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[[File:Ornithopter.jpg|right|thumb|Ornithopter. Art by [[Amy Weber]].]][[File:Predator Ornithopter.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Predator]]'' Onnithopter]]
{{Infobox type
'''Thopter''' is an [[artifact creature]] [[subtype|type]] used for cards depicting small flying devices.  
|type=creature
|stats={{stats|U=1|R=1|WU=2|A=15}}
{{stats|Thopter creation|W=2|U=17|R=8|WU=2|UR=6|RW=1|M=2|A=7|L=1}}
as of ''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]''
}}
'''Thopter''' is a [[creature type]] used for cards depicting small flying devices. All Thopters are [[artifact creature]]s.


The first creature to bear the type was <c>Ornithopter</c> in ''[[Antiquities]]'' (first printed with the type in ''[[Ninth Edition]]'').  Other examples include <c>Roterothopter</c>, <c>Thopter Squadron</c>, and <c>Drill-Skimmer</c>.<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/ornithopters-2010-05-06|Ornithopters!|[[Monty Ashley]]|May 6, 2010}}</ref>
The first creature to bear the type was <c>Ornithopter</c> in ''[[Antiquities]]'' (first printed with the type in ''[[Ninth Edition]]'').  Other examples include <c>Roterothopter</c>, <c>Thopter Squadron</c>, and <c>Drill-Skimmer</c>.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/ornithopters-2010-05-06|Ornithopters!|[[Monty Ashley]]|May 6, 2010}}</ref>


==Storyline==
==Storyline==
[[File:Predator Ornithopter.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Predator]]'' Ornithopter]]
===Dominaria===
===Dominaria===
Thopters were among the first devices worked upon by the brothers [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]]. They started out as [[Thran]] devices salvaged by [[Tocasia]]'s team, then the brothers worked on them to make them more efficient and deadly. Used as transport, they were used frequently in the earliest stages of the [[Brothers' War]] straight through to the end.
Thopters were among the first devices worked upon by the brothers [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]]. They started as [[Thran]] devices salvaged by [[Tocasia]]'s team, then the brothers worked on them to make them more efficient and deadly. They were used as transport frequently in the earliest stages of the [[Brothers' War]] straight through to the end.
 
At the time of the [[Phyrexian Invasion]], ornithopters were employed on the flagship ''[[Predator]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/build-your-own-airship-2008-10-28|Build Your Own Airship!|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 28, 2008}}</ref>
 
===Fiora===
Ornithopters are a common form of clockwork artifact creature created by the Academy of [[Fiora|Paliano]]. In particular, they are popular with young [[Artificer|artificers]] attempting to grab the attention of Professor [[Muzzio]].
 
===Ixalan===
The sole known thopter of [[Ixalan (plane)|Ixalan]] is a [[Dinosaur|Mechanoquetzacama]] known as a ''Thopteryx''. Its creator, [[Huatli]], likely based it on Kaladeshi design principles learned from her partner [[Saheeli Rai|Saheeli]].


At the the time of the [[Phyrexian Invasion]], ornithopters were employed on the flagship ''[[Predator]]''.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/build-your-own-airship-2008-10-28|Build Your Own Airship!|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 28, 2008}}</ref>
===Kaladesh===
===Kaladesh===
[[Aether]]-fueled thopters are fabricated and used in large quantities on [[Kaladesh (plane)|Kaladesh]], the home plane of [[Chandra Nalaar]].
[[Aether]]-fueled thopters are fabricated and used in large quantities on [[Kaladesh (plane)|Kaladesh]], the home plane of [[Chandra Nalaar]].


== Etymology ==
===Kamigawa===
Magic's ornithopters are based on the real world devices of the same name<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter Wikipedia: Ornithopter]</ref>. The word "ornithopter" comes from the french "ornithoptère"<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ornithopter&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithopter]</ref>, itself constructed with the ancient Greek words "ornithos" (meaning "bird") and "pteron" (meaning "wing").
[[Insect|Butterfly]]-like electronic thopters have been developed by the [[Saiba Futurists]] of [[Kamigawa]] and are now common in the skies around [[Otawara]].
 
===Ravnica===
As head of the [[Azorius Senate]], the [[planeswalker]] [[Dovin Baan]] introduced thopters for surveillance in [[Ravnica]]. After [[New Phyrexia]]'s [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse|invasion]] of the plane, they filtered down into use by the [[Ravnican Agency of Magicological Investigations]].
 
===Zendikar===
The [[kor]] of [[Zendikar (plane)|Zendikar]] are known to manufacture kite-based thopters known as {{card plural|Pilgrim's Eye|ZNR}} to scout the plane's [[Roil|unstable terrain]].
 
==Notable thopters==
;Dominaria
*<c>Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter</c>


As artifact creatures didn't use to have creature types, "Thopter" became a shorthand for a small flying device; and later designers used it as a root word to graft epithet to.
;Kaladesh
Only two fake words were created using the "thopter" basis (<c>Roterothopter</c> and <c>Telethopter</c>), before card names started referring to Thopters directly: <c>Thopter Squadron</c> was the first to solidify Thopter as the generic name for these devices.
*[[Hope of Ghirapur]]
 
==Inspiration==
Magic's ornithopters are based on real-world devices of the same name.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter Wikipedia: Ornithopter]</ref>
 
==Etymology==
The word "ornithopter" comes from the French "ornithoptère",<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ornithopter&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithopter]</ref> itself constructed with the ancient Greek words "ornithos" (meaning "bird") and "pteron" (meaning "wing"). "Thopter" is shorthand for the same word, and it has the same etymology.
 
Originally, artifact creatures didn't have creature types; later, designers used it as a root word to graft epithet to. Only two fake words were created using the "thopter" basis (<c>Roterothopter</c> and <c>Telethopter</c>), before card names started referring to Thopters directly: <c>Thopter Squadron</c> was the first to solidify Thopter as the generic name for these devices.


{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
Line 23: Line 54:
| <c>Ornithopter</c> || Greek || Ornithos<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ornitho-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithos]</ref> + pteron<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ptero-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: pteron]</ref> || Bird wing
| <c>Ornithopter</c> || Greek || Ornithos<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ornitho-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithos]</ref> + pteron<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ptero-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: pteron]</ref> || Bird wing
|-
|-
| <c>Roterothopter</c> || Latin || Rotarius (''lat.''<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rotary&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: rotary]</ref>) + Thopter|| Wheel-like thopter
| <c>Roterothopter</c> || Latin || Rotarius (''lat.''<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rotary&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: rotary]</ref>) + (orni)tho + pter|| Wheel-like bird wing
|-
|-
| <c>Telethopter</c> || Greek || Tele (''gr.''<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=tele-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: tele]</ref>) + Thopter|| Long-distance thopter
| <c>Telethopter</c> || Greek || Tele<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=tele-&allowed_in_frame=0 Online Etymology Dictionary: tele]</ref> + (orni)tho + pter|| Long-distance bird wing
|}
|}


==Thopter tokens==
==Tokens==
Tokens marked with {{A}} are created by [[Acorn]] cards.
{{Thopter tokens|header=y}}
{{Thopter tokens|header=y}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:ThopterConcepts.jpg|Thopter concepts by [[Anthony Scott Waters]].
File:ThopterConcepts2.jpg|Thopter concepts by [[Anthony Scott Waters]].
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Creature types}}
{{Creature types|Artifact creatures|Thopters}}
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Artifacts]]

Latest revision as of 17:37, 8 March 2024

Thopter
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics
19 cards
{U} 5.3% {R} 5.3% {W/U} 10.5% {artifact symbol} 78.9%
46 Thopter creation cards
{W} 4.3% {U} 37% {R} 17.4% {W/U} 4.3% {U/R} 13% {R/W} 2.2% {M} 4.3% {artifact symbol} 15.2% {land symbol} 2.2%
as of Murders at Karlov Manor
Scryfall Search
type:"Thopter"

Thopter is a creature type used for cards depicting small flying devices. All Thopters are artifact creatures.

The first creature to bear the type was Ornithopter in Antiquities (first printed with the type in Ninth Edition). Other examples include Roterothopter, Thopter Squadron, and Drill-Skimmer.[1]

Storyline

Predator Ornithopter

Dominaria

Thopters were among the first devices worked upon by the brothers Urza and Mishra. They started as Thran devices salvaged by Tocasia's team, then the brothers worked on them to make them more efficient and deadly. They were used as transport frequently in the earliest stages of the Brothers' War straight through to the end.

At the time of the Phyrexian Invasion, ornithopters were employed on the flagship Predator.[2]

Fiora

Ornithopters are a common form of clockwork artifact creature created by the Academy of Paliano. In particular, they are popular with young artificers attempting to grab the attention of Professor Muzzio.

Ixalan

The sole known thopter of Ixalan is a Mechanoquetzacama known as a Thopteryx. Its creator, Huatli, likely based it on Kaladeshi design principles learned from her partner Saheeli.

Kaladesh

Aether-fueled thopters are fabricated and used in large quantities on Kaladesh, the home plane of Chandra Nalaar.

Kamigawa

Butterfly-like electronic thopters have been developed by the Saiba Futurists of Kamigawa and are now common in the skies around Otawara.

Ravnica

As head of the Azorius Senate, the planeswalker Dovin Baan introduced thopters for surveillance in Ravnica. After New Phyrexia's invasion of the plane, they filtered down into use by the Ravnican Agency of Magicological Investigations.

Zendikar

The kor of Zendikar are known to manufacture kite-based thopters known as Pilgrim's Eyes to scout the plane's unstable terrain.

Notable thopters

Dominaria
Kaladesh

Inspiration

Magic's ornithopters are based on real-world devices of the same name.[3]

Etymology

The word "ornithopter" comes from the French "ornithoptère",[4] itself constructed with the ancient Greek words "ornithos" (meaning "bird") and "pteron" (meaning "wing"). "Thopter" is shorthand for the same word, and it has the same etymology.

Originally, artifact creatures didn't have creature types; later, designers used it as a root word to graft epithet to. Only two fake words were created using the "thopter" basis (Roterothopter and Telethopter), before card names started referring to Thopters directly: Thopter Squadron was the first to solidify Thopter as the generic name for these devices.

Word Origin Etymology Literal translation
Ornithopter Greek Ornithos[5] + pteron[6] Bird wing
Roterothopter Latin Rotarius (lat.[7]) + (orni)tho + pter Wheel-like bird wing
Telethopter Greek Tele[8] + (orni)tho + pter Long-distance bird wing

Tokens

Tokens marked with {A} are created by Acorn cards.

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Thopter Blue Artifact Creature — Thopter 1/1 Flying
Colorless Artifact Creature — Thopter 0/0 Flying
Colorless Artifact Creature — Thopter 1/1 Flying
Ornithopter Colorless Artifact Creature — Thopter 0/2 Flying

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Monty Ashley (May 6, 2010). "Ornithopters!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Magic Arcana (October 28, 2008). "Build Your Own Airship!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia: Ornithopter
  4. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithopter
  5. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: ornithos
  6. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: pteron
  7. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: rotary
  8. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary: tele
 
Multicolored {M}
Majority {W}
Majority {U}
Majority {B}
Majority {R}
Majority {G}
Majority {C}
Majority Token
Crossover
 
Notable Races
Notable Classes
Other
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