Weldfast Monitor: Artist Profile and Career Highlights

In TCG ·

Weldfast Monitor card art from Kaladesh

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Weldfast Monitor: A Look at Kaladesh's Inventive Spirit

In the bustling workshop city of Ghirapur, where brass valves hiss and gears gleam under sunlit skylines, every invention carries a heartbeat. Weldfast Monitor embodies that kinetic pulse in a compact, red-tinged package. This Kaladesh artifact creature—a 3/2 for three mana—offers a practical taste of what made the set’s design so memorable: accessible, punchy stats paired with a spicy, moment-to-moment twist. For players who love the idea of explosive tempo and just enough bite to force a decision, Weldfast Monitor is the kind of card that earns a place in red craftrooms and red-black artifact synergies alike. 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

Looking at the card frame, you’ll notice its color identity leans red, even though the mana cost is entirely colorless. That subtle nod to red’s punchy tempo comes through the ability: “{R}: This creature gains menace until end of turn.” In other words, you don’t need a swarm of creatures to threaten effectively—you just need to bend the rules for a single turn and push through with a surprising amount of pressure. This is the kind of play that fits neatly into Kaladesh’s energy-forward world, where speed and invention collide on the battlefield. ⚔️

“The avant-garde among Ghirapur's inventors disregard the Consulate's safety standards completely.”

That flavor text isn’t just color; it’s a wink at Weldfast Monitor’s design philosophy. It’s a card that thrives when you can push a little edge—grant menace to break through opposing blocks or to flash in for a surprise final swing. The ability is deliberately lean, but it scales beautifully in decks that want to maximize efficiency in a red-orientated artifact shell. With a base stat line of 3 power and 2 toughness, Weldfast Monitor lands as a sturdy body for the cost and, crucially, it doesn’t demand miracles to shine—just a spark and a plan. 🧙‍♂️🎨

Design, synergy, and gameplay tempo

Weldfast Monitor’s mana cost of {3} keeps it accessible in many red-leaning builds, while its noncreature identity as an artifact creature opens doors to a broader toolbox. In Kaladesh, artifacts and colorless mana can be leveraged in surprisingly explosive ways, and this card fits neatly into those pipelines. The menace-granting ability is a one-turn encore that can turn a defensive board into an offensive avalanche. It’s the kind of play that punishes stalled boards and rewards quick thinking: do you invest in tempo now, or wait for a bigger payoff later? The card’s common rarity in Kaladesh hints at a design that’s approachable for new players yet versatile enough for seasoned builders to lean into for aggressive red strategies or artifact-based themes. 🔥⚔️

In practice, Weldfast Monitor shines when you’re applying pressure with a handful of other early plays or when you’re working within a deck that values synergy with artifact ecosystems. It plays well with mana acceleration and cheap artifacts that can be buffed, blocked with menace, or used to push through final points of damage. The ability to suddenly transform your threat into an evasive menace for a turn can swing combat math—especially against decks that rely on blockers with stalwart tendencies. The card’s modest price tag and foil/promo availability also mean you can test aggressive red strategies without heavy financial risk, allowing you to craft fun, fast gameplay that still feels competitive. 💎

Art, lore, and the Kaladesh vibe

Jakub Kasper’s illustration brings the invented, industrial charm of Kaladesh to life. You can almost hear the clang of cogs and the hiss of steam as Weldfast Monitor teeth through the air, its red glow signaling danger and momentum. The “watchful” look of the lizard creature fits Kaladesh’s broader theme of clever, self-reliant constructs—machines that do more than hum; they push forward with intent. In a set devoted to inventive grace and kinetic energy, a card like Weldfast Monitor captures the ethos: a compact, reliable engine that doesn’t need to shout to make an impact. And if you’re a collector, the foil versions carry extra sheen that mirrors the spark of Kaladesh’s artifacts—perfect for showing off at local game nights or online showcases. 🎨🧰

In the grander arc of craft and conjecture, Weldfast Monitor stands as a reminder that not every powerful play needs grand spectacle. Sometimes, a modest artifact creature with a single-line upgrade can tilt a whole match, especially when you’re playing in a shade (or a color identity) that loves quick, decisive swings. As you build around this piece, imagine your own workshop—your own gaudy contraption that, with a spark of red mana, mutates from sturdy ally to menacing menace in a heartbeat. The thrill isn’t just the win; it’s the clever line, the tempo shift, and the gleam of a well-timed ability. ⚔️🧙‍♂️

Collector’s note and value snapshot

Even though Weldfast Monitor is a common in Kaladesh, it still finds affection among players who enjoy the robust aesthetics of artifact creatures and red tempo. The card’s market price sits modestly around a few cents for non-foil copies and a touch higher for foils, with foil variants often appealing to players who want a little extra flash in their decks. For those who chase card art and print variety, the Kaladesh printing—both normal and foil—offers a nice blend of accessibility and collectibility. It’s one of those pieces that looks great on a shelf and still plays well on the battlefield. 🧠💎

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Weldfast Monitor

Weldfast Monitor

{3}
Artifact Creature — Lizard

{R}: This creature gains menace until end of turn.

The avant-garde among Ghirapur's inventors disregard the Consulate's safety standards completely.

ID: 75720c1b-8b04-4e45-ab47-018c04576e83

Oracle ID: 5d604aff-ba60-4064-b025-b1f3d1c0254e

Multiverse IDs: 417811

TCGPlayer ID: 123179

Cardmarket ID: 292879

Colors:

Color Identity: R

Keywords:

Rarity: Common

Released: 2016-09-30

Artist: Jakub Kasper

Frame: 2015

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 26954

Set: Kaladesh (kld)

Collector #: 238

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — legal
  • Timeless — legal
  • Gladiator — legal
  • Pioneer — legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — not_legal

Prices

  • USD: 0.06
  • USD_FOIL: 0.08
  • EUR: 0.02
  • EUR_FOIL: 0.16
  • TIX: 0.03
Last updated: 2025-12-10