Aspiring Aeronaut MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Artificer
Abilities	Flying
Released	2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set name	Magic Origins
Set code	ORI
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	46
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Willian Murai

Key Takeaways

The Aspiring Aeronaut provides both immediate and lasting board presence through its 1/1 Thopter token.
Despite its flexibility, the card’s specific mana requirements can limit its inclusion in some decks.
Versatility and combo potential make Aspiring Aeronaut a valuable pick in various MTG strategies.

Text of card

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.) When Aspiring Aeronaut enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying onto the battlefield.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Aspiring Aeronaut enters the battlefield with a 1/1 Thopter artifact creature token, providing additional board presence. This effectively nets you two creatures for the cost of one card, improving your card economy and board state.

Resource Acceleration: While the Aspiring Aeronaut doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration in terms of mana, it does contribute to going wide on the board. This can indirectly lead to acceleration by overwhelming opponents and maintaining a strong defensive line that protects your more valuable assets.

Instant Speed: Although Aspiring Aeronaut is not an instant, the ability to create an artifact creature token can synergize with decks that capitalize on artifacts or instant speed interactions. The thopter token could potentially be used in conjunction with instant speed mechanisms to create unexpected blocks or power up with buffs during combat on your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aspiring Aeronaut may tempt players with the promise of a flying creature, but it doesn’t come without a price. This card doesn’t have an inherent discard requirement, but to make the most of any synergies or deck strategies involving discarding, you might find yourself parting with cards to fuel other effects, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: While having a blue mana in its cost makes Aspiring Aeronaut a thematic fit for flying-centric decks, it also means that it’s not a flexible choice for all deck types. Those looking to maintain a streamlined mana base in multicolored decks might be less inclined to include this card if it doesn’t align with the deck’s overall mana strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing four mana for a 1/1 creature, even with flying and bringing along a 1/1 Thopter, could be seen as a hefty cost. In the vast realm of the game, many cards can offer more impactful board presence or utility at the same or lower mana value, leading savvy players to weigh their options carefully when filling the four-mana slot in their decks.

Reasons to Include Aspiring Aeronaut in Your Collection

Versatility: Aspiring Aeronaut is flexible enough to fit into a variety of decks. Its flying ability allows it to be a consistent threat in the air, and it fits well in decks focusing on evasion or strategies that capitalize on creatures with flying.

Combo Potential: Upon entering the battlefield, Aspiring Aeronaut creates a Thopter token which can work seamlessly with artifact synergies or as part of a sacrifice combo. The created token can be leveraged for various combo-enabling interactions or simply increase the count of artifacts you control.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting metagame, having a creature that provides board presence and leaves behind a token even if it’s removed can be essential. As the meta adapts to new strategies, Aspiring Aeronaut maintains relevance by fitting into decks that focus on tempo and incremental advantages.

How to beat

Aspiring Aeronaut presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to float onto the field with a Thopter buddy, the Aeronaut is more than just a creature — it’s a token-generating asset. Pertaining to its four mana cost, two of which are specifically blue, it’s essential to understand the role removal or counter-play serves when facing it. Swatting down the Aeronaut before it takes flight with its aerial companion can significantly hamper your opponent’s board presence.

Strategic instant removal spells such as Shock or Fatal Push can eliminate the Aspiring Aeronaut efficiently before the token generation takes too much effect. Furthermore, counter spells rank among the top solutions; countering an Aspiring Aeronaut on the stack not only preserves board balance but ensures mana investment loss for the opponent. Also, remember that the Thopter token, while useful, is easily tackled by most removal spells or can be outclassed by larger creatures, dimming its impact in the longer game.

Ultimately, as a Magic: The Gathering player, swiftly recognizing and countering the multifaceted threat of Aspiring Aeronaut, either through direct removal or by larger strategic positioning, allows control over the match and blunts the utility of this tandem threat.

Cards like Aspiring Aeronaut

Aspiring Aeronaut offers a unique approach among flying creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a close relative to cards like Cloudkin Seer, which also boasts flying and draws a card upon entering the battlefield. Aspiring Aeronaut, however, offers the additional strategic element of producing a 1/1 Thopter token with flying. While the Seer has a cantrip effect, the Aeronaut expands your aerial presence.

Another interesting card for comparison is Faerie Mechanist. This artifact creature similarly gives value upon hitting the field by revealing the top three cards and putting an artifact card from among them into your hand. The Mechanist demands a deck more tailored around an artifact strategy, while Aspiring Aeronaut remains broadly useful in many decks that favor the skies.

When pitted against Stormfront Pegasus, Aspiring Aeronaut doesn’t share its raw speed and efficiency. The Pegasus is a straight forward 2/1 flyer, costing less but lacking the Aeronaut’s utility of leaving an additional token behind. This makes Aspiring Aeronaut a versatile pick for its ability to contribute to board presence.

Through this exploration, it’s evident that Aspiring Aeronaut carves out its niche among flying creatures, with the extra token often swaying the scales in its favor regarding board impact and versatility.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aspiring Aeronaut MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Aspiring Aeronaut and other MTG cards: