Thopter Arrest MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Thopter Arrest is an adept control tool, targeting key creatures and artifacts for neutralization.
  2. While versatile, Thopter Arrest’s mana cost and sorcery speed may limit its flexibility in play.
  3. Comparing Thopter Arrest to similar cards reveals its strategic role and specific utility in MTG.

Text of card

When Thopter Arrest enters the battlefield, exile target artifact or creature an opponent controls until Thopter Arrest leaves the battlefield.

The Consulate's eyes—unblinking, unsleeping—are everywhere.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thopter Arrest enhances your control by neutralizing a key threat on the battlefield. By removing an opponent’s creature or artifact, you effectively reduce their resources while maintaining your own, leading to a gradual accrual of advantage on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While Thopter Arrest doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, demobilizing a potent mana-producing artifact or ramp creature can slow down your opponent’s resource acceleration. This subtle disruption can give you the upper hand as you continue to develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: Although Thopter Arrest operates at sorcery speed, its impact is immediate and enduring. By exiling an opposing threat, it allows you to plan your moves without concern for that particular card, providing a strategic advantage that aligns with the value offered by instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thopter Arrest, while powerful, does not feature a discard mechanic. However, if we assess its role in a hand, having this card might lead a player to forgo other more immediately beneficial cards, affecting strategic hand management.

Specific Mana Cost: Thopter Arrest requires a combination of one white mana plus two other mana, which can pose a restriction. This specificity makes it a less flexible choice for multi-colored or colorless decks that might struggle with white mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating removal options, Thopter Arrest’s three mana cost can be considered high. In an environment where tempo is critical, there are alternative cards that offer similar effects at a lower mana cost, potentially giving an opponent less time to respond or recover from the setback.


Reasons to Include Thopter Arrest in Your Collection

Versatility: Thopter Arrest’s ability to neutralize problematic artifacts and creatures upon its casting makes it a versatile addition to white-based control decks or any decks looking for efficient removal options.

Combo Potential: As it permanently exiles the target until Thopter Arrest leaves the battlefield, it can synergize well with strategies that aim to manipulate permanents your opponents control, or with decks that capitalize on detain and exile mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with artifact and creature-heavy decks, Thopter Arrest can serve as a key piece of interaction. It’s especially relevant in metagames where opponents rely on specific creatures or artifacts to execute their game plan.


How to beat

Thopter Arrest is a versatile removal option in Magic: The Gathering, adept at neutralizing key creatures or artifacts. Understanding its dynamics can turn the tide in your favor during gameplay. This enchantment not only exiles a target creature or artifact upon entry but it also prevents it from triggering its abilities. To effectively counter Thopter Arrest, timing and strategic use of enchantment removal spells like Naturalize are essential. Deploying such a countermeasure when your opponent least expects it restores your key pieces, potentially reversing their tempo.

Resource management is another crucial aspect to outsmarting Thopter Arrest. In formats where it’s legal, deck building should anticipate removals, including having backups for your principal threats. This increases resilience against temporary setbacks caused by such exiling enchantments. Versatility in your deck’s answers ensures that a single Thopter Arrest doesn’t dismantle your entire strategy. Additionally, you can exploit moments when your opponent is tapped out or low on resources, minimizing the chances of Thopter Arrest disrupting your game plan.

Thus, while Thopter Arrest has the capability to severely impact the board state, a well-prepared player can navigate through its challenges. Incorporating enchantment removal and strategic play can help maintain dominance over opponents who rely on Thopter Arrest as a defensive lynchpin.


Cards like Thopter Arrest

Thopter Arrest stands out in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal as a versatile removal option. It’s often compared to cards like Banishing Light and Oblivion Ring, all capable of exiling a nonland permanent an opponent controls. Thopter Arrest distinguishes itself by specifically targeting artifacts and creatures, thereby disabling decks that rely heavily on these card types. Meantime, Banishing Light offers a broader range, allowing you to exile any nonland permanent without restriction.

Another card worth comparing is the classic Pacifism. While Pacifism is cheaper and solely focuses on creatures, it doesn’t remove the creature from the battlefield, allowing opponents to use abilities or benefit from static effects. Thopter Arrest silences both abilities and combat potential. There’s also Cast Out, which includes cycling—offering card draw flexibility. However, it has a higher casting cost compared to Thopter Arrest.

Assessing such options is critical, as each card has nuances that could sway a game. Thopter Arrest’s ability to shut down certain threats makes it a favored pick in particular matches within Magic: The Gathering, asserting its place as a reliable control element.

Banishing Light - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Pacifism - MTG Card versions
Cast Out - MTG Card versions
Banishing Light - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Oblivion Ring - Lorwyn (LRW)
Pacifism - Mirage (MIR)
Cast Out - Amonkhet (AKH)

Cards similar to Thopter Arrest by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Fortified Area - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Sandskin - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Fortified Area - Renaissance (REN)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - The List (PLST)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Core Set 2021 Promos (PM21)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Sandskin - Onslaught (ONS)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thopter Arrest MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Kaladesh Remastered, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Thopter Arrest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thopter Arrest Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 252015normalblackKieran Yanner
22020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 342015normalblackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thopter Arrest has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thopter Arrest card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2017-02-09 Auras attached to the exiled permanent will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist.
2017-02-09 If Thopter Arrest leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target permanent won’t be exiled.
2017-02-09 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield.
2017-02-09 In a multiplayer game, if Thopter Arrest’s owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn’t an ability that goes on the stack, it won’t cease to exist along with the leaving player’s spells and abilities on the stack.
2017-02-09 The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Thopter Arrest leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions.

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