Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader MTG Card

Transforms vehicles into Autobots, offering a strong card advantage and altering game dynamics. Instant speed play allows for tactical responses, giving players the upper hand unexpectedly. Despite its power, it requires careful hand and mana management to mitigate trade-offs.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Artifact Creature — Robot
Abilities Bolster,Convert,More Than Meets the Eye
Power 4
Toughness 8

Text of card

More Than Meets the Eye (You may cast this card converted for .) At the beginning of each end step, bolster 1. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When Optimus Prime dies, return it to the battlefield converted under its owner's control.

Cards like Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader

The Optimus Prime Hero card is a unique entrant in MTG’s realm of transformer-themed cards. This powerful artifact creature stands out with its ability to flip between a vehicle and a hero, offering versatility on the battlefield akin to the Skysovereign, Consul Flagship. While Skysovereign is a vehicle that provides a direct damage ability upon entering the battlefield or attacking, Optimus goes a step further by transforming into a formidable robot with potent offensive capabilities.

Looking into similar transformative mechanics, we find Arlinn, Voice of the Pack. Although Arlinn doesn’t change card types, her dual forms as a planeswalker echo Optimus’s adaptability and strategic importance. Unlike Arlinn’s creature-centric benefits, Optimus Prime Hero focuses on individual prowess, swinging the tide of battle with its own brand of strength. Lastly, Start Your Engines is a nodal point in this comparison, offering an alternative approach by animating multiple vehicles—a strategy that complements Optimus’s inherent ability to switch forms and take charge in the thick of combat.

In assessing the strategic utility and dynamic play patterns of these cards, Optimus Prime Hero carves a niche for itself within MTG’s landscape of transformative cards, backed by its dual nature and lore-inspired presence on the tabletop.

Skysovereign, Consul Flagship - MTG Card versions
Arlinn, Voice of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Start Your Engines - MTG Card versions
Skysovereign, Consul Flagship - MTG Card versions
Arlinn, Voice of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Start Your Engines - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Optimus Prime, Hero offers players the unparalleled ability to transform your vehicles into powerful Autobots, often resulting in gaining multiple usable cards from a single play. This can swing the momentum of a game, giving you superiority in card choices and strategies.

Resource Acceleration: By converting machines into mighty allies, this card allows for an unconventional form of resource acceleration. It not only maximizes the potential of the cards already in play but also can activate latent abilities, thus providing an efficient use of resources that extends beyond mere mana generation.

Instant Speed: The revved up nature of Optimus Prime, Hero card plays at instant speed, enabling reactive gameplay that adapts to the unfolding duel. This allows crafty commanders to shift gears without warning, transforming the state of the battlefield in the blink of an eye while keeping opponents guessing until the critical moment.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Optimus Prime Hero card necessitates discarding another card, which might deplete your hand when you need options.

Specific Mana Cost: With an emphasis on red mana, this card’s casting cost demands a dedicated color strategy, potentially restricting deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to bring Optimus Prime Hero into play is substantial, and in fast-paced games, this can translate to a tempo loss against more agile decks.

Reasons to Include Optimus Prime Hero in Your Collection

Versatility: Optimus Prime Hero is a transformative card that can adapt to various playstyles. Its ability to switch from a creature to a powerful vehicle allows it to serve multiple roles within your deck, fitting seamlessly into aggro, control, or midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique mechanic opens up avenues for creating synergistic partnerships with other cards. Utilizing its flip ability, you can devise combos that capitalize on creature and artifact synergies, making it a lynchpin in inventive deck builds.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the metagame continually evolves, a card like Optimus Prime Hero can offer consistent benefits. Transformers-themed decks are gaining traction, and including Optimus Prime can give you an edge against various popular deck archetypes, ensuring your collection remains competitive.

How to beat

Optimus Prime Hero is an imposing force on the battlefield, making any zealot of MTG take notice. Its power to turn vehicles into devastating Autobot creatures makes it a unique challenge to contend with. To outmaneuver Optimus, it’s pivotal to employ removal spells swiftly and efficiently. Artifact removal spells like Shatter or Disenchant can dismantle Optimus Prime’s influence by targeting the vehicles it relies on.

Strategy is key; applying pressure early on can prevent your opponent from establishing their game plan. Counter spells also play an important role in this duel. Negating Optimus Prime Hero as it hits the stack can stave off the transformation it triggers. Moreover, a well-timed Thoughtseize could disrupt your adversary’s strategy by plucking this colossal card from their hand before they get the chance to cast it.

Understanding the key mechanics and staying one step ahead of your opponent’s synergies will lead to victory. Whether through disruption or direct removal, keeping Optimus Prime Hero from taking over the game is crucial. Focus on control and timing to ensure that this mechanical giant doesn’t turn the tide against you.

BurnMana Recommendations

Discovering the raw power of Optimus Prime Hero in MTG can reshape your gameplay experience. With its dual nature and ability to transform vehicles into Autobots, it opens up new strategic horizons. Whether you’re eager to ramp up your deck’s combo potential or want to stay ahead of the meta, Optimus Prime Hero is an asset that can turn the tides in your favor. But every powerful card has its counters, and understanding them is critical to victory. Ready to harness the might of Optimus Prime Hero or looking to defend against it? Dive deeper with us for expert insights and strategies to enhance your MTG prowess.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader MTG card by a specific set like Transformers and Transformers, 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 Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Volta Creation.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-11-18TransformersBOT 132015TransformBlackVolta Creation
22022-11-18TransformersBOT 272015TransformBorderlessVolta Creation

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Optimus Prime, Hero // Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-10-14 "Living metal" means "As long as it's your turn, this permanent is an artifact creature in addition to its other types."
2022-10-14 "More Than Meets the Eye
-ost]" means "You may cast this card converted by paying
-ost] rather than its mana cost." It functions in any zone from which the spell can be cast.
2022-10-14 A spell cast this way enters the battlefield with its back face up.
2022-10-14 Any triggered ability of another card that triggers whenever a permanent transforms will also trigger whenever a permanent converts.
2022-10-14 Bolster doesn't target; you choose the creature to put the counters on as the attack triggered ability resolves.
2022-10-14 Converting a permanent doesn't affect any Auras or Equipment that are attached to it. Similarly, any counters on the permanent will remain on that permanent after it converts. Any continuous effects from a resolved spell or ability will continue to affect it. Any spells or abilities on the stack that target a permanent continue to do so after that permanent converts.
2022-10-14 If a static ability of another permanent applies only to noncreature permanents, that ability applies to a Vehicle with living metal only during your opponents' turns. For example, if you control Arcee, Acrobatic Coupe and March of the Machines, Arcee will be a 2/2 artifact creature during your turn and a 3/3 artifact creature (because its mana value is 3) during each opponent's turn.
2022-10-14 If you copy a permanent spell cast this way, the copy has the characteristics of the card's back face, even though it isn't itself a double-faced card.
2022-10-14 Similarly, an ability of another card that instructs you to "transform" one of these cards will cause you to convert it, even if that ability doesn't use the word "convert."
2022-10-14 The convert keyword action functions the same way as the transform keyword action found on some other cards; to convert a permanent on the battlefield, turn it over so that its other face is up.
2022-10-14 The cost is an alternative cost, so it can't be combined with any other alternative costs. It can be combined with any applicable additional costs.
2022-10-14 The mana value of a converted permanent on the battlefield is equal to the mana value of the card's front face, no matter which face is up.
2022-10-14 To bolster 2, put two +1/+1 counters on the creature with the least toughness among creatures you control. If more than one creature is tied for the least toughness, choose one of them.
2022-10-14 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a More Than Meets the Eye cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of a spell cast using More Than Meets the Eye is determined by the mana cost on the front face of the card, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2022-10-14 When you cast a spell using its More Than Meets the Eye ability, the card is put onto the stack with its back face up. The resulting spell has all characteristics of that face.
2022-10-14 While it's a creature, the Vehicle has its printed power and toughness.