Academy Manufactor Calculator

Rule 1: Replacement Effects Don't Use the Stack

Cards like Academy Manufactor, Peregrin Took, Xorn, and Case of the Pilfered Proof all use replacement effects — not triggered abilities. Replacement effects never go on the stack and cannot be responded to.

This means you cannot "trigger" Xorn off of a Clue being created by Academy Manufactor mid-chain. Instead, all applicable replacement effects compete to modify the same event. Per CR 616.1e, once priority effects (control changes, copy effects, etc.) are handled, "any of the applicable replacement and/or prevention effects may be chosen." After each application, the process repeats (CR 616.1f), and effects can become newly applicable as a result of other effects (CR 616.2) — this is what allows Moonlit to see the tokens AM creates.

Rule 2: The Order You Apply Effects Determines the Result (CR 616.1e)

Because all these cards are general "instead" replacement effects (CR 616.1e), the affected player chooses the order freely. To maximize tokens, always apply additive bonuses (Peregrin, Case, Xorn) first, then let Academy Manufactors multiply.

Example: 1 Food, 2 Academy Manufactors, Peregrin Took
1. Peregrin fires (CR 616.1e): 1 Food → 2 Foods
2. AM #1 applies (CR 616.1f repeat): 2 Foods → 2F, 2C, 2T
3. AM #2 applies (CR 616.1f repeat): each of those → 6F, 6C, 6T
Formula: (2 input tokens) × 3² (Total Multiplier) = 18 Total tokens (6 of each) ✓
*Note: If you applied AM1 before Peregrin, you'd only get 12 tokens total. Order matters!*

Rule 3: Academy Manufactor Oracle Ruling (2021-06-18)

"If you control one Academy Manufactor and would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token, you instead create one Clue token, one Food token, and one Treasure token. If you control two Academy Manufactors and would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token, you instead create three Clues, three Foods, and three Treasures. If you control three, you get nine of each, and so on."

With N Academy Manufactors, the result per original input token is 3^N of each type. Formula: base × 3^N = result per type.

Rule 4: Moonlit Meditation — Choosing When to Apply It (CR 616.2)

Moonlit Meditation is also a general replacement effect (CR 616.1e). Because of CR 616.2 ("a replacement effect can become applicable as the result of another replacement effect"), Moonlit can be chosen after AMs have already run — it sees the larger token pool that AM created and replaces all of it with Academy Manufactor tokens. You choose when to apply it:

Scenario: 1 Food, 2 AMs on board (one Moonlit), Peregrin Took
Note: Because you can order replacement effects freely (CR 616.1e), there are many permutations. Here are the most optimal paths:

① Max AMs (Moonlit last): Peregrin → 2 Foods. AM1 → 2F, 2C, 2T. AM2 → 6F, 6C, 6T = 18 tokens. Moonlit replaces all 18 → 18 AMs.
② Keep tokens (skip Moonlit): Don't apply Moonlit. Keep the 18 tokens (6 of each).
③ Split (Moonlit before Peregrin): Moonlit fires first on 1 Food → 1 AM. Then Peregrin triggers → 1 AM + 1 Food. The 1 Food goes through both AMs. AM1 → 1F, 1C, 1T. AM2 → 3F, 3C, 3T. Result: 1 AM + 9 tokens (3 of each).

⚠️ Remember: Moonlit Meditation can only replace the first token-generation event this turn (once per turn condition on the enchantment). If you've already created tokens earlier this turn, Moonlit won't fire.