Roterothopter MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 109
2008-09-22 - Number 218
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Thopter |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying : +1/+0 until end of turn. You cannot spend more than o4 in this way each turn.
"The Roterothopter is as insidious as it is ingenious. It is one of the few creations of our school that I take no pride in." —Baki, Wizard Attendant
Cards like Roterothopter
The Roterothopter is a unique artifact creature within the Magic: The Gathering universe. This card finds its parallels in cards like Ornithopter that also cost zero mana, sharing the advantage of a swift deployment on the battlefield. However, Roterothopter stands out by requiring one mana to gain flying until the end of turn, offering a strategic element of surprise.
Memnite is another creature that shares the marvelous zero mana cost trait. While it doesn’t have the flying ability, its strength lies in being a 1/1 creature, giving it a slight edge in early combat situations over the typically non-threatening Roterothopter. Conversely, the Hovermyr provides both flying and vigilance at the cost of two mana, presenting itself as a sturdier option for players seeking an early defensive position with a tactical advantage in the air.
Considering its position among the suite of zero mana creatures, Roterothopter offers strategic flexibility for players looking to bolster their air defenses or execute surprise attacks. Its niche appeal ensures that it remains a card worth considering for specific MTG deck strategies focused on rapid mobilization and tactical adaptability.
Cards similar to Roterothopter by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Roterothopter. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jund Reanimator | Legacy | Patchwork Stompy | 100 / The 100th Legacy at Home |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Roterothopter is a niche card that can occasionally provide you with an edge by fitting into decks that focus on artifacts or flying creatures. In specific scenarios, it can synergize with cards that benefit from having numerous artifacts on the field, contributing to a form of card advantage through synergy rather than pure card draw.
Resource Acceleration: This card can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration in decks that capitalize on the presence of artifacts. By being a zero-cost artifact itself, Roterothopter can be particularly useful for enabling improvise or affinity mechanics which reduce the cost of your spells or allow tapping artifacts for various bonuses.
Instant Speed: Although Roterothopter is a creature card and not played at instant speed, its zero mana cost means it can be played almost as flexibly as an instant. You can deploy it whenever you have an opening or need to hold up mana for other responses, helping you to effectively manage your resources and threats on the fly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Roterothopter card necessitates the player to discard another card from hand to utilize its full potential. This can be especially taxing in game scenarios where maintaining card advantage is crucial and can backfire if you’re pressed for card options.
Specific Mana Cost: In terms of mana requirements, this card demands a specific color alignment that might not seamlessly fit into every deck archetype. Players must have access to the right mana sources to cast it efficiently, which could pose a deckbuilding challenge in terms of flexibility and mana base stability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even for the abilities it provides, the investment to get Roterothopter into play may be considered high compared to other alternatives in the format. When deck optimizing, it’s essential to evaluate whether the card’s cost aligns with the strategic depth and tempo it offers, as there might be lower-cost options that can fulfill a similar function with less resource commitment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Roterothopter is a perfect fit for a variety of decks with its low mana cost and flying ability. It’s particularly useful in strategies that prioritize evasive creatures or need early blockers in the air.
Combo Potential: This card can be part of intricate combos, working well with artifacts matter decks. Its ability to fly can be leveraged with cards that benefit from creatures with flying or when building synergies around artifact creatures.
Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape changes, an agile card like Roterothopter maintains relevance. It can surprise opponents in a meta where the speed and flexibility of low-cost creatures could catch bigger, slower decks off guard.
How to beat
Roterothopter presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As an artifact creature, Roterothopter can prove tricky to deal with due to its flying ability and low cost. It can quickly become an aerial nuisance for players who aren’t prepared. However, its strength is also its vulnerability. Its minimal toughness makes it susceptible to common damage-based removal spells, making it fairly easy to eliminate with spells that can deal with low-toughness creatures.
Moreover, players may look to include inexpensive interaction cards in their arsenal that can target artifacts, such as Naturalize or Abrade, ensuring they can manage not only Roterothopter but other problematic artifacts as well. Considering Roterothopter’s capacity to activate other synergies within an opponent’s deck, early disruption is key. Utilize spells and abilities that can either directly remove Roterothopter or reduce its combat effectiveness by altering the battlefield’s dynamics, such as using creatures with reach or crafting a strategy that can bypass or outpace the tempo set by a Roterothopter.
In essence, when preparing for a matchup against decks that might run Roterothopter, prioritizing removal and control tools can be the difference-maker, keeping the skies clear and maintaining dominance over the game state.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Roterothopter MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition II, 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 Roterothopter and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Roterothopter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Amy Weber.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 109 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 218 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Amy Weber |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Roterothopter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |