Experimental PilotHow it works & interactions with other cards

Navigating the Spellbook

The primary utility of Experimental Pilot lies in its activated ability. By paying one blue mana and discarding two cards, you initiate a Draft. This allows you to choose one card from a randomly selected subset of three cards from its specific spellbook, which then goes directly into your hand. This is an excellent way to turn redundant lands or useless cards into fresh options.

Mastering the Crew Mechanic

While this creature has a base power of 1, its static ability changes how it interacts with the Crew keyword. When calculating if you have enough total power to crew a Vehicle, you treat Experimental Pilot's power as 3 instead of 1. This means it can single-handedly crew many medium-sized Vehicles that would usually require multiple creatures to start.

Protection and Timing

Experimental Pilot is deceptively difficult to remove thanks to Ward {2}. Any time an opponent targets it with a spell or ability, they must pay an additional two mana or their effect is countered. Because the Draft ability requires discarding two cards as a cost, you should be careful about using it if your opponent has mana open to respond to the creature itself.

Interaction examples

Drafting for Answers

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you have an Ornithopter of Paradise on the battlefield and two excess lands in hand, you can tap the Ornithopter for blue mana, pay the cost for Experimental Pilot's ability, and discard the lands. This replaces your dead draws with a choice of a powerful card from the spellbook, maintaining your card quality.

Refilling the Hand

Faerie Mastermind

Experimental Pilot requires you to discard two cards to draft, which can leave your hand empty. If you have Faerie Mastermind in play, you can use its ability to make everyone draw cards, providing you with the 'fuel' needed to activate the Pilot's draft ability again later in the game.