Aether Storm MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 21
1997-03-24 - Number 70
2008-09-22 - Number 39
2002-06-24 - Number 62453
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
No summon spells may be cast. Any player may pay 4 life to bury Æther Storm. Effects that prevent or redirect damage cannot be used to counter this loss of life.
"I do love the rain . . . but this storm feels somehow wrong, Taysir." —Daria
Cards like Aether Storm
Aether Storm is a unique piece in the landscape of enchantment cards within Magic: The Gathering. It finds its parallels in environment-manipulating cards like Damping Sphere, which similarly aims to throttle opponents’ strategies by increasing costs. Aether Storm elevates the mana necessary to play creature spells, adding a constraint to creature-heavy decks.
Looking towards cards like Ether Barrier, another parallel emerges. This card also imposes an additional cost on creature spells, though it extracts life points rather than mana as compensation. While both cards focus on the same type of spell, Aether Storm’s impact is purely mana-based, offering a different tactical approach to control. Then we have Nether Void, an older, powerful card with a broader scope which affects all spells, not just creatures, by adding a cost. Its imposing presence on all spells makes it stand out, but also comes with a significantly higher mana investment.
Through evaluating these enchantments, it’s evident that Aether Storm carves out a niche in Magic: The Gathering by challenging players to weigh the value of casting creatures against a higher mana demand, thus shaping the flow of the game decidedly.
Cards similar to Aether Storm by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aether Storm discourages spell-heavy strategies by taxing your opponent’s creature spells. This restriction allows you to fortify your position and gain card superiority as opponents find themselves unable to deploy their creatures effectively.
Resource Acceleration: This enchantment can potentially create resource disparities. As opponents pay more to play creatures, they may fall behind in developing their board, giving you a crucial tempo advantage to accelerate your own game plan.
Instant Speed: While Aether Storm itself is an enchantment, it synergizes well with instant speed spells in your deck. It allows you to pass the turn without casting creatures, holding up mana for counterspells, removal, or other instant speed interactions, confident in the knowledge that Aether Storm is stifling your opponent’s creature-based strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Aether Storm demands that players discard another card when they attempt to play a creature, imposing a toll on their hand and potentially disrupting their overall strategy. This requirement can be particularly problematic in the late game where each resource counts, or in situations where maintaining card advantage is crucial for victory.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two blue mana and two colorless mana, Aether Storm’s casting cost can be restrictive, limiting it to decks heavily invested in blue mana. Players running multicolored decks may find it challenging to consistently meet these requirements, reducing the card’s overall versatility and playability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost of four, including two blue mana, Aether Storm can be a hefty investment, especially when considering the potential for more immediate impact from other four-mana spells. While it offers a unique controlling ability, there are more cost-effective alternatives for preventing creature spells or controlling the board.
Reasons to Include Aether Storm in Your Collection
Versatility: Aether Storm is a unique enchantment that can adapt across various deck types, particularly those that aim to disrupt creature-heavy strategies. Its ability to prevent creatures from entering the battlefield makes it a flexible control element.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a crucial piece in decks focused on denying opponent’s resources. It can be combined with cards that punish players for casting spells or using abilities, enhancing the overall strategy.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Aether Storm holds potential in metagames that are creature-centric. It can serve as a useful tool for gaining an advantage against decks that rely heavily on casting numerous creatures.
How to beat
Aether Storm is a unique enchantment card within the broader tapestry of Magic: The Gathering, as it imposes a stifling restriction on creature spells. As it requires an additional payment of four life upon the casting of any creature, it can dramatically shift the dynamics of gameplay. To navigate around Aether Storm’s limitation, players should consider leveraging alternative strategies.
One effective method to bypass Aether Storm’s toll is to utilize creature spells with an alternative casting cost that don’t require paying the life penalty. Favoring noncreature spells, especially those that can destroy or neutralize enchantments, can also be a prudent pathway to reclaim control. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize come to mind, directly addressing the root of the issue by removing the problematic enchantment entirely. Finally, a strategy focused on indirect ways of placing creatures onto the battlefield—such as through special abilities like Unearth or Persist—can effectively outmaneuver Aether Storm’s constraints.
In essence, by exploring the depth of your deck and selecting strategic responses, you can effectively dismantle the hindrance caused by the Aether Storm card. Adaptability and strategic card choice are key to turning the tides in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aether Storm MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Fifth Edition, 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 Storm and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Aether Storm Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 21 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 70 | 1997 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 3 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62453 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Philip Straub | ||
| 4 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 39 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Storm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aether Storm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | This does not stop a creature card from being put directly onto the battlefield by a spell or ability. |
| 2008-08-01 | Affects any spell with the type creature, including those with other types such as artifact or enchantment. This includes older cards with “summon” on their type line. |