Three Mana Rocks Get a Second Look, Untapped Utility Revealed

Nicholas Lucchesi made the case that three mana mana rocks deserve more attention in Commander, laying out specific cards and the roles they fill. Rather than promising to replace staples like Sol Ring or Arcane Signet, the argument was that these artifacts provide niche and sometimes surprising impact in the right builds, especially when a deck already leans into artifact synergies or more expensive spell curves.

The list began with pieces that support planeswalkers and proliferation. Gatewatch Beacon was held up as excellent in planeswalker heavy decks, offering dedicated mana and interaction with loyalty based strategies. Glistening Sphere earned praise for its proliferation utility even though it enters tapped, a trade off that can pay dividends in planeswalker or counters focused tables.

Value and versatility featured prominently. Cursed Mirror stands out as a three mana artifact that enters untapped, can produce colored mana, and doubles as a temporary clone with haste. That combination lets it act both as ramp and as a spot impact card that can change board state immediately, making it attractive in decks that need flexible answers rather than pure acceleration.

The piece also called attention to persistent mana threats that alter opponents math and table politics. Bender's Waterskin and Victory Chimes both create ongoing mana on your untap threats that force opponents to plan around them, and that dynamic can be used as a political tool during multiplayer negotiation. Those recurring resources matter in longer games where incremental advantage compounds.

Less commonly seen picks included Starnheim Memento and Astrolabe. Astrolabe was described as underplayed and potentially powerful inside artifact support shells, even though it can be slightly costlier to use than more common rocks. Starnheim Memento brings other utility that can slot into build themes where its unique effects outshine raw acceleration.

The practical takeaway is straightforward. Try these three mana artifacts when building around planeswalkers, artifact synergies, or when your deck curve tolerates a mid cost mana rock. Experimenting with them can reveal tactical lines that cheaper rocks do not offer, and they can make otherwise slow turns feel threatening in multiplayer politics.