Snare Thopter MTG Card

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 236

Game Night (GNT)
2018-11-16 - Number 57

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

Key Takeaways

Snare Thopter provides immediate pressure as a 3/2 flyer with haste, impacting the board quickly.
Being able to act without crewing distinguishes it from similar cards, adding speed and reliability.
Counters like instant removal or creatures with reach effectively mitigate the Snare Thopter threat.

Text of card

Flying, haste

"I did not think I would understand the cold filigree creatures of this world, but they too are governed by the laws of nature." —Nissa Revane

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Snare Thopter enters the battlefield as a 3/2 flyer, providing an immediate impact on the board and potential for card advantage through aerial superiority.

Resource Acceleration: Equipped with haste, Snare Thopter can speed up your offensive strategy, allowing you to tap into a fast-paced resource acceleration that can catch opponents off guard.

Instant Speed: While Snare Thopter itself isn’t an instant, its haste attribute means it effectively acts at instant speed from a strategic standpoint – it can be played and swing in immediately, circumventing the usual summoning sickness constraints.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Snare Thopter offers speed and evasion with its flying ability, some versions necessitate discarding a card upon deployment. This can lead to a loss of hand advantage, particularly if you find yourself facing hand disruption or running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Snare Thopter requires two generic and one blue mana to cast, which restricts its immediate inclusion to decks that can reliably produce blue mana. This specificity may exclude it from certain colorless or aggressive decks that prefer not to commit to the blue mana requirement.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Snare Thopter is not negligible given its stats and abilities. At three mana, there are other creatures or artifacts that could potentially provide a greater impact on the board or offer more cost-effective utility. Budget-conscious players might weigh this cost-benefit scenario when choosing the right cards for their deck compositions.

Reasons to Include Snare Thopter in Your Collection

Versatility: Snare Thopter offers widespread utility across various deck archetypes, thriving in environments where artifacts and flying creatures pressure opponents.

Combo Potential: With its inherent ability to fly and haste, Snare Thopter synergizes with strategies that capitalize on artifacts or require swift damage to catch an adversary off-guard.

Meta-Relevance: As a nimble threat in the air, Snare Thopter is particularly effective in a meta that’s heavy with ground-based creatures, slipping past for consistent damage.

How to beat

Snare Thopter is a card that adeptly blends speed with evasion in Magic: The Gathering. As a 3/2 flyer with haste, it can start applying pressure right away. However, overcoming this mechanical menace is not as daunting as it may appear. The key is to neutralize its advantages of speed and mobility.

Removal spells are your best friend against Snare Thopter. Instant-speed options like Cast Down or Abrupt Decay can dispatch the Thopter before it does any significant damage. For a more efficient resolution, cards like Fatal Push offer a low-cost alternative, provided the conditions for its revolt trigger are met. If you lean towards control, countering Snare Thopter on the stack with a spell like Mana Leak ensures it never hits the battlefield. Additionally, deploying creatures with reach or those that can block flying creatures, like Silklash Spider or Plumeveil, create a sturdy defense that can clip the Thopter’s wings for good.

Remember, flexibility in your tactics and timely responses are crucial. By considering these options, you can transform a Snare Thopter threat into a minor nuisance, securing your path to victory.

Cards like Snare Thopter

Snare Thopter takes to the battlefield with its ability to offer immediate impact in MTG. Its flying attribute coupled with haste allows it to soar over obstacles and swing in for early damage, similar to cards like Sky Skiff and Smuggler’s Copter. However, Snare Thopter stands out with its inherent ability to attack without requiring a crew, unlike the aforementioned vehicles that depend on other creatures.

Looking at artifact creatures, we can also draw parallels with Pilgrim’s Eye, which shares the same mana cost. While both can fly, Pilgrim’s Eye excels in mana fixing by fetching a basic land card upon entering the battlefield, trading offensive capabilities for deck consistency. Then, there’s Gearseeker Serpent, a larger creature that can also become unblockable. Though it requires a denser artifact presence to optimize its reduced casting cost, offering a potentially more substantial late-game threat than the immediate pressure Snare Thopter provides.

Each of these cards fits into the fabric of various MTG strategies differently; Snare Thopter is often chosen for its speed and reliability, capable of applying pressure right out of the gates. This balance of speed and utility can make it a valued inclusion in aggressive artifact-centric decks.

Cards similar to Snare Thopter by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Jayemdae Tome - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)

Jade Monolith - Collectors' Edition (CED)

Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)

Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)

Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)

Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Clockwork Condor - Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (DDF)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Snare Thopter MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Game Night, 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 Snare Thopter and other MTG cards: