Clockwork Beast

Description

Introduced in 1993 as part of the Limited Edition Beta set, the Clockwork Beast (Card #237) stands as a foundational artifact creature within the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Designed by artist Drew Tucker, this Rare card belongs to the Beast subtype and carries a mana cost of six, establishing its presence in mid-to-late game scenarios. As an Artifact Creature, it bridges the gap between mechanical utility and thematic beastly design, offering collectors a tangible link to the game's earliest days. The card’s gameplay revolves around a unique counter system that distinguishes it from other creatures of its era. Upon entering the battlefield, the Clockwork Beast arrives with seven +1/+0 counters already placed upon it, effectively granting it a high initial toughness of four. This immediate impact allows it to survive early aggression while maintaining offensive potential. The card’s rules text includes a dynamic maintenance phase: at the end of combat, if the creature attacked or blocked, one +1/+0 counter is removed. This mechanic creates a natural decay over time, reflecting the wear and tear of battle on a mechanical construct. Collectors and players value the Clockwork Beast for its clever design and historical significance within the Limited Edition Beta expansion. The ability to add up to X +1/+0 counters during your upkeep, limited to a maximum of seven, provides strategic flexibility. This activation ability, which costs mana and requires tapping the creature, allows for targeted power boosts without exceeding the set limit. The interplay of its starting stats and decay mechanic makes it a memorable component of the game's early competitive landscape.