Stronghold Machinist
Creature — Human Spellshaper
, 
, Discard a card: Counter target noncreature spell.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Nemesis
- Price
- $0.24
- EDHREC rank
- #20729
Stronghold Machinist lets you pitch a blue card from hand to counter any non-creature spell — no mana required, just card advantage converted into stack presence. The cost is real: you're down a card every activation, so it only earns its slot in decks that generate enough hand size to treat the discard as fuel rather than loss.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Stronghold Machinist does its best work — the longer game gives you time to establish the hand-refill engines that make the discard cost manageable, and a standing threat of free counterspells at instant speed carries real table presence. In Legacy and Vintage, the competition at three mana is brutal: Counterbalance, Force of Will, and Mana Drain all do more without the card-per-use tax, so Stronghold Machinist doesn't see play in either format despite being legal. Oathbreaker is a closer call, but the format's faster pace makes feeding a discard outlet every counterspell feel punishing without consistent draw support.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.24 bulk tier
At $0.24, Stronghold Machinist is firmly bulk — the kind of card you pick up as an afterthought in a trade binder. That price is stable; it's a narrow tribal piece with a specific home, not a card hunting for a reprint spike or sudden demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.