Aether Herder MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Artificer Druid |
| Released | 2017-01-20 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Aether Revolt |
| Set code | AER |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 102 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Victor Adame Minguez |
Text of card
When Aether Herder enters the battlefield, you get (two energy counters). Whenever Aether Herder attacks, you may pay . If you do, create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
Cards like Aether Herder
Aether Herder joins the ranks of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering that enhance your board presence upon casting. Not unlike the renowned Cloudgoat Ranger, which brings additional Kithkin Soldier creature tokens into play, Aether Herder creates an Ether token when it enters the battlefield. This can be leveraged for mana acceleration or to mount a formidable offense over subsequent turns.
Similarly, the card Brood Monitor provides a creature plus extra bodies upon entering the battlefield, albeit in the form of three Eldrazi Scion tokens. These tokens are not only useful for chump blocking but also for ramping up mana. However, unlike Aether Herder, Brood Monitor’s tokens provide colorless mana, which may not be as flexible depending on your deck’s mana needs. Another peer is Siege-Gang Commander, offering immediate board impact by creating three Goblin tokens that can be used offensively or tactically sacrificed for direct damage.
While considering the utility and synergies of such cards, Aether Herder holds a valuable spot in decks that benefit from creatures entering the field or in those looking to utilize energy counters. Its ability to provide both a decent body and a resource token gives it a unique edge in matches demanding versatility and strategic depth.
Cards similar to Aether Herder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aether Herder provides a nice synergy with energy decks. When it enters the battlefield, you get to create an energy token which can be pivotal for triggering effects that give you a card advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: On casting Aether Herder, you are also granted the ability to create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token. This is a subtle form of resource acceleration as it can potentially boost your board presence without expending additional cards from your hand.
Instant Speed: While Aether Herder itself is not an instant, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells in your deck. Because it provides additional resources in the form of energy and Servo tokens, you maintain flexibility to respond to threats or opportunities at instant speed with your other spells while bolstering your battlefield presence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When you play Aether Herder, you don’t have to discard cards, so this particular downside doesn’t apply to this card. Always remember to evaluate if a card aligns with your hand and strategy before including it in your deck.
Specific Mana Cost: Aether Herder calls for both generic and green mana, which can restrict its integration outside of green-focused or multi-color decks that can accommodate its mana requirements. It’s essential to consider the mana base of your deck to ensure a smooth play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With four mana needed to summon Aether Herder, it stands on the pricier side when compared to other creatures with similar effects or power levels. Players should weigh its cost against the potential benefits it brings to the battlefield to maximize their mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Aether Herder works well in decks that aim to ramp up quickly and make use of the energy mechanic. It’s a fitting addition to green-based creature decks that value generating multiple resources.
Combo Potential: On casting, Aether Herder provides you with an energy counter which can be instrumental in enabling creature synergies or fueling energy-dependent combos within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to create creature tokens, Aether Herder has a place in metagames where board presence and creature counts are pivotal for sustained advantage and overwhelm strategies.
How to beat
Engaging with creatures like Aether Herder requires a well-thought strategy in Magic: The Gathering. This card is known for its ability to create energy counters as well as a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token when it enters the battlefield or attacks. Tackling Aether Herder effectively involves managing its triggered abilities. One method is to remove it before it can generate value with its energy and token production. Instant-speed removal spells can counteract the creature before it becomes a larger threat.
Another approach is to utilize cards that limit a player’s ability to create tokens or use energy counters. This way, the advantage Aether Herder could provide gets neutralized, bending the game back to your favor. Also, consider including efficient blockers or creatures with abilities specifically designed to counteract the Aether Herder’s strengths during a match.
In summary, overcoming Aether Herher in your matches boils down to anticipation and disruption. Employing removals at key moments or employing prevention strategies is essential to mitigating its potential impact on the game board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aether Herder MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Aether Herder and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Herder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aether Herder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They’re not associated with specific permanents. (Other kinds of counters that players may have include poison and experience.) |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters aren’t mana. They don’t go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana “of any type” to your mana pool can’t give you energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | If an effect says you get one or more , you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | Keep careful track of how many energy counters each player has. You may do so by keeping a running count on paper, by using a die, or by any other clear and mutually agreeable method. |
| 2017-02-09 | Some triggered abilities state that you “may pay” a certain amount of . You can’t pay that amount multiple times to multiply the effect. You simply choose whether or not to pay that amount of as the ability resolves, and no player may take actions to try to stop the ability’s effect after you make your choice. |
| 2017-02-09 | You can’t pay more energy counters than you have. |
| 2017-02-09 | is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter. |