Arcum's Astrolabe
Snow Artifact
(
can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
When this artifact enters, draw a card.
, 
: Add one mana of any color.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Modern Horizons
- Price
- $0.28
- EDHREC rank
- #8348
Arcum's Astrolabe replaces itself for one mana, fixes your colors, and counts as a snow permanent — three things on one card that costs essentially nothing. The only catch is the snow land requirement, which Isu the Abominable decks barely notice and everyone else needs to plan around.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | banned |
| modern | banned |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | banned |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Arcum's Astrolabe carries three restrictions that got it banned in Legacy, Modern, and Pauper: it costs a single colored mana (trivial in any deck with snow basics), it replaces itself immediately, and it spreads across every color identity, making it a zero-cost cantrip that warps mana bases without trade-offs. Commander gives it a pass because the 100-card singleton format doesn't reward cantrip velocity the same way — drawing one extra card once doesn't generate the critical-mass advantage that made it oppressive in 60-card formats. It's legal in Vintage and Oathbreaker for the same reason: formats either have power-level safety valves or don't fear the single-copy ceiling.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Isu the Abominable
Isu the Abominable cares about snow permanents entering the battlefield, and Arcum's Astrolabe ticks that box while immediately replacing itself — it's doing two jobs for one mana in the exact engine Isu wants to accelerate.
Jorn, God of Winter
Jorn, God of Winter rewards heavy snow permanent counts, and Arcum's Astrolabe is one of the cheapest snow permanents that doesn't just sit there — it draws a card on entry, so it contributes to the snow count without costing you card equity.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.28 bulk tier
At $0.28, Arcum's Astrolabe sits firmly in bulk territory and is unlikely to move on price alone. Pick it up whenever you're building a snow deck — there's no reason to hesitate at this price point.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Isu the Abominable
- Jorn, God of Winter
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.