The Battlefield

Basalt Monolith
Forensic Gadgeteer
AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Basalt Monolith + Forensic Gadgeteer

Overview
With Forensic Gadgeteer and Basalt Monolith under your control on the battlefield, Forensic Gadgeteer reduces Basalt Monolith’s activated untap cost from {3} to {2}, so you can tap the Monolith for {C}{C}{C} and pay {2} to untap it, netting {C} each loop and producing an unbounded amount of colorless mana. Forensic Gadgeteer’s reduction only affects activated abilities of artifacts you control on the battlefield [Ruling 2024-02-02], and Basalt Monolith’s untap ability can be activated as often as you can pay for it [Ruling 2020-08-07]; activation of activated abilities is governed by .
Step 1
Have Forensic Gadgeteer and Basalt Monolith on the battlefield under your control (artifacts on the battlefield per ).
Step 2
Because Forensic Gadgeteer’s static ability reduces the activation cost of activated abilities of artifacts you control by {1} (but not below one mana), Basalt Monolith’s “{3}: Untap this artifact” is reduced to {2} while both are controlled by you [Ruling 2024-02-02].
Step 3
Tap Basalt Monolith for {C}{C}{C} using its “{T}: Add {C}{C}{C}” ability.
Step 4
Pay {2} to activate the Monolith’s untap ability (now {2}: Untap this artifact) and resolve that activation to untap the Monolith; activation and resolution follow the rules for activated abilities .
Step 5
Repeat steps Tap and Pay as desired. Each loop produces {C}{C}{C} and costs {2} to untap, netting {C} each iteration, so you can generate arbitrarily large amounts of colorless mana by repeating the loop [Ruling 2020-08-07].
Resolution
If you control both permanents, Forensic Gadgeteer makes Basalt Monolith’s “{3}: Untap this artifact” cost {2} to activate (Forensic Gadgeteer’s static reduction applies to activated abilities of artifacts you control on the battlefield) [Ruling 2024-02-02]. You may then tap the Monolith for {C}{C}{C} and pay {2} to untap it, repeating the sequence to gain one net {C} per loop and therefore generate an arbitrarily large amount of colorless mana (Basalt Monolith’s untap ability may be used as often as you can pay for it) [Ruling 2020-08-07] and subject to normal activation timing and priority rules .
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