Ingot Chewer: A Powerful Addition to Red Decks

TL;DR Summary

Ingot Chewer is a formidable red elemental creature that can destroy target artifacts when entering the battlefield. Its evocation ability allows it to be cast at a lower mana cost, making it a versatile and valuable addition to many decks.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

As a 3/3 creature, Ingot Chewer gains its power and toughness from the symbol on its card text. When this creature enters the battlefield, it has the ability to destroy target artifacts, which can be a game-changer in the right situations. This ability makes Ingot Chewer particularly useful in decks that rely on artifact destruction or disruption.

The evocation ability is also worth noting, as it allows players to cast Ingot Chewer for its evoke cost of {R}, which is one mana lower than its normal cost. This makes it easier to fit into decks that want to include more aggressive or tempo-based strategies. However, when the creature enters the battlefield, it must be sacrificed, which can limit its ability to provide ongoing benefits.

Strategic Uses and Combos

Ingot Chewer is particularly useful in decks that incorporate red spells like Fireball or Lightning Bolt. By combining Ingot Chewer with these spells, players can create a powerful combination that targets their opponent's most valuable artifacts.

One effective way to use Ingot Chewer is by combining it with creatures that have evasion, such as the red Elemental creatures from the Rise of the Eldrazi set. By attacking and destroying opposing creatures, players can create an opening to cast Ingot Chewer and take out their opponent's artifact-heavy board.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

As a 3/3 creature, Ingot Chewer is particularly well-suited to aggressive and tempo-based decks that rely on speed and disruption. Players who want to include this card in their deck often do so alongside other red cards like Mountain, Volcanic Ascension, or Searing Blood.

One archetype for using Ingot Chewer involves creating a "burn-heavy" deck with creatures like Goblin Guide or Chandra, Torch of Defiance. By casting these spells to attack and destroy opposing creatures, players can create an opening to cast Ingot Chewer and take out their opponent's artifact-heavy board.

Another archetype for using Ingot Chewer involves creating a "control" deck that relies on disrupting the opponent's board state. Players who want to include this card in their deck often pair it with other red cards like Counterspell or Path to Exile, as well as other removal spells like Vines of Vastwood.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Ingot Chewer has seen some competitive play, particularly in formats where burn and control strategies are prevalent. In these formats, players often use Ingot Chewer to disrupt their opponent's board state or take out opposing artifacts that could be used for removal.

However, Ingot Chewer is not as viable in formats like Modern or Legacy, which tend to favor more complex and strategic gameplay. Players who want to include this card in their deck often do so alongside other red cards like Mountain or Volcanic Ascension, but are generally less successful than players who focus on more control-oriented strategies.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

As a creature, Ingot Chewer has the usual rules interactions for creatures, such as being blocked by opposing creatures. However, its evocation ability can create some interesting interactions with other cards.

One technical note to keep in mind is that evoke spells can only be cast at the lowest available mana cost, and cannot be used to reduce the mana cost of a spell from below its base cost. This means that if a player uses the evoke ability on Ingot Chewer to cast it for {R}, they will still need two additional red mana to pay the normal power and toughness.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Ingot Chewer has an interesting flavor profile, as it is depicted as a small, insect-like creature that eats metal artifacts. This could be seen as a nod to the classic fantasy trope of "metal-eating monsters".

However, there are no direct historical references for this card in Magic: The Gathering lore. It appears to have been created specifically for Guilds of Ravnica, which is a set released by Wizards of the Coast in 2018.

Conclusion Summary

In conclusion, Ingot Chewer is a powerful red elemental creature that can destroy target artifacts when entering the battlefield. Its evocation ability allows it to be cast at a lower mana cost, making it a versatile and valuable addition to many decks.

While it may not be as viable in formats like Modern or Legacy, players who want to include this card in their deck often do so alongside other red cards that provide speed and disruption. As a powerful burn spell that can disrupt the opponent's board state, Ingot Chewer is well-suited to aggressive and tempo-based decks.

By understanding how this card interacts with other spells and creatures, players can incorporate it into their strategy and take advantage of its unique abilities. With careful deckbuilding and playtesting, Ingot Chewer can become a formidable addition to any red deck.