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Red-White Artifact Spark: Arcbound Shikari in Commander Games
In the fast-and-flashy realm of artifact-centered decks, Arcbound Shikari stands out as a surprisingly nuanced piece of the puzzle. This uncommon artifact creature—hailing from Modern Horizons 2—packs a two-color punch: {1}{R}{W} mana for a compact, 3-cost body that lives at the intersection of aggression and support. Its card text is a playful reminder that even a little creature can kick open the door for big board swings. With First Strike and Modular 2, Shikari doesn’t just show up and swing; it enters with two +1/+1 counters and then bolsters every other artifact creature you control as it enters. That means your battlefield can suddenly feel twice as alive—and your opponents might suddenly feel the heat. 🔥🧙♂️
Beyond its own stats, the true magic lies in how Shikari invites your entire artifact suite to the party. When it hits the battlefield, it automatically cements a +1/+1 boost on each of your other artifacts, effectively kicking off a mini-buffing cascade before your next spell resolves. And because Modular 2 gives Shikari two +1/+1 counters to begin with, its own survivability as a small, resilient metadrop is not to be mocked. The modular design—you know, the kind that plays nicely with other modular staples from the era—makes it a natural addition to decks that care about counters, artifacts, and the tempo of a well-timed board state. ⚔️🎨
Understanding the mechanics that matter in practice
Arcbound Shikari’s mana cost, color identity, and abilities map neatly onto a few core themes in Commander and other multiplayer formats. The First Strike keyword turns it into a competent early drop, enabling it to trade with many two-power, one-damage creatures that would otherwise threaten your plan. The enter-the-battlefield trigger is a powerful punch that multiplies your board presence: every other artifact you control receives a +1/+1 counter as Shikari lands, which can be the difference between a sweep and a stiff breeze. And the Modular ability—where it enters with two +1/+1 counters and can move those counters to another artifact creature when it dies—provides a robust resilience to removal, letting you pivot threats mid-game and keep your artifact infrastructure intact. This design is a love letter to the era of artifact acceleration and modular hardware, where counters and contraptions often outpaced raw card advantage. 🧙♂️💎
In practical terms, Shikari shines in decks that lean into artifact creatures, board-wide buffs, and efficient value engines. Think of a red-white shell rich with mana rocks, tokens, and enter-the-battlefield effects that reward you for having multiple artifacts on board. Pair it with classic modular staples—cards that thrive on moving counters around or that generate value through artifact creatures—and you tilt the game toward a robust mid-to-late board state where you can pressure opponents with a growing army of hardware. For players who enjoy simulating “swing turns” and tempo plays, Shikari offers a surprisingly clean path from a modest first drop to a sweeping moment of board advantage. ⚡🧭
Design, flavor, and price—a closer look
The creature is a Cat Soldier artifact, a flavor mix that nods to both engineering and combat prowess. Campbell White’s art, and the way the card fields its two colors, conveys both nimbleness and fortitude—the kind of character you’d want in a busy workshop or a crowded battlefield. The Modern Horizons 2 print keeps this design accessible: it’s a non-foil common presence with a foil option, and its price sits modestly around the low dollar range, making it a practical add for budget-conscious Commander lists. In EDH circles, it’s a legal and compelling choice for players who value synergy and the tactile satisfaction of spreading +1/+1 counters across a growing artifact battlefield. The collector’s curiosity—foil copies, borders, and borders-related variants—also adds a bit of diamonds-and-dust charm to the card’s overall allure. The rarity, being uncommon, keeps it approachable while preserving a sense of discovery for newer players stepping into artifact-heavy builds. 🧙♂️💎
On the table, Arcbound Shikari invites a playful, resourceful approach to deck-building. It rewards you for thinking ahead about which artifacts you’ll protect, which you’ll buff, and where your counters will eventually land. It’s not a one-card win condition; it’s a catalyst for a broader engine. When you draft or assemble your deck, don’t just plan for Shikari’s arrival—plan for the moment that follows: a board full of artifact creatures, each bearing the marks of your counter-spreading strategy. And yes, bring your best jokes about “shaping metal and momentum” to the table—the flavor of this card is as sharp as its edge. 🧭🎲
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