Arbalest Engineers
Creature — Human Artificer
When this creature enters, choose one —
• This creature deals 1 damage to any target.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. It gains trample and haste until end of turn.
• Create a tapped Powerstone token. (It's an artifact with "
: Add 
. This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell.")
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- GR
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- The Brothers' War
- Price
- $0.16
- EDHREC rank
- #22052
Arbalest Engineers puts a repeatable, tap-to-deal-damage ability on a creature body, threatening planeswalkers and small blockers every turn cycle. The three-mana cost is reasonable, but the value is entirely contingent on untap support — without it, you're paying full price for a one-shot ping.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Arbalest Engineers earns its slot in artifact or crew-heavy builds where untapping effects are plentiful and the repeated damage can pick off utility creatures or pressure planeswalkers. In broader constructed formats like Modern, Pioneer, and Legacy, it faces a much harsher filter — three mana for a conditional, activated-ability creature rarely clears the bar when faster, more reliable removal exists. Vintage is legal but irrelevant; no one is sleeving this alongside Moxen. Commander remains the format where Arbalest Engineers has the most legitimate case.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.16 bulk tier
At $0.16, Arbalest Engineers is deep bulk — pick it up without hesitation if it fits your build. There is no meaningful financial risk here, and the price is unlikely to move unless a future Commander precon creates sudden demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.