Hopping Automaton MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Construct
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	297
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Val Mayerik

Key Takeaways

Hopping Automaton can serve as a removal sponge, indirectly conserving more valuable cards in hand.
It acts as a mana curve smoother, enabling quicker plays of bigger threats in artifact-centric decks.
Instant-speed synergy is heightened, making it a versatile tool for response plays within MTG.

Text of card

: Hopping Automaton gets -1/-1 and gains flying until end of turn.

Designed to carry equipment across rivers, the hopping automaton was soon pressed into service in the infantry.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Hopping Automaton doesn’t draw cards directly, this artifact creature can contribute to card advantage by replacing itself when necessary. Deploying it early can absorb removal spells that would otherwise target more critical creatures in your deck, effectively indirectly preserving your hand.

Resource Acceleration: As part of its cost effectiveness, Hopping Automaton can smooth out your mana curve. It’s a low-cost artifact creature that can help you ramp into bigger threats more swiftly, especially in synergy with other artifact-focused strategies that reward you for having multiple artifacts on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Though Hopping Automaton itself isn’t an instant, its presence can enable instant-speed interplay with other cards. In decks where artifacts can be sacrificed for an effect or converted into other resources, Hopping Automaton becomes a flexible piece that can be utilized whenever the most opportune moment arises, often during your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the tactical environment of MTG requires careful resource management. Therefore, the discard mandate tied to Hopping Automaton can be detrimental when choices are sparse and each card’s value is at a premium.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck versatility is key, but Hopping Automaton’s specific mana cost necessitates a dedicated energy source, possibly restricting its integration into various deck builds that value flexibility and unfettered mana allocation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Mana efficiency is a cornerstone of gameplay, keeping in mind the tempo of MTG matches. With a mana cost on the higher side of the curve, Hopping Automaton contends with other cards that might offer more utility or impact, potentially relegating it to a lesser role in streamlined deck strategies.

Reasons to Include Hopping Automaton in Your Collection

Versatility: Hopping Automaton can be a flexible addition to various deck builds, primarily those that thrive on having creatures that can be easily sacrificed for greater effects or those that capitalize on artifact synergies.

Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Hopping Automaton works well in combination with cards that offer benefits for each artifact you control or when artifacts enter or leave the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact strategies are popular or if there’s an emphasis on engine-based decks, the Hopping Automaton could seamlessly integrate and prove to be a strategic asset.

How to beat

Hopping Automaton may not be the most formidable construct in the world of Magic the Gathering, but underestimating this card could lead to surprise advantage for its user. As with any card that has the potential to generate value over time, the key to overpowering Hopping Automaton lies in the prevention of its benefit accumulation.

One of the most effective strategies is to employ removal spells which are abundantly found in nearly every deck’s arsenal. Swift removal like Shock or Fatal Push can easily dispatch Hopping Automaton, ensuring its synergy never gets off the ground. Targeted removal is your strongest approach, negating any of the potential advantages the opponent might achieve with this artifact creature. Additionally, you may consider using counter spells when your opponent attempts to cast Hopping Automaton, this can nip problems in the bud before this pesky automaton starts its hopping shenanigans.

Overall, when facing Hopping Automaton, keeping the game’s momentum in your favor by promptly removing it from the battlefield or countering it before it lands, means maintaining control over the match. With the right strategy, this mechanical menacer will be little more than a temporary obstacle.

Cards like Hopping Automaton

Hopping Automaton presents itself as an intriguing option in the realm of mana-efficient creatures within Magic: The Gathering. When examining creatures of similar cost and abilities, Bronze Sable is a creature that stands out due to its reliability for the same mana investment. While not boasting a flexible drawback like Hopping Automaton, which can potentially be leveraged for various gameplay strategies, Bronze Sable provides a straightforward no-frills option for deck builders.

Another kin in the world of modestly costed artifacts is Myr Sire, which offers a unique advantage upon its demise, adding a 1/1 Myr artifact creature token to your battlefield. Its passive ability to leave behind value contrasts with Hopping Automaton’s self-regulating size adjustment, which can evolve according to your game’s demands. Meanwhile, Ornithopter stands in stark contrast to Hopping Automaton, as it enters the battlefield for no mana cost at all, providing an early game presence, albeit with zero attack power.

Clearly, when juxtaposed for their strategical uses and contributions to the battlefield dynamics, Hopping Automaton provides a unique blend of adaptability and affordability for players looking to fine-tune their artifact-centric strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Hopping Automaton by color, type and mana cost

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hopping Automaton MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Hopping Automaton and other MTG cards: