Aviation Pioneer
Creature — Human Artificer
When this creature enters, create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Core Set 2019
- Price
- $0.05
- EDHREC rank
- #19332
Aviation Pioneer is a three-mana 2/1 that enters with a 1/1 Thopter token — two bodies for one card, both with flying. Efficient enough for limited, outclassed in constructed formats that can do more for three mana.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Aviation Pioneer is a bulk common in every competitive format, so the practical question is where it earns a slot. In Pauper, token-and-artifact synergy shells built around Thopter payoffs give it a real home, and the two-body-for-one value matters at that card-quality ceiling. In Commander, Aviation Pioneer only belongs if the deck is specifically counting artifacts or 1/1 flyers for an engine — Breya, Etherium Shaper or Sai, Master Thopterist decks can use it, but it sits near the bottom of the pile. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer it simply doesn't clear the bar; three mana for a 2/1 plus a 1/1 token is underpowered against what those formats offer.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.05 bulk tier
At $0.05, Aviation Pioneer is deep bulk — a throwaway pickup when you need a cheap token producer for a Pauper or budget Commander build. Don't expect the price to move; bulk commons at this power level stay bulk.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.