Arcbound Javelineer
Artifact Creature — Soldier
, Remove X +1/+1 counters from this creature: It deals X damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Modular 1 (This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Modern Horizons 2
- Price
- $0.21
- EDHREC rank
- #10491
Arcbound Javelineer enters as a modular threat and immediately taxes your opponents' instants with a +1/+1 counter toll — the pressure is real from turn one. It slots cleanly into any modular shell, and commanders like Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp and Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight make the counter redistribution on death a genuine engine rather than a consolation prize.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp
Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp is the natural home — it pumps every modular trigger by one, so when Arcbound Javelineer dies its counters land bigger, and the recurring sacrifice synergies mean that death happens on your terms.
Sephiroth, Fallen Hero
Sephiroth, Fallen Hero uses Arcbound Javelineer as a cheap counter-generating artifact that feeds Sephiroth's own counters-matter payoffs while the instant-tax ability harasses opponents trying to protect their board.
Optimus Prime, Hero
Optimus Prime, Hero values Arcbound Javelineer as an artifact creature that contributes to the wide artifact-creature count and leaves counters behind when converted or destroyed, keeping the board state growing even through removal.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Arcbound Javelineer is a role-player, not a headliner — it belongs in dedicated modular builds where the death trigger gets exploited repeatedly, and it's borderline outside those shells. In Modern, the artifact-creature type and modular keyword have historical relevance in Affinity-adjacent strategies, though the instant-tax ability sees limited competitive uptake at that level. Legacy and Vintage give it legal status but not meaningful play; the power ceiling there is simply too high for a one-mana 1/1 to compete. Arcbound Javelineer is locked out of Pioneer, Standard, and Pauper, so Commander remains the primary format where it earns regular slots.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of TwilightArcbound Javelineer
Infinite LTB; Infinite ETB; Infinite death triggers; Draw the game
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Urza, Lord High ArtificerDeadeye NavigatorThe OozeArcbound Javelineer
Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite tapped Mutagen tokens
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Koll, the ForgemasterPhyrexian AltarVeteran's ArmamentsArcbound Javelineer
Infinite death triggers; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite power and toughness for certain creatures; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.21 bulk tier
At $0.21, Arcbound Javelineer is pure bulk — easy to acquire as a throw-in or from a common box. Bulk artifact creatures with niche synergy don't tend to spike unless a new modular commander drives demand, so treat it as a cheap include rather than a pickup for value.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight
- Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp
- Sephiroth, Fallen Hero
- Optimus Prime, Hero
- Urza, Lord High Artificer
- Deadeye Navigator
- The Ooze
- Koll, the Forgemaster
- Phyrexian Altar
- Veteran's Armaments
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.