Telethopter MTG Card

Telethopter enhances artifact strategies by offering card advantage and instant speed flexibility. Its use demands a fine balance, requiring careful consideration due to discard and mana costs. In the right meta, Telethopter’s versatility and combo potential can significantly impact gameplay.

Tempest (TMP)
1997-10-14 - Number 311

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 232

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Thopter
Power	3
Toughness	1

Text of card

Tap a creature you control: Telethopter gains flying until end of turn.

After losing several of the devices to midair collisions, Greven forbade moggs from operating telethopters.

Cards like Telethopter

Exploring the dynamic arena of artifact creatures in Magic the Gathering, we come across Telethopter. This card taps into the time-honored tradition of flyer creatures with a tactical twist: it can become untapped by sacrificing an artifact. When we consider its strategically similar counterparts, Trinket Mage stands out. This creature not only offers a flying capability but also allows you to fetch a one-mana cost artifact from your library whenever it enters the battlefield.

Delving further into the realm of artifacts, we stumble upon Aeronaut Tinkerer. Much like Telethopter, the Tinkerer benefits from the presence of other artifacts to gain the ability to fly. However, Telethopter demands an active payment – the sacrifice of an artifact – for its untapping trick, a synergy that could be more advantageous in artifact-heavy decks. Comparing these two can be a matter of evaluating your deck’s artifact density and the role you need your creatures to perform.

The nuances distinguishing Telethopter from other artifact creatures underline the intricacies of MTG deck building and strategy, revealing a plentiful tapestry of choices for players who favor artifacts and aerial assault combinations.

Cards similar to Telethopter by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Telethopter’s ability to untap potentially multiple artifacts, it can quickly become an engine that generates considerable card advantage, particularly in decks focusing on artifact synergy.

Resource Acceleration: By untapping artifacts like mana rocks, Telethopter can effectively accelerate your resources, allowing for more significant plays or the ability to respond with interaction during your opponent’s turn.

Instant Speed: Telethopter’s untap ability can be activated at instant speed, which offers strategic flexibility. You can choose to untap your artifacts at the end of an opponent’s turn, leaving your options open and your mana available throughout the entire game cycle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the context of Telethopter, players are tasked with the hefty trade-off of discarding a card to enable its flying ability. This can present a strategic pitfall, particularly when your hand is already running thin on cards. Such a requirement might force you to make unfavorable decisions, especially if you’re discarding a potentially game-changing card.

Specific Mana Cost: Another angle to consider with Telethopter is its casting cost, which includes generic mana but also necessitates at least one artifact. This may not pose a challenge in artifact-heavy decks, but for non-artifact-centric builds, it might be a tricky fit, potentially restricting its playability across a variety of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Telethopter’s total cost to get airborne isn’t just about discarding—it also demands two mana, including one colorless, which can be quite steep for its functionality. When putting it up against other creatures or spells in the same cost bracket, the Telethopter often pales in comparison, which could lead to it being overlooked for more economically efficient alternatives.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Telethopter offers flexible utility as it can be seamlessly incorporated into artifact-centric decks or strategies that emphasize tap and untap mechanics. Its ability to become an evasive creature with flying allows for both offensive and defensive adjustments throughout the game.

Combo Potential: Telethopter’s untap ability could be pivotal in various combos, synergizing with cards that profit from tap abilities or continuous untapping. The card’s synergy with artifacts ensures that it can serve as an essential piece in intricate gameplay sequences.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting MTG landscape, Telethopter can be highly relevant in metas where artifacts or decks with tap/untap motifs are prevalent. It can adapt to a wide array of strategies, solidifying its place in numerous competitive environments.

How to beat

Telethopter presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield with its agility and potential for recurring untapping. However, like any MTG card, it has its vulnerabilities. To effectively neutralize it, look towards cards that prevent artifact activation or that can lock down creatures, such as Suppression Field or Linvala, Keeper of Silence. These cards prevent the Telethopter from being untapped repeatedly, thus mitigating its ability to offer consistent defense or perform its untapping shenanigans.

Moreover, utilizing removal spells that can target artifacts or creatures, like Naturalize or Doom Blade, can swiftly eliminate Telethopter before its controller can capitalize on its advantages. Cards that force sacrifices, such as Diabolic Edict, are also effective, especially since Telethopter often skims by traditional creature removal due to its status as an artifact.

Lastly, staying ahead of the curve by applying pressure early in the game can limit the Telethopter’s impact. Swift creatures and aggressive strategies that outpace the opponent’s setup for the Telethopter often force them to use it defensively, thus reducing its utility as a recurring threat.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Telethopter MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Telethopter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Telethopter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Thomas M. Baxa.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1997-10-14	Tempest	TMP		311	1997	Normal	Black	Thomas M. Baxa
2	2015-05-06	Tempest Remastered	TPR		232	2015	Normal	Black	Thomas M. Baxa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Telethopter has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal