Aethersnipe MTG Card
2007-10-12 - Number 50
2008-11-07 - Number 17
2011-06-17 - Number 39
2013-06-07 - Number 36
2014-12-05 - Number 17
2015-05-22 - Number 39
2018-12-07 - Number 44
2019-11-07 - Number 282
2022-07-08 - Number 37
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-39
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Evoke |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Æthersnipe comes into play, return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. Evoke (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play.)
Cards like Aethersnipe
Aethersnipe stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering as an elemental creature card that not only presents a sturdy body on the battlefield but also offers a valuable enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effect. Comparable cards like Man-o’-War and Venser, Shaper Savant also utilize ETB abilities to return target creatures to their owner’s hand. However, they differ in their mana cost, creature size, and the fact that Aethersnipe’s ability can target any nonland permanent, offering a wider range of strategic options.
Exploring the intricacies of Aethersnipe’s capacity, especially when juxtaposed with Avalanche Riders, we notice that both cards provide utility in disrupting the opponent’s board state. Avalanche Riders enables land destruction on ETB but unlike Aethersnipe, it has the echo cost, which can be less mana-efficient over time. Additionally, Aethersnipe can be evoked for a momentary impact, making it a flexible choice for different scenarios in the game.
Assessing the impact and utility of Aethersnipe against similar MTG cards shows that it can be an exceptional option for players who value versatile disruption and board presence, establishing a unique position among creature cards with ETB effects.
Cards similar to Aethersnipe by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aethersnipe comes with the ability to return a target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. This provides a significant swing in card advantage as it potentially disrupts your opponent’s board while developing your own.
Resource Acceleration: This creature’s evoke cost allows you a flexibility in resource management. You can choose to pay the lower evoke cost for the effect without committing the full mana to keep the creature, thus accelerating your potential to play other cards in your hand.
Instant Speed: While Aethersnipe itself is not an instant, the effect of bouncing a permanent can be utilized at a near-instant speed by evoking it during your opponent’s turn. This surprise element can disrupt your opponent’s plans and give you an unexpected edge during their end step or in response to their actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Aethersnipe demands that you return a permanent to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This could force you to sacrifice board presence, particularly detrimental in tightly-contested games where every permanent counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating both generic and blue mana, Aethersnipe’s casting cost can pose a challenge for multicolored decks. The double blue mana in its cost can be particularly restrictive when trying to maintain a smooth mana curve across various colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding six mana for its Evoke ability may seem steep, especially when stacked against other creature removal options. While it does offer utility by potentially reusing an enter-the-battlefield effect of your own, it could be considered less mana-efficient for simply removing opponents’ threats.
Reasons to Include Aethersnipe in Your Collection
Versatility: Aethersnipe offers flexibility in deck building, fitting neatly into strategies that capitalize on bounce mechanics. Its ability to return a target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand allows for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, disrupting opponent’s plans or resetting your own permanents for additional value.
Combo Potential: This creature synergizes well with decks that exploit enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. With the right setup, Aethersnipe can become a recurring source of board control, pairing with cards that allow it to be returned to your hand or library to be cast again, maximizing the impact of its ETB ability.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where tempo plays a crucial role, Aethersnipe can shine by providing a swing in board state while developing your own presence. Its ability to deal with problematic permanents makes it an asset in matchups where tempo and board control are key to outpacing your opponent.
How to beat
Aethersnipe brings a distinct edge to the battlefield within Magic: The Gathering with its potent return-to-hand ability upon entering the fray. This elemental creature can disrupt an opponent’s strategy by bouncing a crucial card back to their hand, delaying their play or dismantling synergies. To counter this disruptive force, efficient creature removal is key. Utilizing swift destruction spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can eliminate Aethersnipe before its enter the battlefield effect is utilized.
Moreover, countering Aethersnipe itself is a sound tactic. Denying its cast with a counterspell ensures that its ability never triggers, maintaining board control. For those inclined towards prevention, cards like Torpor Orb nullify triggered abilities from creatures entering the battlefield, making Aethersnipe a mere body without impact. Another angle is to outvalue the evoking force; play creatures with beneficial leaving-the-battlefield effects or undying to transform the attempted disadvantage into a twisted favor.
In essence, understanding the interplay of spells and abilities in Magic: The Gathering can arm you with the necessary strategies to confront and overcome disruptive cards such as Aethersnipe. Whether it’s through prompt removal, shrewd countering, or turning the tables by utilizing strategic card synergies, you can maintain command over the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aethersnipe MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, 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 Aethersnipe 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
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Printings
The Aethersnipe Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 11 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-10-12 | Lorwyn | LRW | 50 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 2 | 2008-11-07 | Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra | DD2 | 17 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 3 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 39 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 4 | 2013-06-07 | Modern Masters | MMA | 36 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 5 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra | JVC | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 6 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 7 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 44 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 8 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 282 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 9 | The List | PLST | MM2-39 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | ||
| 10 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 37 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aethersnipe has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aethersnipe card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If you cast this card for its evoke cost, you may put the sacrifice trigger and the regular enters-the-battlefield trigger on the stack in either order. The one put on the stack last will resolve first. |
| 2018-12-07 | Aethersnipe can be the target of its own ability. If it’s the only nonland permanent on the battlefield, it must be the target of its ability. |