Thopter Pie Network MTG Card


Thopter Pie Network - Happy Holidays
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeEnchantment
Released2006-12-31
Set symbol
Set nameHappy Holidays
Set codeHHO
Number16
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byVictor Adame Minguez

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage and board presence by producing Thopter tokens at instant speed.
  2. Demands careful hand management due to discard requirements and specific mana costs.
  3. Worthwhile for decks utilizing artifacts, despite its higher activation cost.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, if you're eating, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. Use food to represent the token. Whenever a creature token you control dies, if it's represented by food, eat it.

They all thought her dream was just pie in the sky.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thopter Pie Network offers a steady trickle of card advantage by generating artifact creature tokens, which can be beneficial in decks that thrive on artifact synergies or require blockers to protect life totals.

Resource Acceleration: By creating Thopter tokens, this card helps ramp up your board presence, setting the stage for more powerful plays or overwhelming the opponent with a growing army of flying machines.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Thopter Pie Network shines as it can be activated at instant speed, ensuring you can respond to threats or end-of-turn opportunities to maximize strategic depth and outpace the competition.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This artifact card requires players to part with an additional card to trigger its abilities. In intense gameplay, this condition can lead to a challenging decision, particularly if your hand already lacks options. Finding the right balance between using the artifact’s abilities and maintaining card advantage can be a delicate task.

Specific Mana Cost: Thopter Pie Network demands both colorless and blue mana for activation. This specification can sometimes restrict integration into multicolor decks that may not always have the necessary blue mana available. Players running decks without a solid blue mana base might find it cumbersome to consistently leverage the Thopter Pie Network’s capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that isn’t exactly on the low end, one must consider the benefits versus the investment. When you weigh the output of the Thopter Pie Network against other cards with similar or lower mana requirements, it may not always come out on top. Savvy players will evaluate their strategy to see if the mana could be better allocated elsewhere for a more impactful board presence.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thopter Pie Network adds a unique flair to decks, serving multiple utility functions. With its ability to produce token creatures, it can provide a steady stream of blockers or attackers to support various strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in artifact-centric decks, enabling intricate combos by creating artifact creature tokens. It can synergize with other cards that tap into the value of artifacts, harnessing their power for larger plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game-state where token generation and artifact mechanics are impactful, Thopter Pie Network stands out as a significant tool. It adapts well to shifting metas, offering benefits across a broad spectrum of matchups.


How to beat

The Thopter Pie Network is a delectably tricky card to face down in Magic: The Gathering. It not only churns out Thopter tokens that can clutter the board, but it also benefits the holder with incremental life gains. To effectively dismantle this confectionery contraption, players should focus on strategies that neutralize artifacts and tokens simultaneously.

Artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Shatter are vital tools in any deck when dealing with artifacts like the Thopter Pie Network. Moreover, employing board sweepers like Wrath of God can clear out those pesky Thopter tokens. Be mindful of timing—acting swiftly before the network and its aerial automatons overwhelm your defense is crucial. Also, consider cards like Pithing Needle that can shut down the abilities of troublesome artifacts, rendering them as useful as a pie tin without a pie.

Overall, a well-rounded approach that includes artifact removal, token clearance, and ability shutdown will help players gain the upper hand against a Thopter Pie Network. Keeping these strategies up your sleeve will ensure you’re not left dealing with a swarm of mechanical treats.


Cards like Thopter Pie Network

The Thopter Pie Network card adds an inventive twist to the toolbox of Magic: The Gathering players who love quirky and thematic cards. It is matched against other artifact cards like Efficient Construction, which also allows players to create Thopter creature tokens. The Thopter Pie Network, though, excels in its unique holiday flavor and engagement with the pie token mechanics which can add a fun dynamic to the game.

Finding parallels with Ghirapur AEther Grid, which taps two artifacts to deal damage to any target, Thopter Pie Network requires a prerequisite number of thopters to convert into a delicious pie token, without directly impacting an opponent’s life points or creatures. It’s the combination of these subtle, festive mechanisms that set the Thopter Pie Network card apart from others in its category.

Lastly, comparing it to Sharding Sphinx, another card known for Thopter token generation, Thopter Pie Network does not focus on aggressive play but rather embraces a collect-and-build strategy. Despite not contributing directly to combat, it provides a unique and delightful alternative for MTG enthusiasts looking to sprinkle their deck with a bit of offbeat charm and whimsy.

Efficient Construction - MTG Card versions
Sharding Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Efficient Construction - Aether Revolt (AER)
Sharding Sphinx - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thopter Pie Network MTG card by a specific set like Happy Holidays, 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 Pie Network and other MTG cards:

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