Aerial Formation MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aerial Formation adds significant value by potentially enhancing multiple creatures with its strive ability. If you have the mana to spare, it can turn a single draw into a comprehensive board improvement, potentially setting up favorable exchanges or even surprise wins.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, the strategic depth of Aerial Formation can accelerate your game plan. By boosting creatures temporarily, it can enable quicker victories and put opponents on the defensive, indirectly conserving the resources you’d otherwise spend on board control.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Aerial Formation shines in its tactical flexibility. You can adapt to the battlefield as it changes, using the card as a way to surprise an opponent during combat or in response to their spells, catching them off-guard and shifting the momentum of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Aerial Formation requires a specific mana color (blue), thus making it less versatile for decks that do not have easy access to blue mana or are not focused around that particular color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card provides a solid benefit by giving creatures flying and a potential +1/+1 boost per target, its Strive cost may render it inefficient in comparison to other spells that buff multiple creatures for a lower investment.

Discard Requirement: Aerial Formation does not have a discard requirement itself, but being in a color that often leans toward card draw spells, using it could pressure your hand size, especially in situations where maintaining card advantage is critical.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aerial Formation is a handy card that can find a home in various blue decks. It offers a cost-effective way to potentially give multiple creatures flying, which can be a game-changer in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or prowess-like effects. Its Strive ability allows it to scale and interact with a multitude of creatures on the field, setting the stage for impressive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fliers are paramount, Aerial Formation assumes a critical role. Beyond granting evasion, its synergy with heroic mechanics can offer consistent value in contemporary gameplay, augmenting your board presence significantly.

How to beat

Aerial Formation is a unique spell that can elevate your squadron to new heights in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to not only boost a single flyer’s strength but potentially your entire aerial assault can seriously tip the scales. However, despite this airspace dominance, there are efficient tactics to ground this strategy.

Firstly, consider running counterspells to nip the threat in the bud. Disallow, a versatile counterspell, can target Aerial Formation directly, ensuring those wings never get a chance to unfold. If the spell does resolve, instant-speed removals become your best ally. A well-timed Murderous Cut can remove an enhanced creature before it deals significant damage.

Keep an eye out for cards that rein in flying creatures. Windstorm and Raking Canopy penalize players for leveraging flight by inflicting damage to winged creatures. Silklash Spider not only blocks flying creatures with ease but can wipe the skies clear with its activated ability.

Ultimately, countering Aerial Formation’s potential impact involves a mix of prevention and control. Engaging smart defensive measures ensures that Aerial Formation won’t escalate an opponent’s offensive beyond your control in gameplay.