Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Parody, humor, and the metallic mischief of a Modern Horizons 2 staple
Unhinged fans know that humor isn’t just a sidetrack in the MTG multiverse—it’s a beloved engine that powers memes, deck-building bravado, and those glorious “what-if” moments that keep casual games buzzing. Liquimetal Torque, while a product of the more “serious” Modern Horizons 2 design space, wears a sly wink for anyone who cherishes the tongue-in-cheek spirit of parody. This colorless artifact, with its two pragmatic abilities, invites players to imagine a world where jewelry becomes weaponized magic and every permanent has a secret metallic alter-ego. 🧙♂️🔥💎⚔️🎨🎲
Set in the drafting innovation era of MH2, Liquimetal Torque sits comfortably in most Commander and casual Modern games where artifact synergies earn bragging rights and a few laughs. The card’s flavor text—“Weaponized jewelry has a long and respected history.” — Ervos Trax — anchors the humor in a lore-friendly wink. It’s not just about function; it’s about storytelling. The torque becomes a symbol of how even the most pristine artifacts can double as mischievous plot devices in the hands of the right player. The art by Brian Snõddy captures that gleam and grit, a reminder that even utility can sparkle with personality. 🧭✨
Two practical tools, one playful premise
- {T}: Add {C} — A straightforward colorless mana rock at base cost, Liquimetal Torque offers you a reliable mana option in a colorless heavy metagame. It’s a quiet workhorse that can fuel early plays, enable mid-game acceleration, or unlock those cheeky splash-outs you’ve been imagining on sleeved sleeves. In the humor-forward mindset of Unhinged-adjacent play, that mana isn’t merely a resource; it’s a prompt to dream up ridiculous turns where lack of color becomes an advantage in the most unexpected ways. 🧙♂️💎
- {T}: Target nonland permanent becomes an artifact in addition to its other types until end of turn — This is where the parody spark really catches fire. The ability lets any nonland permanent momentarily don an artifact identity, which can unlock interactions you wouldn’t normally expect. Suddenly a creature can become both a threat and a machine, a land can moonlight as an artifact ramp, or a cursed enchantment can reveal an all-metal personality. It’s the kind of effect that invites playful deckbuilding: what if your commander or a favorite creature gains new, artifact-themed keywords for a single turn? The humor comes from the almost cartoonish ease with which form and function swap in the heat of combat. ⚔️🎨
That second line of text is the mechanic-forward centerpiece—and it’s a design that respects both the practicality of MTG’s rules and the silly trajectory fans adore in parody sets. You can imagine simulating a goofy “art-ifacts” battlefield where a loyal blocker is temporarily refitted as a gleaming bronze defender, prompting reactions, shuffles, and memes all around the table. The card doesn’t overplay its hand; it invites creative, lighthearted play while delivering reliable, usable power. 🔧🪙
Flavor, lore, and the metallic joke that lands
The flavor text gives Liquimetal Torque its character: a statement that elicits a knowing grin—from the “weaponized jewelry” idea to a wink at the realm’s long-running fascination with artifacts as both gadget and symbol. The lore-friendly tone sits well within MH2’s broader curiosity about transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary and the mundane into the magical. And because the art leans into the gleaming, gadgety side of magic, the card becomes a favorite for players who collect not just power but personality. It’s a reminder that MTG’s world is as much about the stories cards tell as the numbers on their margins. That is where humor becomes culture, a thread that Unhinged fans have long celebrated in a more explicit lure, but still resonates in modern, craftier sets. 🧩💫
“Weaponized jewelry has a long and respected history.” — Ervos Trax
The line lands with a smile because it feels plausible in the MTG universe yet cheeky enough to spark a narrative around why someone would want a turning-torque in a battle for the Thran equivalent of a wedding ring. It’s a perfect example of how a single line of flavor text can anchor a mechanical idea in the real world: artifacts aren’t just objects; they’re characters with motives, quirks, and a sense of drama—and sometimes they’re wearing the showy jewelry we’re all secretly jealous of. 🎭💎
Strategic rhythms: when to tap for colorless power and when to switch a blade into a badge
In terms of gameplay rhythm, Liquimetal Torque rewards careful timing and creative targeting. In Commander circles, you can leverage the first ability for steady, dependable ramp, especially in decks that rely on colorless mana or multi-color springs. The second ability is the real “hook”: it invites you to consider turning an adversary’s blocker into an artifact-enriched menace, or turning your own threat into a temporary tool for a pivotal swing. This dual-purpose design encourages you to think about artifact-centric synergies: Do you have other cards that thrive when something is an artifact? Is there a way to trigger an artifact-stacking combo just for the sake of a memorable moment? The humor comes through in the imagined scenarios—like a creature suddenly donning a shiny, metallic alias in the middle of a heated duel. 🧙♂️🔥
Pragmatically, Liquimetal Torque is an uncommon from Modern Horizons 2, a set known for its balance of inventive cards and approachable playability. It supports both casual group games and more structured formats, with foil and nonfoil printings that appeal to collectors and players alike. Its mana-flexibility suits decks that want to lean into colorless strategies or to experiment with “artifact-first” plans that feel delightfully offbeat even when fully legal in formats like Modern and Commander. The card’s EDHREC ranking on its archetype space hints at its warmth among fans who enjoy quirky interactions and a dash of retro-fantasy humor. 💼💎
Art, price, and the culture of a playful metal moment
The visual language of Liquimetal Torque—a clean, gleaming design with practical Mech-like vibes—makes it a delightful centerpiece for conversations about card design. Its dual nature as both a mana rock and a tempo-enabler for temporary artifact transformations makes it a talking point for players who relish the “what-if” angle of MTG battles. The card sits in a sweet price range, accessible enough for casual play while still carrying the appeal of a foil upgrade that fans chase for display or trade. The Modern Horizons 2 label anchors it in a moment when Wizards was blending classic design instincts with modern tournament viability, all while encouraging players to riff on what “artifact identity” can mean in a universe full of colorless possibilities. 💎🎨
For collectors, the rarity and print characteristics offer a steady, approachable avenue into MH2’s quirky corners. The set’s mix of ethical humor and practical power helps Liquimetal Torque remain a memorable piece for both budget-conscious players and those who love to show off a gleaming, artifact-themed board state with a wink. It’s a card that invites a tiny story with every play—one where the jewelry isn’t just stylish, it’s strategically cunning and a little bit ridiculous, too. 🧭⚔️