Thopter FabricatorHow it works & interactions with other cards

Token Generation and Flying

Thopter Fabricator has a triggered ability that monitors how many cards you have drawn during a turn. As soon as you draw your second card in a single turn, the ability triggers and produces a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying. Because this is a triggered ability, it functions even if Thopter Fabricator has not been crewed and is currently just a non-creature artifact on the battlefield.

Manning the Vehicle

To turn Thopter Fabricator into a creature so it can attack or block, you must use its Crew 2 ability. This requires tapping any number of creatures you control with total power 2 or greater. Once crewed, it becomes an artifact creature with Flying until the end of the turn. Note that the Thopter tokens created by its ability are perfect candidates for crewing the ship in future turns.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you draw your normal card for the turn during your draw step. Second, you must use a spell or ability to draw another card. Once that second card is drawn, the 'Whenever' ability triggers and is put onto the stack. When the ability resolves, you place a 1/1 Thopter token onto the battlefield. You cannot get more than one token per turn from a single Thopter Fabricator, even if you draw a third or fourth card.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that the second card draw must happen while Thopter Fabricator is already on the battlefield. If you draw two cards and then cast Thopter Fabricator, you will not receive a token for that turn. Additionally, remember that the Thopter tokens have summoning sickness, so they cannot crew the Vehicle or attack the same turn they are created unless they gain haste.

Interaction examples

Building a Crew

Thopter FabricatorThopter

If you have Thopter Fabricator on the field and draw your second card, you create a 1/1 Thopter token. On your next turn, if you repeat this, you will have two Thopters. You can then tap both 1/1 Thopter tokens to pay the Crew 2 cost, turning Thopter Fabricator into a 3/3 flyer ready for combat.

Speeding Up the Assault

Thopter FabricatorSwiftfoot Boots

After you crew Thopter Fabricator, it becomes a creature. If you then attach Swiftfoot Boots to it, the Vehicle gains haste and hexproof. This allows you to attack with the 3/3 flyer immediately, even if the Thopter Fabricator was just played this turn.

Mana for the Mission

Thopter FabricatorArcane Signet

You can use the mana produced by Arcane Signet to help pay the {2}{U} cost to cast Thopter Fabricator. Since the Signet is an artifact, it synergizes well in decks that care about the total number of artifacts on the board alongside your new Thopter tokens.