilded Lotus by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying
and tapping it, untapping Gilded Lotus. - 3Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat.
Synod Artificer + Thousand-Year Elixir + Chromatic Orrery
- 1Activate Chromatic Orrery's first ability by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying
and tapping it, untapping Thousand-Year Elixir and Chromatic Orrery. - 3Activate Thousand-Year Elixir by paying and tapping it, untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat.
- 5Once you have infinite mana, you may activate Chromatic Orrery's second ability to draw infinite cards.
Synod Artificer + Pemmin's Aura + Gilded Lotus
- 1Activate Gilded Lotus by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Gilded Lotus.
- 3Activate Pemmin's Aura's first ability by paying , untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat.
Synod Artificer + Chromatic Orrery + Freed from the Real
- 1Activate Chromatic Orrery's first ability by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Chromatic Orrery.
- 3Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat for infinite mana.
- 5Once you have infinite mana, you may instead use Chromatic Orrery's last ability to draw infinite cards.
Magewright's Stone + Synod Artificer + Chromatic Orrery
- 1Activate Chromatic Orrery's first ability by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Chromatic Orrery and Magewright's Stone.
- 3Activate Magewright's Stone by paying and tapping it, untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat.
- 5Once you have infinite mana, you may activate Chromatic Orrery's second ability instead to draw infinite cards.
Synod Artificer + Thousand-Year Elixir + Empowered Autogenerator
- 1Activate Empowered Autogenerator's first ability by tapping it, putting a charge counter on it and adding at least three mana of any color.
- 2Activate Synod Artificer's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Thousand-Year Elixir and Empowered Autogenerator.
- 3Activate Thousand-Year Elixir by paying and tapping it, untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat.
Synod Artificer + Unbender Tine + Basalt Monolith
- 1Activate Basalt Monolith's first ability by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Synod Artificer's last ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Unbender Tine and Basalt Monolith.
- 3Holding priority, activate Unbender Tine by tapping it, untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat
Synod Artificer + Unbender Tine + Gilded Lotus
- 1Activate Gilded Lotus by tapping it, adding three mana of any color.
- 2Activate Synod Artificer's last ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Unbender Tine and Gilded Lotus.
- 3Holding priority, activate Unbender Tine by tapping it, untapping Synod Artificer.
- 4Repeat
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Synod Artificer
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.