The Mechanist, Aerial ArtisanThe Mechanist, Aerial Artisan | Art by Le Vuong

Greetings, mono-blue fanatics and artifact enthusiasts. Avatar: The Last Airbender (TLA) graced us with its presence over the holiday season. TLA's exciting mechanics, like earthbending and firebending, are making a splash across Magic: The Gathering formats. I'm also fond of TLA's rare land cycle, which showcases a few of the set's unique mechanics.

Speaking of TLA's rares, have you had a chance to play with some of them? Earthbender AscensionEarthbender Ascension and Great Divide GuideGreat Divide Guide are two standout cards for Commander. In addition, red got a few new tools, including Firebender AscensionFirebender Ascension, The Last Agni KaiThe Last Agni Kai, and Redirect LightningRedirect Lightning.

Excitingly, these stellar rares complement many of TLA's legendary creatures, including Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula and Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender.

Among TLA's rares, there is one unassuming legendary creature that deserves your attention. The Mechanist, Aerial ArtisanThe Mechanist, Aerial Artisan is a mono-blue Human Artificer Ally with fantastic artifact and token synergies. Let's further explore the capabilities of The Mechanist leading a token-centric Commander deck.

What Does The Mechanist, Aerial ArtisanThe Mechanist, Aerial Artisan Do?

What does get you? Well, The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan enters as a 1/3 with two abilities. The first ability gives you a Clue token when you cast a noncreature spell. The second lets you turn that Clue token, or any other artifact token you control, into a 3/1 Construct creature with flying until the end of the turn.

Clue token creation and synergy aren't unique to The Mechanist. Forensic GadgeteerForensic Gadgeteer also hands out Clue tokens, but only when you cast an artifact spell. Interestingly, Forensic Gadgeteer reduces the cost of activated abilities for your artifacts, including Clue tokens, by one colorless.

Worldwalker HelmWorldwalker Helm, Repurposing BayRepurposing Bay, and MemnarchMemnarch are a few blue artifacts that benefit from Forensic Gadgeteer's abilities. Unsurprisingly, Forensic Gadgeteer works best in the 99 of artifact-centric commanders like Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer, Breya, Etherium ShaperBreya, Etherium Shaper, and even The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan.

Similar to Forensic Gadgeteer, Sai, Master ThopteristSai, Master Thopterist gives you a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying upon casting an artifact spell. Turning Thopters into deadly creatures with Chief of the FoundryChief of the Foundry, Stridehangar AutomatonStridehangar Automaton, and Master of EtheriumMaster of Etherium is certainly a viable strategy.

Where Sai, Master Thopterist and The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan differ is the focus on artifact creature tokens versus noncreature artifact tokens. Otherwise, many of the same cards synergize well with both Human Artificers.

Key Cards for The Mechanist, Aerial ArtisanThe Mechanist, Aerial Artisan

Token Makers

You can't build a token-themed deck without making tokens. Thankfully, you have several token makers at your disposal. Worldwalker HelmWorldwalker Helm is an on-theme artifact that churns out MapMap tokens. In addition, Worldwalker Helm can make a token copy of a Map, Clue, or other artifact token you control.

While Map tokens aren't the same as Clue tokens, they do trigger the abilities of Junk WinderJunk Winder and Stridehangar AutomatonStridehangar Automaton upon entering.

Speaking of Stridehangar AutomatonStridehangar Automaton, its triggered ability is comparable to Worldwalker Helm. Additionally, Stridehangar buffs its Thopter creations into 2/2 flyers. When not attacking, your Thopter creature tokens can provide fuel for activating abilities of Inspiring StatuaryInspiring Statuary, Shimmer DragonShimmer Dragon, and Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer.

Please don't underestimate the usefulness of Thopter artifact creature tokens, even though cards like Rise and ShineRise and Shine and Cyberdrive AwakenerCyberdrive Awakener ignore them.

Another token maker I want to mention is Erdwal IlluminatorErdwal Illuminator. Investigating for an additional time is worthwhile when you have multiple enablers. Forensic Gadgeteer, Piper Wright, Publick ReporterPiper Wright, Publick Reporter, and James, Wandering DadJames, Wandering Dad are three such cards that synergize with Erdwal Illuminator.

Even though The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan doesn't investigate, you'll be swimming in Clue tokens before you know it.

Legendary Artifacts

Sacrificing Clue tokens can provide incremental value with Tarrian's SoulcleaverTarrian's Soulcleaver. Additionally, you may be familiar with Tarrian Soulcleaver from my previous article. Each sacrificed Clue token grants a +1/+1 counter on Tarrian Soulcleaver's equipped creature. Those +1/+1 counters can stack up quickly when leveraging Forensic GadgeteerForensic Gadgeteer or Senator PeacockSenator Peacock's abilities.

While Five Hundred Year DiaryFive Hundred Year Diary isn't an Equipment card, it is useful. Merely tapping it provides for each Clue under your control. It should be easy to generate three or more mana the turn after playing Five Hundred Year Diary. Moreover, your opponents may not let you untap Five Hundred Year Diary after seeing its full potential.

Tamiyo's JournalTamiyo's Journal is the quintessential Clue support card. Although five mana may seem steep, Tamiyo's Journal is worth it. Fetching any card from your library with Tamiyo's Journal should be commonplace, given the numerous Clue-generating cards in the 99.

The ability to find non-artifact cards is what separates Tamiyo's Journal from other tutors in the 99. Spirit Water RevivalSpirit Water Revival, Rise and ShineRise and Shine, and Shimmer DragonShimmer Dragon are a few outstanding cards to grab from your library when given the chance with Tamiyo's Journal.

Artifact Tutors

You have several artifact tutors to help further your game plan. FabricateFabricate is a given since it grabs any artifact from your deck. Yet, Trinket MageTrinket Mage is more controversial. MTG offers alternatives to Trinket Mage, such as Transit MageTransit Mage, Tribute MageTribute Mage, and Trinket MageTrinket Mage. Transit Mage is interesting because it can pull Unwinding ClockUnwinding Clock, Five Hundred Year Diary, or Tamiyo's Journal from your library.

Still, I favor Trinket Mage over its counterparts due to the number of three-mana artifacts in the 99.

One impressive artifact tutor from Edge of Eternities (EOE) is Scour for ScrapScour for Scrap. Not only is Scour for Scrap a modal spell, but it's also an instant. Further, you can put two artifacts into your hand between your library and graveyard. If you want to place an artifact directly on the battlefield, it requires a bit more effort.

Tezzeret the SeekerTezzeret the Seeker can place artifacts onto the battlefield, but it's initially limited to artifacts with a casting cost of four or less mana. Another mana-intensive option is Whir of InventionWhir of Invention.

The suite of artifact tutor cards in the 99 will help you find the right artifact at the right time.

How Does The Mechanist, Aerial ArtisanThe Mechanist, Aerial Artisan Win?

While you can win a game of Commander with Mechanized ProductionMechanized Production, it shouldn't be your only win condition. Fortunately, you have more than one path to victory.

Unblockable Creatures

The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan's 3/1 flying Construct can deal lethal combat damage. Though your opponents may have blockers with flying or reach. To ensure your creatures deal combat damage to opponents, you can turn them unblockable with Senator PeacockSenator Peacock, Martha JonesMartha Jones, and Reverse the PolarityReverse the Polarity.

Want to swing for even more unblockable damage? Equip your creatures with NettlecystNettlecyst or Tarrian's SoulcleaverTarrian's Soulcleaver and watch your opponents' life totals fall rapidly. Alternatively, Kappa CannoneerKappa Cannoneer can single-handedly sneak through massive damage.

Finishers

When unblockable creatures aren't enough to finish a game, try swarming your opponents. Tangletrove KelpTangletrove Kelp is an excellent finisher by changing your Clues into 6/6 threats. Similarly, Rise and ShineRise and Shine and Cyberdrive AwakenerCyberdrive Awakener turn your noncreature artifacts into 4/4 attackers.

There is a drawback to these finishers: They require a sizable board presence of noncreature artifact cards and tokens. Even so, Tangletrove Kelp, Rise and Shine, and Cyberdrive Awakener are capable of turning a stalemate into a win.

The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan Commander Deck List

Instead of a tokens-centric strategy, you can tweak the above deck list to focus mainly on Clue tokens. First, consider cutting support cards that don't produce or interact with Clues. Thopter Spy NetworkThopter Spy Network, Tezzeret the SeekerTezzeret the Seeker, and Reverse the PolarityReverse the Polarity are probable cuts. It pains me to suggest it, but you could also swap out Stridehangar AutomatonStridehangar Automaton and Trophy MageTrophy Mage for more Clue-aligned cards.

Superb Clue-synergizing creatures for inclusion are Ethereal InvestigatorEthereal Investigator, FloodhoundFloodhound, and Nick Valentine, Private EyeNick Valentine, Private Eye. These three cards provide additional sources of Clue token generation. Moreover, Follow the BodiesFollow the Bodies can gift you a plethora of Clue tokens depending on the situation.

You'll want to create a slot for Encroaching MycosynthEncroaching Mycosynth, too. Turning your non-artifact creatures and enchantments into artifacts increases the likelihood of triggering Uthros Research CraftUthros Research Craft, Forensic GadgeteerForensic Gadgeteer, and Sai, Master ThopteristSai, Master Thopterist's abilities. You'll soon be burying your opponents in card draw and damage before they realize a game loss is inevitable.

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