Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Cheap Artifact Tricks to Power Up Arcbound Tracker
If you’re building on a budget but still chasing big, punchy plays, Arcbound Tracker is a believer in the undercard. This red artifact creature — a nimble little dog with the flame of ingenuity in its eyes — comes with a built-in plan: grow with every additional spell you cast and ferry its momentum to bigger artifacts when it finally slips from the board. In Modern Horizons 2, its modular chassis and menace make it a perfect candidate for a lean, gadget-filled deck that outpaces more expensive setups. 🧙♂️🔥💎
What makes Arcbound Tracker tick
Two things stand out for a thrifty commander or midrange build: its cost and its growth engine. For only two mana, plus one red mana (total three), you get a 0/0 artifact creature with menace, and a robust line of text that can snowball quickly:
- Modular 2: It enters with two +1/+1 counters. If Tracker dies, you may move those counters to another target artifact creature. This is the kind of resilient, re-usable value that forgives budget constraints by currency of tempo and bodies.
- Menace: It’s harder to block, letting your cheap threats pressure opponent life totals or trade up in combat.
- Whenever you cast a spell other than your first spell each turn, you get a +1/+1 counter on Tracker. The more cheap spells you chain in a turn, the faster Tracker grows.
In practice, this means your game plan shifts from “play a threat” to “start a small spell-smuggling engine” where each extra spell in a turn is a counter for your doggo-construct. It’s the same delightful feeling as opening a neat mechanical puzzle: one cheap move unlocks several more. And yes, it rewards a little nerdy optimization with big payoff. 🎲⚔️
Low-cost tricks that amplify its power
Here are practical, budget-friendly avenues you can lean on to supercharge Arcbound Tracker without breaking the bank. I’ll mix concrete ideas with flavor and strategy, because that’s what makes MTG shine on a dime. 🧙♂️🎨
- Lean sacrifice engines that exploit Modular 2. Arcbound Ravager is the classic partner: it’s an artifact creature with modular, and when it’s sacrificed it can move its +1/+1 counters onto Tracker or another artifact creature. This creates a reliable path to transferring momentum between threats and keeps Tracker’ s growth in motion even if the board state shifts. The combo is straightforward, the costs are modest, and it feels wonderfully retrofitted for a budget build.
- Distribute counters to artifact creatures with a small, inexpensive pump. A dependable artifact that taps to place +1/+1 counters on your artifact creatures helps you blanket your board in value. When Tracker already has a few counters, these effects help you push past boards of deathtouch or specialized removal without needing premium duals or ultra-premium rares.
- Tap-and-grow mileage from cheap artifacts that’s all about tempo and redundancy. Cards that generate or preserve artifact creatures, or that offer repeatable ways to cast more spells, can feed Tracker’s conversion engine. The payoff isn’t just raw power — it’s tempo, card flow, and inevitability from a lean mana curve. 🧪
- Cast multiple cheap spells per turn to fuel the second-spell trigger. This is where red’s appetite for quick, low-cost plays pays off. Think of drawing or drawing-adjacent artifacts that let you redraw or recast, so you can keep stacking +1/+1 counters on Tracker every turn without spending a fortune. The key is consistency: you don’t need a flashy blast, you need reliable little permissions and cantrips that you can cast on the same turn you drop Tracker. ⚡
- Budget-friendly draw and filter artifacts—things that let you peek at a top card, draw a card, or set up your next draw while staying cost-effective. These not only smooth out your curve but also ensure you hit that all-important second spell each turn to grow Tracker’s army. The more you chain, the bigger the threat!
- Single-card consistency with low-mana staples—the idea is to lean on a few repeatable, inexpensive effects you can count on every game. A lean toolbox beats a bloated one, especially when you’re trying to assemble a modular, faster-than-average creature with menace. The thrill is in seeing those early counters turn into late-game pressure without paying premium card prices. 🧙♂️
To keep expectations grounded, remember Tracker’s power scales with what you cast, not just what you own. It rewards players who plan around the “first spell vs. later spells” cadence, weaving small advantages into a larger board presence. It’s a rhythm game for budget players — you tap, you draw, you cast, you count. And if you’ve ever wanted a deck that feels clever without requiring a vault of cards, this is your sweet spot. 🔥💎
Lore, art, and the sensibility of the set
Modern Horizons 2 brings a cross-section of timeless and experimental MTG design. Arcbound Tracker, illustrated by Campbell White, channels the frenzied energy of modular artifacts and the red-aligned hunger for quick, decisive play. The creature’s dogged perseverance and menace nods to a world where machines and mutt-like tenacity collide in the most delightful way. The art invites you to imagine a little compass of ingenuity in a sea of chrome, sparks, and solder — a perfect match for hobbyists who love piecing together practical, budget-friendly combos. Red mana, relays, and relentless rise in power — that’s the spirit in a nutshell. 🎨⚔️
“Sometimes the best win condition is the one you can assemble with a handful of common scraps and a little bit of elbow grease.”
From a collector’s angle, Arcbound Tracker sits comfortably among common cards that still see play in multiple formats due to their reliability and synergy with other modular artifacts. Its price points stay wallet-friendly (a few cents to a few dimes for non-foil copies) while maintaining a respectable presence in casual and competitive circles. The card’s modern legal status in formats like Modern, Historic, and Eternal staples makes it a forgiving addition for budget crafters who want to dip their toes into the artifact synergy pool. The artwork and clever card design make it a joy to sleeve up for a night of friendly competition. 🧙♂️💎
As you consider adding Arcbound Tracker into your collection, think about a few core upgrades that won’t derail your budget. Pair it with a small cluster of artifact creatures and a few resilient draw options, and you’ll have a compact engine that scales with your enjoyment of the game. The modular theme invites you to experiment: as counters move, as threats collide, and as you discover just how far your tiny dog can push a room full of tools toward victory. The satisfaction is real, and the payoff can be spectacular with the right eye for synergy. 🧠🎲
Want to explore similar value? Look into affordable artifact options and red-supporting pieces that keep your power curve honest while you stay on a friendly budget. And if you’re curious about a new desk setup to match your MTG vibe, the Neon Gaming Mouse Pad below makes a bright companion to nights of drafting and deckbuilding.