Fixing Tezzeret

wereotter

Problems with Tezzeret are two-fold. From a gameplay standpoint, supports are not enough to win most matches unless you've managed to get certain rare and mythic rare supports (Thopter Spy Network, I'm looking at you) and that from a flavor perspective Tezzeret feels more like an enchanter than an artificer, largely because so many supports are built off enchantments than off artifacts.

Solution, rework his loyalty abilities. Here are some thoughts regarding that.

First off, let's look at the source card. Tezzeret the Seeker was originally printed in Shards of Alara with the following abilities:

+1: untap up to two artifacts.
-X: search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost X or less and put it on the battlefield.
-5: artifacts you control become artifact creatures with base power and toughness 5/5 until the end of turn.

The build for Tezzeret hits the mark right on for some of these abilities and is a miss on the others, so here's my suggestion and rational.

Tezzeret's 6 cost ability does not in any way support the concept of uncapping two artifacts. When I consider what untapping two artifacts means, the two biggest things I can think of are mana rocks for ramping, and artifact creatures, possibly as blockers after they attacked in my first main phase. Also consider that most planeswalkers at this point have some ability to generate mana off their first ability, this is an area Tezzeret is lacking.

So my solution:
Level 1: Gain 2 mana per support you control
Level 2: Gain 2 mana per support you control, and the first colorless creature you control gains vigilance until the beginning of your next turn.
Level 3: Gain 3 mana per support you control, and the first colorless creature you control gains vigilance until the beginning of your next turn.
Level 4: Gain 3 mana per support you control, and the first colorless creature you control gains reach until the beginning of you next turn.

Given how many supports his deck takes, I can also see where it may be necessary to have this be gain 1 mana and 2 mana respectively.

Tezzeret's 12 cost ability to tutor up a support is good, but ignores artifact creatures, and with the lower creature count in the deck, that's a serious failing. The only thing I could change is to change the verbiage to "Fetch the next support or colorless creature from your library" then give it the appropriate amount of mana described in his ability.

Tezzeret's 24 cost ability is spot on, and needs to adjustment, in my opinion.