Filigree Crawler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Insect
Released	2017-01-20
Set symbol
Set name	Aether Revolt
Set code	AER
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	150
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	James Paick

Key Takeaways

Generates a Thopter token upon death, replacing itself and aiding in maintaining board control.
Its instant speed triggered ability introduces strategic options for both defense and synergy plays.
The Crawlers’ versatility and combo potential make it a valued addition to artifact-oriented decks.

Text of card

When Filigree Crawler dies, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.

"The most harmonious designs are based on relationships found in nature." —Venand Kapur, the Gearherder

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Filigree Crawler is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, it lets you create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. This essentially means you’re replacing the card with another that can impact the board, maintaining your presence and card parity.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Filigree Crawler itself doesn’t directly ramp your mana, the Thopter token it creates upon death can be used in conjunction with other cards that capitalize on artifact creatures, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration through synergistic plays.

Instant Speed: The ability of Filigree Crawler is a triggered ability that happens at instant speed. This is beneficial as it can create unexpected blockers or be used in response to an action without waiting for your own turn, adding a layer of strategy to your gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Filigree Crawler doesn’t require a discard as an activation cost, it lacks the card advantage mechanics seen in some other artifacts. This might compel players to weigh their hand management strategies, especially when considering the creature’s death trigger.

Specific Mana Cost: Filigree Crawler has a casting cost that includes colorless mana, which may not seamlessly fit into mana bases built around multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its integration in non-artifact focused strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Filigree Crawler might be seen as costly, considering its relatively low power and toughness. Other cards at a similar mana range could provide a greater immediate impact on the game board.

Reasons to Include Filigree Crawler in Your Collection

Versatility: Filigree Crawler finds its place in decks that appreciate both artifact synergies and creature recursion. As a four-mana artifact creature, it easily fits into artifact-themed strategies and provides incremental value both when it enters and leaves the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Upon its demise, Filigree Crawler generates an Insect token, which can be exploited for both token strategies and artifact-oriented combos. This ability harmonizes with various engines across different formats, underscoring its role in intricate game plans.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting landscape of gameplay, Filigree Crawler serves as a resilient piece in metas that favor artifact play. Its capability to leave behind a creature after being dealt with makes it a persistent threat against control decks and an enabler in matches where board presence is paramount.

How to beat

Filigree Crawler might not be the most formidable artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, but it does have its nuisances. When this four-mana insect leaves the battlefield, it leaves behind a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. This token can be a minor annoyance or a part of a larger strategy in artifact-themed decks.

Naturally, the simplest way to beat it is through exile effects, bypassing its death-trigger entirely. Cards that can exile creatures upon destruction, like Path to Exile, are excellent choices. Another method is to deploy bounce spells that return Filigree Crawler to the owner’s hand, again avoiding the death-trigger. Utilizing graveyard control tactics can also be effective, such as with cards like Relic of Progenitus, which can remove it from the game after it hits the graveyard, ensuring the Thopter token never materializes. Remember, it’s essential to consider the broader strategy when facing decks utilizing cards like Filigree Crawler; often, the creature is part of a synergy, and disrupting that synergy is key to victory.

Knowledge of deck archetypes and preparedness with versatile answers in your deck will keep the mechanical menace of Filigree Crawler under control, ensuring it’s just a minor speed bump on your path to victory.

Cards like Filigree Crawler

Filigree Crawler holds its unique charm within the artifact creature space of Magic: The Gathering. Standing shoulder to shoulder with other artifact creatures, like Myr Sire, it reveals its appeal upon leaving the battlefield. Myr Sire leaves behind a 1/1 Myr artifact creature token, while Filigree Crawler ups the ante, bestowing a player with a Thopter artifact creature token with flying. The flying ability is a significant upgrade, granting players more strategic flexibility.

Another often discussed comparator is Workshop Assistant, which also shares the quality of providing value post-death by returning another artifact card from your graveyard to your hand. However, Filigree Crawler wins admiration for leaving a presence on the board, which can be more immediately impactful in many game scenarios. Similarly, Ichor Wellspring is noteworthy when discussing value artifact cards. Though it doesn’t put creatures on the battlefield, it does provide card draw when it comes into play and once more upon leaving. Each card shines in different strategies, making the Filigree Crawler a solid option, particularly for enabling air-based strategies and incremental advantage.

Analyzing these comparisons, it’s clear Filigree Crawler offers a compelling mix of board presence and utility, securing its place among its peers as an advantageous artifact creature pick in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Filigree Crawler by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Filigree Crawler MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Filigree Crawler and other MTG cards: