Experimental AviatorHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Fleet in a Box

Experimental Aviator is a 5-mana 0/3 creature with Flying. Its primary value lies in its 'enters' triggered ability, which creates two 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature tokens that also have Flying. This allows you to spread your power across multiple bodies, making it difficult for opponents to block everything or use single-target removal effectively.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When you cast Experimental Aviator and it successfully resolves, it enters the battlefield. This immediately triggers its ability. The ability is put on the stack, and players have a chance to respond. Once the ability resolves, you place two 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield. These tokens are artifacts in addition to being creatures, which can trigger other synergies in your deck.

Strategic Timing

Because Experimental Aviator creates multiple tokens, it is best utilized in decks that benefit from having a high creature count or artifact count. It is an excellent defensive tool to clutter the sky against aggressive fliers, or an offensive tool to chip away at an opponent's life total when the ground is stalled.

Common Pitfalls

Remember that the Aviator itself only has 0 power. While it can block effectively due to its 3 toughness and Flying, it won't deal combat damage unless you boost its stats. Additionally, if Experimental Aviator is destroyed in response to its triggered ability, you still get the two Thopter tokens, as the ability exists on the stack independently of the source.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Hangar

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Human' or 'Artificer' chosen as the creature type, Experimental Aviator's ability triggers an additional time. Instead of two Thopters, you will create four 1/1 colorless Thopter tokens when the Aviator enters the battlefield.

Sky Reinforcements

Thopter

When Experimental Aviator enters the battlefield, its ability puts two Thopter tokens into play. These tokens have Flying, just like the Aviator, providing you with three separate flying blockers or attackers immediately.

Value Overwhelming

Solemn Simulacrum

In a deck focused on 'enters' triggers, playing Solemn Simulacrum followed by Experimental Aviator ensures you are ramping your mana and filling the board with flying tokens, creating a difficult board state for your opponent to navigate.