Ornithopter MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 30 setsSee all
Mana cost
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Thopter
Abilities Flying
Power 0
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Ornithopter aids in achieving a solid start by being playable for zero mana, boosting early gameplay without tapping resources.
  2. Its ability to fly offers tactical advantages, making it a versatile defensive and offensive tool in many deck types.
  3. Though powerful in synergy, Ornithopter’s effectiveness is reliant on other cards to enhance its inherent zero power.

Text of card

Flying

Many scholars believe that these creatures were the result of Urza's first attempt at mechanical life, perhaps created in his early days as an apprentice to Tocasia.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ornithopter can be played for zero cost, providing instantaneous advantage without consuming resources. It’s perfect for enhancing your deck size and increasing the variety of potential strategies.

Resource Acceleration: Using Ornithopter summoning doesn’t require mana, promoting faster gameplay. It works exceptionally well with artifact-based decks and strategies, fueling your board presence without using valuable mana ab initio.

Instant Speed: The immediate casting of Ornithopter allows you to gain airborne blockers or attackers instantly in your turn. Also credited to its low cost, it gives you the flexibility to hold mana in reserve for other spells, providing tactical agility in your gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ornithopter, unfortunately, doesn’t have a discard ability. In some game scenarios, this aspect limits how flexible you are in adjusting your gameplan. This can significantly affect your game, especially if you’re short on resources or options on your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The absence of any mana cost can be tricky too. It surely can be played in any deck since it doesn’t need a specific color on the mana cost. However, this might not be as beneficial when you have cards in your deck that interact beneficially with specific mana costs. For example, devotion or color-specific cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though it costs zero to cast, such artefact creatures with zero power and toughness have other hidden costs. For the card to be genuinely effective, you often need to pair it with other cards or abilities that amplify its potential. Examples of this are cards that power up artefacts or cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. Without these combos, your ornithopter could end up being a high-cost card when considering your deck’s overall efficiency.


Reasons to Include Ornithopter in Your Collection

Versatility: With its zero mana casting cost, Ornithopter can find a place in various MTG decks, especially those requiring early or multiple creatures on the field. Its flying ability gives a strategic edge against many ground targets, making it a desirable card in both aggro and control decks.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature holds immense potential to trigger astounding synergies. From enabling card draws with Artificer’s Assistant to powering up Mox Opal, the combo potential with Ornithopter brings surprising dynamics to your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the meta-game, the swift deployment of Ornithopter can disrupt enemy strategies or stack up your defenses. Its ability to rapidly stack up on the battlefield might just provide the upper hand in your next MTG matchup.


How to Beat

Ornithopter, a renowned artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, is known for its zero cost and flying ability. This unique edge, coupled with potential enhancement from enchantments or equipments, makes it a strategic card in many decks. Nevertheless, there are ways to neutralize this seemingly formidable card.

One such method involves using spells that specifically target artifacts. Shatter and Naturalize are two simple yet effective examples, capable of dispatching Ornithopter regardless of its power or toughness. Timing such spell plays is crucial, as you can prevent any imminent threat that an enhanced Ornithopter may pose.

Alternatively, mass removal cards like Wrath of God and Damnation can wipe out all creatures, including Ornithopter, irrespective of their power, toughness or abilities in one swift stroke. They are an ideal solution for when Ornithopter is part of a larger menacing troop.

Lastly, combat-based strategies might also work, provided your creatures are equipped to deal damage in the air. Cards with Reach or other Flying creatures can potentially deal with Ornithopter on the battlefield, putting a halt to any offensive plans your opponent may have had.

Overall, by combining spells, tactics, and insightful play, you can effectively mitigate the potential threat posed by an Ornithopter, leaving your opponent’s strategy grounded.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering requires a blend of cunning plays and strategic deck building. Consider embracing elements of versatility and combo potential in your deck construction. Ornithopter, a unique zero-cost artifact creature, presents a multifaceted asset for any player looking to optimize their tactics. Adopt this aerial dynamo into your collection and discover new horizons in your MTG quests. Curious to further your strategic edge? Engage with our deep dive insights and recommendations to command the skies and clinch victories with Ornithopter by your side.


Cards like Ornithopter

The Ornithopter is a curiosity in the MTG universe: a zero-cost creature with flying. A card of comparable intrigue is Memnite, also a zero mana artifact creature. The key difference lies in power; the Ornithopter is a 0/2 flyer, while the Memnite is a 1/1 without flying. Memnite’s strength is certainly advantageous, but Ornithopter’s value isn’t to be dismissed thanks to its evasion capability.

Then we have the Phyrexian Walker, which shares Ornithopter’s zero mana cost and toughness of 2, but lacks its flying attribute. In a deck revolving around artifacts or affinity mechanisms, both serve a similar purpose of spiking artifact counts rapidly for very little cost, but Ornithopter’s evasion might be a game-changer for some.

Returning to the skies, Signal Pest is a one-mana artifact creature that potentially pumps your squad, while also remaining unblockable due to its evasion mechanic. It costs more than an Ornithopter, but might afford significant upside, depending on your deck strategy.

In summary, Ornithopter’s place amongst zero to low-mana artifact creatures with various levels of capabilities is unique due to its evasion attribute. Depending on your strategic plan, it can indeed be an indispensable part of a successful MTG deck.

Memnite - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Walker - MTG Card versions
Signal Pest - MTG Card versions
Memnite - Scars of Mirrodin Promos (PSOM)
Phyrexian Walker - Visions (VIS)
Signal Pest - Wizards Play Network 2011 (PWP11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ornithopter MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Foreign Black Border, 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 Ornithopter and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ornithopter Magic the Gathering card was released in 25 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 7 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 601993normalblackAmy Weber
21994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 2701993normalblackAmy Weber
31994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 2701993normalwhiteAmy Weber
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 2701993normalwhiteAmy Weber
51995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3411993normalwhiteAmy Weber
61995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3411993normalblackAmy Weber
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3931997normalwhiteAmy Weber
81999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 3041997normalwhiteAmy Weber
92003-10-02MirrodinMRD 2242003normalblackDana Knutson
102004-09-01World Championship Decks 2004WC04 ap2242003normalgoldDana Knutson
112005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 3052003normalwhiteDana Knutson
122005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 305★2003normalblackDana Knutson
132007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3362003normalblackDana Knutson
142007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 336★2003normalblackDana Knutson
152009-07-17Magic 2010M10 2162003normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
162010-07-16Magic 2011M11 2112003normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
172014-07-18Magic 2015M15 2232015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
182016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 422015normalblackHoward Lyon
192017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 1672015normalblackMathias Kollros
202019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 16152015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
212019-11-21Historic Anthology 1HA1 182015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
222019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6042015normalblackCosmin Podar
232020-09-26The ListPLST M15-2232015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
242020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 2552015normalblackMathias Kollros
252022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 222015tokenblackFariba Khamseh
262022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 100z1997normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
272022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 1001997normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
282022-11-18The Brothers' War Retro ArtifactsBRR 371997normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
292023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3861997normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
302023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2332015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ornithopter has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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