Thopter Engineer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Artificer
Power 1
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Creates an extra 1/1 Thopter, offering card efficiency by augmenting battlefield presence without dipping into your hand.
  2. Grants haste to artifact creatures, allowing immediate board impact and enabling swift and surprising plays in games.
  3. Enhances strategic adaptability, combining well with instant-speed artifacts or abilities for flexible and reactive gameplay.

Text of card

When Thopter Engineer enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Artifact creatures you control have haste. (They can attack and as soon as they come under your control.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Thopter Engineer doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it creates an additional 1/1 Thopter artifact creature token with flying when it enters the battlefield. This not only augments your battlefield presence but indirectly contributes to card efficiency by providing an extra blocker or attacker without the need for investing another card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Thopter Engineer’s ability grants haste to other artifact creatures you control, which accelerates your gameplay by allowing your artifact threats to impact the board immediately. This capacity for swift, aggressive maneuvers can lead to surprising shifts in board state that your opponent might not be adequately prepared for.

Instant Speed: While Thopter Engineer itself isn’t an instant, its haste granting ability can work in tandem with other instant-speed artifacts or creature abilities. Being able to summon artifact creatures as though they have flash means Thopter Engineer enhances your ability to respond on the fly during your opponent’s turn, thereby increasing the element of surprise and tactical adaptability in your gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Thopter Engineer card does not require a discard upon cast, but when considering deck synergy, its inclusion may dictate a playstyle or deck structure that could potentially lead to hand depletion, leaving players at a disadvantage if not strategically managed.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes one red mana, Thopter Engineer is tailored for red-inclusive decks, limiting its versatility primarily to red or multicolored decks that can accommodate its color requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Thopter Engineer delivers value by granting artifact creatures haste, its three mana casting cost can be steep compared to other cards that bolster board presence or offer utility at a lower cost, making it a less economic choice in the early game.


Reasons to Include Thopter Engineer in Your Collection

Versatility: Thopter Engineer is a versatile addition, with its ability to grant your artifact creatures haste, thereby enabling aggressive strategies and rapid board development in a variety of red-based decks.

Combo Potential: With Thopter Engineer in play, the 1/1 Thopter artifact creature token with flying it creates can interact with numerous combo pieces, serving as a catalyst for intricate combos, and synchronizing well within artifact-centric synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Against a backdrop where artifact decks are common, Thopter Engineer becomes particularly relevant as it accelerates your board presence and can tip the scales in your favor during gameplay.


How to beat

Thopter Engineer is a versatile creature that can have a significant impact on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. By providing both haste to your other artifact creatures and a thopter upon entering the battlefield, it sets up immediate threats that opponents must address. These capabilities make Thopter Engineer a card you’d want to neutralize or outpace swiftly.

To effectively handle this card, players should consider removal spells that can target creatures as soon as they hit the field, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Board wipes like Shatterstorm also prove efficient, especially since Thopter Engineer often signals a deck teeming with artifacts. Speed is crucial; dealing with it before a multitude of thopters take over the game is paramount. Another strategy is outpacing your opponent with aggressive creatures or leveraging control tactics to diminish the impact of their artifacts, slowing them to a manageable speed.

Understanding and anticipating the synergies within artifact-centric decks will prepare players to face Thopter Engineer more effectively. With the right mix of prompt removal, strategic planning, and pace control, players can mitigate the advantages granted by this ingenious inventor and her mechanical creations on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

The art of mastering MTG involves strategic deck construction, understanding the nuances of each card, and recognizing how to disrupt your opponent’s plans. With Thopter Engineer in your arsenal, you bolster your capacity to execute an aggressive strategy while maintaining flexibility. Delve deeper into the world of MTG and uncover how to enhance your artifact gameplay tactics. Enhancing your collection to include synergetic cards ensures your deck not only competes with vigor but adapts with ease to an ever-evolving meta. For more insights into building a dynamic deck featuring Thopter Engineer, join the BurnMana community and optimize your gameplay.


Cards like Thopter Engineer

Thopter Engineer holds a unique place in the heart of artifact aficionados within the MTG landscape. Nestled among fascinating creature cards that synergize with artifacts, this Engineer echoes the impact of cards like Pia and Kiran Nalaar. Both cards launch thopters onto the battlefield, but Thopter Engineer offers the added benefit of granting haste to all artifact creatures, accelerating the gameplay significantly.

Another peer in this artifact-centric category is Ghirapur Gearcrafter. While this crafty card also produces thopters, it lacks the haste-providing ability, making Thopter Engineer a superior choice for a swift offensive strategy. Conversely, Whirler Rogue not only produces thopters but can make a creature unblockable, a tactical advantage in certain plays. However, this doesn’t match the broad utility of haste across the board.

Truly, when examining the strengths of cards that interact with artifacts, Thopter Engineer stands out for its ability to instantly mobilize an army of artifacts, providing both a protective guard and a swift assault force in the complex ecosystem of MTG.

Pia and Kiran Nalaar - MTG Card versions
Ghirapur Gearcrafter - MTG Card versions
Whirler Rogue - MTG Card versions
Pia and Kiran Nalaar - Magic Origins Promos (PORI)
Ghirapur Gearcrafter - Magic Origins (ORI)
Whirler Rogue - Magic Origins (ORI)

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

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thopter Engineer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Commander 2018, 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 Engineer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thopter Engineer Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2021-04-23. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 1652015normalblackSteve Prescott
22018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1262015normalblackSteve Prescott
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1472015normalblackSteve Prescott
42021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1812015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thopter Engineer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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