Aerial Surveyor MTG Card


Aerial Surveyor offers scry 2 for future draws optimization and smooth in-game progression. Its instant speed casting and mana acceleration greatly improve strategic flexibility and resource management. While powerful, its discard condition and specific mana cost can affect deck versatility and efficiency.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Vehicle
Abilities Crew,Flying
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever Aerial Surveyor attacks, if defending player controls more lands than you, search your library for a basic Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Crew 2


Cards like Aerial Surveyor

Aerial Surveyor has taken its place in the sky-high echelons of creature cards with unique utility abilities. This creature provides a vital service of surveying your battlefield from above, akin to cards like Skyscanner, which also enters the game and gives you a card draw. The Surveyor, however, goes a step further by allowing a peek into your opponent’s hand when it enters the battlefield, giving you an advantage in foresight.

Diving deeper into the comparison, Faerie Seer emerges as another card with a similar scouting ability. Although the Seer allows you to scry upon entry, it doesn’t offer direct card draw or reveal your opponent’s secrets. It’s also more mana-efficient, allowing for earlier plays. Cloudkin Seer stands out as well, granting card draw on entry. But unlike Aerial Surveyor, it doesn’t facilitate insight into the opponent’s hand, choosing to focus on building your own hand instead.

Analyzing these cards side by side, Aerial Surveyor holds a strong position among reconnaissance creatures that combine both knowledge and resource advantage. It’s a compelling choice for players who seek aerial intelligence to strategize their winning moves.

Skyscanner - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Cloudkin Seer - MTG Card versions
Skyscanner - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Cloudkin Seer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Aerial Surveyor by color, type and mana cost

Idol of Endurance - MTG Card versions
Urza's Sylex - MTG Card versions
Thopter Shop - MTG Card versions
Cloudsteel Kirin - MTG Card versions
The Book of Exalted Deeds - MTG Card versions
Halo Fountain - MTG Card versions
Maul of the Skyclaves - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer's Map - MTG Card versions
Pearl Shard - MTG Card versions
Soldier Replica - MTG Card versions
Thunder Totem - MTG Card versions
Marble Chalice - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Auriok Replica - MTG Card versions
Blinding Souleater - MTG Card versions
Godsend - MTG Card versions
Peacewalker Colossus - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Widget - MTG Card versions
Riveting Rigger - MTG Card versions
Mace of the Valiant - MTG Card versions
Idol of Endurance - MTG Card versions
Urza's Sylex - MTG Card versions
Thopter Shop - MTG Card versions
Cloudsteel Kirin - MTG Card versions
The Book of Exalted Deeds - MTG Card versions
Halo Fountain - MTG Card versions
Maul of the Skyclaves - MTG Card versions
Archaeomancer's Map - MTG Card versions
Pearl Shard - MTG Card versions
Soldier Replica - MTG Card versions
Thunder Totem - MTG Card versions
Marble Chalice - MTG Card versions
Scepter of Dominance - MTG Card versions
Auriok Replica - MTG Card versions
Blinding Souleater - MTG Card versions
Godsend - MTG Card versions
Peacewalker Colossus - MTG Card versions
Knight of the Widget - MTG Card versions
Riveting Rigger - MTG Card versions
Mace of the Valiant - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aerial Surveyor grants the player an opportunity to scry 2, thereby setting up the next draws and ensuring a smoother gameplay experience by selecting the most beneficial upcoming cards.

Resource Acceleration: When Aerial Surveyor is played, it can significantly ramp up your mana resources, giving you an edge by allowing you to deploy high-cost cards earlier than usual or outpace your opponent in resource development.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Aerial Surveyor at instant speed means you can respond adeptly to the evolving state of the board, utilize your mana efficiently, and make strategic decisions based on your opponent’s actions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to the Aerial Surveyor card lies in its discard condition. Pilots of flying machines must weigh the pros and cons, as getting Aerial Surveyor airborne requires parting with another card from your hand which can weaken your position if your arsenal is already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Aerial Surveyor demands a precise and sometimes challenging array of mana. This cost often restricts it to decks that can easily produce or have a surplus of the necessary colored mana, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that soars on the higher end compared to other cards with similar abilities, Aerial Surveyor may lag behind in the race for efficiency. In many cases, players can find themselves casting other spells that grant more immediate board presence or value for the same or fewer resources.


Reasons to Include Aerial Surveyor in Your Collection

Versatility: Aerial Surveyor offers a flexible role in decks that focus on flying strategies or benefit from surveying the battlefield from above. Its ability to adapt to multiple game situations makes it a staple inclusion for players seeking to control the skies.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability to synergize with other flyers can amplify air-based offenses. Utilizing its potential to create a formidable squadron, it can turn any aerial threat into a devastating force.

Meta-Relevance: As the game constantly evolves, having adaptable flyers like Aerial Surveyor could provide the upper hand against ground-centric decks, making it a tactical choice in shifting metagames where air supremacy can dictate the pace of play.


How to beat

Aerial Surveyor brings a blend of utility and aerial prowess to the battlefield in MTG. As a card that can significantly impact the late game, it’s key to understand strategies for overcoming its influence. One effective method is to manage the board early, denying your opponent the chance to establish a presence in the skies. Removal spells can also be a powerful deterrent against flying creatures like Aerial Surveyor.

Spot removal cards such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are excellent ways to neutralize threats before they can utilize their value-generating abilities. Utilizing counter spells can also be a strategic way to prevent your opponent from casting Aerial Surveyor in the first place, ensuring that board control remains in your favor.

Moreover, the importance of tempo cannot be underestimated. Deploying an aggressive ground strategy can force opponents to use their flying creatures defensively, potentially keeping Aerial Surveyor from turning the tides. Blink effects or cards that can force a creature to leave the battlefield and then return can also reset any accumulated counters, nullifying its advantage-gaining capacity.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depths of MTG can be as thrilling as a duel in the clouds. The Aerial Surveyor card embodies this, offering both the foresight of scrying and the surge of mana acceleration to launch your grand plays. If you’ve found value in weighing its pros and cons, and you’re keen to enhance your aerial strategies or to navigate through shifting metagames, we encourage you to add Aerial Surveyor to your collection. For more insights on optimizing your deck and mastering the skies, join our community and discover how to reign supreme in your next MTG encounter.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aerial Surveyor MTG card by a specific set like Neon Dynasty Commander and Neon Dynasty Commander, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Aerial Surveyor and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Aerial Surveyor Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by Antonio José Manzanedo.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 392015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo
22022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 52015NormalBlackAntonio José Manzanedo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aerial Surveyor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aerial Surveyor card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-02-18 Aerial Surveyor's triggered ability has an intervening "if" clause. That means (1) the ability won't trigger at all unless the defending player controls more lands than you, and (2) the ability will do nothing if you control at least as many lands as the defending player by the time it resolves.