A new Magic: The Gathering creature type called Toy was introduced through Duskmourn: House of Horrors, with a majority of them having a low mana cost and power.
The design of MTG Toy creatures within Duskmourn: House of Horrors plays off the flavor of “previously inanimate objects that have gained a keen, deadly sentience and an appetite for death,” according to WotC. Toy creatures on the plane of Duskmourn avoid confrontation, often laying dormant while waiting for a sucker to pick them up and let their guard down. The Duskmourn Artifact Toy creature cards have stats like a toy would, with only one having a power level over three at time of writing.
Here are the best Toy Artifact creatures from the House of Horrors set.
Giggling Skitterspike (Commander)
![Baby doll head with spikes in cage that has spider legs made out of metal in Dukmourn MTG set](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Giggling-skitterspike-MTG-Duskmourn-Commander-Toy.jpg?w=359)
Costing four Colorless mana, Giggling Skitterspike is a Duskmourn Commander card. The Toy is a 1/1 that’s Indestructible. Giggling Skitterspike uses Indestructible to deal its power to an opponent when it either attacks, blocks, or is the target of a spell.
As a bonus, Giggling Skitterspike has an activated ability of Monstrosity Five. The Monstrosity mechanic grants five +1/+1 counters on Giggling Skitterspike at the cost of five Colorless mana. It’s a fun Artifact creature that can slot into a variety of Commander decks.
Arabella, Abandoned Doll
![Annabelle raggady anne lookalike doll in red and white with red bow and white hat surrounded by ohter dolls in MTG Duskmourn set](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Arabella-Abandoned-Doll-Duskmourn.jpg?w=351)
Arabella, Abandoned Doll isn’t an Aggro card you want to hit on curve but she’s a powerful finisher who can take over the board state. The downside of the Artifact Toy is that she doesn’t have Haste. But when she attacks with a board full of creatures at least once, the lifegain and damage alone can swing a match without having to attack with your other creatures.
Marvin, Murderous Mimic
![Puppet with old man wooden head and bulging eyes in white holding a weapon in Duskmourn MTG Set](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/marvin-murderous-mimic-MTG-Duskmourn-Toy.jpg?w=359)
Duplicating Marvin, Murderous Mimic without other creatures on the board won’t do you any good. But as a two-drop Artifact with all activated abilities of creatures you control, the Toy will have a major impact on Commander. I’m anxious to test it out in Standard, for fun.
Twitching Doll
![A cat face human doll with holes in feet and green dress in MTG Duskmourn set](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/twitching-doll-MTG-Duskmourn-Toy-buy-a-box-promo.jpg?w=359)
Twitching Doll is the buy-a-box promo for Duskmourn, and it’s worth having a copy or two. The two-drop mana dork taps for mana of any color, which isn’t anything to write home about. But it also gains a Nest counter when it taps for mana. The Nest counters turn into 2/2 Spider tokens in Green with Reach when Twitching Doll is tapped to sacrifice it. The Spider Toy is pure value in a Green deck with two or more colors, providing mana and then board presence later in the game when mana isn’t needed anymore.
Piggy Bank
![A pig boar with hole in belly showing teeth wearing a blue toy hat and evil grin through MTG Duskmourn set](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/piggy-bank-MTG-Duskmourn-Toy.jpg?w=359)
Creating Treasure tokens is always good for a low-cost creature like Piggy Bank. The Toy isn’t Charming Scoundrel but it does have 3/2 stats for a two-drop and leave behind a Treasure token when it dies. Piggy Bank is a Boar that will get what it wants and then leave behind an Artifact you can use for a variety of purposes. I expect Piggy Bank to be good in MTG Duskmourn Limited, especially in the RB Sacrifice Draft archetype. The Toy won’t see much Standard play, though, and maybe some Commander.
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Published: Sep 10, 2024 03:39 pm