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 
to 
, so you can tap the Monolith for 
and pay to untap it, netting 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 .
to , so you can tap the Monolith for and pay to untap it, netting 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 
(but not below one mana), Basalt Monolith’s “: Untap this artifact” is reduced to while both are controlled by you [Ruling 2024-02-02].
(but not below one mana), Basalt Monolith’s “: Untap this artifact” is reduced to while both are controlled by you [Ruling 2024-02-02].Step 3
Tap Basalt Monolith for using its “
: Add ” ability.
using its “: Add ” ability.Step 4
Pay to activate the Monolith’s untap ability (now : Untap this artifact) and resolve that activation to untap the Monolith; activation and resolution follow the rules for activated abilities .
to activate the Monolith’s untap ability (now : 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 and costs to untap, netting each iteration, so you can generate arbitrarily large amounts of colorless mana by repeating the loop [Ruling 2020-08-07].
and costs to untap, netting 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 “: Untap this artifact” cost 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 and pay to untap it, repeating the sequence to gain one net 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 .
: Untap this artifact” cost 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 and pay to untap it, repeating the sequence to gain one net 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 .Feedback