The threat of Phyrexia has been a key focus in Magic: The Gathering lore. Numerous Commanders showcase the efforts the rest of the planes would do to fight this existential threat. Chief among these fighters is Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch. This seemingly-adorable mechanical Myr embodied the creativity of Memnarch, the first ruler of Mirrodin back when it was the metallic world of Argentum.
Though Memnarch is gone, Urtet is still busy exploring the world and tinkering with objects he’s seen, resulting in gadgets that enabled the Mirrodin resistance to stand some chance against the Phyrexian threat. For players of Magic: The Gathering who want to explore what Urtet has to offer, they need to understand the compatibility of his build with the game’s existing Myr offerings.
In The Lore: Who Is Urtet?
In the story of Magic: The Gathering, Urtet served as a devout servant of Memnarch, the first (but secret) ruler of Mirrodin back when it was a metal world of Argentum created by the planeswalker Karn. When Karn left Argentum to its own devices, it entrusted Memnarch with the wisdom of the all-powerful Mirari artifact and stewardship over the realm.
Although Memnarch was responsible for sparking life in now-named Mirrodin, his corruption by the Phyrexian oil eventually led to his downfall. Only Urtet, one of his Memnite creations, carried his legacy. A technician that shared the same innocent curiosity as its creator pre-corruption, Urtet is often seen carrying trinkets and exploring the realm. Thanks to the gadgets and items he left behind, Mirran survivors could stave off the Phyrexian assault.
Remnant Of Memnarch: Key Characteristics
When building a deck with “Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch,” Magic: The Gathering players need to get a good grasp on his basic mechanics. Urtet’s nature as one of the first Myrs plays right into his core skillset, as the card has the following capabilities:
- Low-cost, low investment: Being a 2/2 Artifact Creature costing 3 Colorless makes Urtet an easy summon. Even with the additional 2 Mana cost per re-summon, it’s easy to secure the Mana needed to get him back on the field.
- Artifact Token spam: Urtet’s primary ability involves creating Myr Artifact Creature Tokens as often as possible, especially when using Myr spells. Although they start out as 1/1 Colorless tokens, it’s easy to overwhelm enemies with these instant blockers. This is especially the case with Urtet’s second ability, where all Myrs on the player’s side are untapped at the start of combat.
- Counter buff: Urtet’s last effect is a surprising addition to his toolkit. At the cost of Mana of each color, all Myrs get +3/+3. While this is only activated during the player’s turn, being able to do this once per turn on top of Urtet untapping all Myrs for combat can transform weak 1/1 Colorless tokens into juggernauts.
Strengths: A Myr For Every Color
Despite the minuscule nature of “Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch” compared to other Commanders, this Magic: The Gathering card packs a punch when integrated with the right deck. Players need to understand his key characteristics to transform into these advantages.
- No color, no problem: Thanks to Urtet’s nature as an Artifact Creature and his Artifact-summoning focus, players won’t need to build a deck with a particular color focus. This can make setups easier, especially considering how most Myrs are almost always colorless.
- Works with any color archetype: While many Myr creatures end up being colorless, some specialized Myr creatures do have effects that fit their specific Mana costs. Because Urtet is colorless, he can easily be integrated into any color-coded Myr deck and boost their creature offerings.
- Straightforward Myr focus: With Urtet’s toolkit focusing heavily on Myrs, it’s easy to build a deck for this Commander. Capitalizing on the resource-friendly nature of Myr cards can make most Urtet decks cheap but powerful in the long-term.
Weaknesses: It’s All Myr
While there are a lot of uses for “Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch” in the right deck, his specialized nature makes him tricky to use. Players who want to use Urtet in their decks need to consider how they can bypass the following setbacks.
- Multicolor madness: The only thing making an Urtet deck tricky is the steep requirement for his +3/+3 effect activation. The 5-Mana cost to proc this massive stat buff can be hard to secure unless players get to ramp their Lands quickly.
- Predictably Myr: Given the Myr-heavy focus of his build, it’s easy to predict the playstyles Urtet offers. Should enemies have an idea on what Urtet is trying to pull off, opponents with anti-Artifact cards can easily cut off an Urtet offensive.
Remnant Of Memnarch Strategies: A Myr For Every Strategy
Given the Myr-focused nature of “Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch,” it’s easy to assume that decks with this Commander have to include Myr creature types. However, the versatility of Myr spells means Urtet can provide players with a number of strategies to consider.
- Overwhelm with numbers: Urtet makes an efficient Commander when it comes to aggression, especially when players can tap into his buffs. When combined with token-doubling effects, Urtet can create armies that can overwhelm enemies much faster than expected.
- Get specific: Despite the temptation to include Myr creatures of all colors, it may help to decide on a specific strategy and build an Urtet deck to accommodate these situations. That way, the player becomes less predictable for opponents while branching into other win-cons more efficiently.
Deck 1: Improving The Standard
While the traditional Urtet deck in Magic: The Gathering will include most of the Myrs available in the game, their lack of synergies can do more harm than good on the onset. This can be dangerous in fast-paced Commander battles. Improving the Standard remedies this, particularly when using Urtet’s buffs and untap mechanics within his staple deck. Improving the Standard replaces some Myrs in this standard deck with more useful alternatives.
For example, “Mirror Entity” is a Changeling (all creature types) that can transform the base stats of all the player's creatures based on Mana provided, making it a neat alternative while waiting for Urtet or when there’s extra Mana prior to Urtet’s buffs. Other useful non-Myrs include “Alibou, Ancient Witness” and “Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer,” which gives Haste to all Artifacts; and “Etherium Sculptor” and “Foundry Inspector,” which reduces the Mana cost of Artifacts.
Deck 2: Mana Pumping Action
Players who want to transform their Magic: The Gathering gameplay with an Urtet deck can go simple and straightforward with Mana Pumping Action. This deck tries to solve the question of having enough Mana to even proc Urtet’s 5-cost +3/+3 buff with investments such as 5-cost “Timeless Lotus” and 7-cost “Chromatic Orrery.” Both of these cards can pump 5 Mana into Urtet when needed. “Cryptolith Rite” lets players tap any creature for 1 Mana and can advantage of Urtet’s untap skill, making it less risky in the heat of battle.
On top of traditional token-pumping cards are summon punishers. For instance, “Cabal Paladin” deals 2 damage for every historic spell cast, such as Artifacts. Meanwhile, “Reckless Fireweaver” deals 1 damage to opponents when creatures enter the battlefield, and “Purophos, God of the Forge” deals 2 for the same effect. With these cards, if Urtet spawns a Myr Token after a Myr creature is cast, it will punish opponent for 10 damage, similar to an aggro Red deck.
Players who want to make a nigh-indestructible army can add spells such as “Illusionist’s Bracers” and “Doubling Season” to the mix. The doubles the counters given, and the latter does the same on top of doubling tokens that appear.
Deck 3: The More, The Merrier
Another obvious but effective approach with Urtet is to exponentially boost token output as soon as possible. In this The More, The Merrier deck, players still focus on getting Urtet out early, as well as building a healthy Mana supply via ramps without unnecessarily using rare Magic: The Gathering cards. The More, The Merrier should facilitate token boosts that make them into the main damage dealers of the team.
“Parallel Lives” becomes an integral card to ensure Urtet doubles his minion-generation output. Meanwhile, “Lux Artillery” will add Sunburst (add a +1/+1 counter for each Mana spent to cast) to Artifacts cast, giving them a nifty boost even before Urtet procs his buff. And with “All Will Be One,” Urtet’s already-debilitating +3/+3 buff translates to 3 damage to the opponent, hurting them before players even attack.
Deck 4: Pure Punishment
Players who want to start the equivalent of a robot uprising may want Pure Punishment. This build plays out like most Urtet decks, but with extra combat buffs. Pure Punishment relies on a few key cards to rain hell on opponents. “Shared Animosity” gives +1/+0 for creatures that share a creature type during combat, while “Haunted One” gives +2/+0 to itself and all other creatures during that turn whenever it’s untapped. Thanks to Urtet’s untap mechanic, “Haunted One” can easily proc +4/+0, on top of Urtet’s +3/+3 buff.
Other cards in this deck also give smaller buffs to other Artifacts but are easier to access due to lower costs. These include “Steel Overseer,” which gives +1/+1 to Artifact creatures, as well as “Urza, Prince of Kroog” and “Tempered Steel” that gives +2/+2. Cost reducers such as “Herald’s Horn” and “Urza’s Incubator” can make it easier for Urtet to proc his token production effects for more potential damage.
Deck 5: To Infinity And Beyond
Skilled players of Magic: The Gathering will likely not have many problems setting up an Urtet deck in the early game. The main problem is keeping their band of fragile robots alive until Urtet buffs them. With To Infinity And Beyond, the right setup can secure not just nigh-infinite Mana, but also nigh-infinite Myr Tokens. Pulling off To Infinity And Beyond will allow players to get as much Mana as they need to get into any victory condition they like.
The first infinite Mana combo is to have “Cryptolith Rite” enable 4 Myrs to generate 1 Mana each when tapped. Tapping all of them and paying 1 additional Mana triggers “Myr Matrix,” which puts another Myr Token into play. This activates “Intruder Alarm,” which untaps all creatures when an Artifact creature enters play, practically letting players restart the cycle.
Another strategy still involves “Cryptolith Rite” and 4 Myrs. This time, tap 1 Myr and another to activate “Myr Galvanizer” to untap all creatures, leaving 1 floating Mana. Tap 1 Myr to make 2 floating Mana, and tap 2 more Myr to activate “Clock of Omens” to untap “Myr Galvanizer.” Tap the last Myr to activate the “Galvanizer” to untap everything, giving room to repeat the cycle.
March of the Machine is the most recent expansion of Magic: The Gathering, having been released in April 2023.