Want to know the best Equipment cards in MTG for your next deck? Suit up, because we’ve got you covered.
Want the best Equipment cards in MTG? Whether you’re looking to see just how many swords Stangg, Echo Warrior can actually wield, or you’re trying to throw them at people using Captain America, First Avenger, equipment cards are a lot of fun in Magic. They’re not always mana-efficient, but some succeed despite that.
If you’re looking to see which are the best equipment cards in Magic, most likely for Commander, but maybe just because you’re curious, then we’re here to help you out. We’ve gone through them all to make our list of the top 10 best equipment cards in MTG.
Best Equipment Cards in MTG
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It’s worth noting that there are a lot of recent equipment cards in MTG that are exceptional but haven’t made the list. One at the forefront of our minds is Mithril Coat, which can grant indestructible at instant speed. There are also the likes of combo pieces like Sword of the Meek, which are decent in their niche, but only in their niche.
#10 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
Excalibur, Sword of Eden
Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed, Rare
Had we written this before a certain Marvel hero appeared, we’re not sure Excalibur, Sword of Eden would have made the list. But in a post-Cap’ world, it’s hard to ignore this twelve-mana sword that grants +10/+0 and vigilance. It only costs two to equip, though it can only be equipped to legendary creatures, but does become cheaper to cast based on the total mana value of your historic permanents. It’s a solid option for any deck with historic cards, but especially if you’re going to be throwing it at people. Even more so if you can give Captain America, First Avenger infect somehow. This is foreshadowing.
#9 Sunforger
Sunforger
Commander Legends, Rare
Sunforger is a three-mana hammer that costs three to equip, and grants +4/+0. That’s not what’s important though. What’s important is that you can pay one Red and one White mana to unattach it and find a Red or White instant from your deck that costs four or less, and then cast it for free. In a format where having the right card at the right time can win you the game, which is all of them but especially Commander, this is huge. If you’re playing Red and White, you should probably have this card tucked into your list.
#8 Skullclamp
Skullclamp
Commander: March of the Machine, Uncommon
Do you like drawing cards? Do you like killing off your own creatures? If you answered yes to both of these then you’re probably playing an Aristocrat deck, and we respect it. You’re probably also nodding along in agreement or annoyed that Skullclamp isn’t higher. This one-mana card costs one to equip and grants +1/-1. That -1 is important because when the equipped creature dies, you get to draw two cards. It feels mean when you do it the first time, but you’ll get used to it.
#7 Hammer of Nazahn
Hammer of Nazahn
Commander Masters, Rare
Hammer of Nazahn costs four to cast and equip and grants +2/+0 and indestructible. More importantly though, when it or any other equipment enters under your control, you can attach it to a creature you control for free. Being able to avoid high equip costs is huge, especially if you can also cheat your equipment into play on someone else’s turn, like with Stoneforge Mystic.
#6 Embercleave
Embercleave
Special Guests, Mythic
Embercleave is (sort of) a permanent combat trick, which is an interesting design space. This six-mana Red equipment costs three to equip normally but can be attached for free when it enters the battlefield and has flash. It also gets cheaper for each attacking creature you control. It then grants +1/+1, double strike, and trample, which makes it an impressive all-in-one equipment card for anyone deck that wants to attack.
#5 Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of Feast and Famine
Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed, Mythic
The majority of this cycle of swords is good, but in our opinion, Sword of Feast and Famine remains the best of the bunch. It costs three mana to cast and two mana to equip, and grants +2/+2 and protection from Black and Green. Along with that, when the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, they have to discard a card, and you get to untap your lands. You can double your mana fairly easily every time you hit, basically, which is absurdly strong.
#4 Grafted Exoskeleton
Grafted Exoskeleton
Scars of Mirrodin, Uncommon
Infect is a very powerful keyword that can turn ten damage into an instant victory, and there’s a reason why it’s being phased out in favor of poison. Heck, if you could give it to any creature it’d be offensively easy to kill off just about any player with just a small amount of shenanigans. Anyway, Grafted Exoskeleton is a four-mana card that costs two mana to equip, granting +2/+2 and infect… oh.
#3 Kaldra Compleat
Kaldra Compleat
Commander Masters, Mythic
Back in our day, you had to spend twelve mana across three cards for this kind of effect, but here Kaldra Compleat is anyway, just being really strong. This living weapon costs seven mana to cast and equip and grants indestructible, trample, first strike, haste, and the ability to exile whatever creature it damages. It also has indestructible itself, too. It’s not over-the-top to describe this thing as a game-ender.
#2 Umezawa’s Jitte
Umezawa’s Jitte
Betrayers of Kamigawa, Rare
Umezawa’s Jitte is a toolbox that just happens to be attached to a sharp weapon It’s two mana to both cast and equip, and gets two charge counters whenever the equipped creature deals combat damage (to a player or creature). You can then remove a counter to give a creature +2/+2, give a creature -1/-1, or gain two life. It’s not as overwhelmingly powerful as it once was, but if you can manipulate the counters on it, it’ll serve you well.
#1 Swiftfoot Boots
Swiftfoot Boots
Foundations, Uncommon
We’ve chosen this over Lightning Greaves because a lot of people who want the best equipment cards in MTG will suffer if they give a creature Shroud. So, while a touch less efficient, we do think Swiftfoot Boots is better overall. Swiftfoot Boots costs two mana to cast, one mana to equip, and grants hexproof and haste. This card’s so good that it should be in basically every Commander deck, even if the deck doesn’t care about equipment cards. It’s simple, and it’s very effective.