Aetherstream Leopard MTG Card
2017-01-20 - Number 103
2021-08-26 - Number 538
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Cat |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Trample When Aetherstream Leopard enters the battlefield, you get (an energy counter). Whenever Aetherstream Leopard attacks, you may pay . If you do, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Cards like Aetherstream Leopard
Aetherstream Leopard joins the ranks of efficient creatures in Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of cards like Riparian Tiger. Both creatures hail from the plane of Kaladesh, with energy mechanics in play. Aetherstream Leopard stands out with its agility, ready to pounce with trample as soon as it has the necessary energy. This feature allows for early game pressure on opponents.
Comparing further, Longtusk Cub offers a similar energy-dependent strength boost. While the Cub requires an energy investment to grow stronger, the Leopard provides immediate impact with its trample, albeit at a fixed strength. Peema Outrider presents another relevant comparison. As a creature that also arrives with trample, it gives you a choice upon entering the battlefield—either to come with a Servo token or as a larger trampling entity, providing strategic flexibility absent in Aetherstream Leopard.
Assessing such cards side-by-side shows that Aetherstream Leopard has a spot in the energy-themed decks for those seeking swift and definitive trampling power, contributing to its unique standing within the green fast-attack creature spectrum in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Aetherstream Leopard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aetherstream Leopard shines when it comes to maintaining a steady flow of creatures on the battlefield, ensuring you’re never short on threats or blockers. Engage the card’s abilities to enhance board presence and keep your hand primed with options.
Resource Acceleration: This swift creature can potentially streamline your mana resources. By increasing energy reserves with each attack, it prepares the ground for unleashing other energy-dependent cards in your deck, providing an indirect form of acceleration that can be pivotal during the mid to late game.
Instant Speed: While Aetherstream Leopard itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it excels in decks that prioritize versatility. Its synergy with instant speed interactions is notable, as it allows players to efficiently manage their energy reserves, responding to the ever-changing landscape of a match with adaptability and precision.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Aetherstream Leopard doesn’t directly ask for a card discard, it needs constant energy counter replenishment to maintain its trample ability, which might force discards from other cards aimed at generating energy.
Specific Mana Cost: The Leopard’s casting cost requires one green mana, making it exclusive to green decks or those that can accommodate a green mana curve, thereby reducing its universal applicability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its 2/3 body and conditional trample ability, Aetherstream Leopard’s three total mana cost can be seen as steep against other options in that range which might offer additional abilities or greater power/toughness ratios without the need for consistent energy counter generation.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Aetherstream Leopard brings a dynamic element to decks with its trample ability, allowing it to remain a threatening presence against a variety of defenses. It’s adaptable across different deck builds that appreciate a solid creature with consistent power.
Combo Potential: Compatible with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters and energy, this card can easily become part of combos that bolster its strength or fuel other energy-dependent mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: For a meta that’s energy-focused or counter-intensive, Aetherstream Leopard can serve as an efficient component. Its capacity to contribute to and exploit these synergies makes it aligned with current trends, maintaining its value in competitive play.
How to beat
Aetherstream Leopard presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield with its energy-producing ability in Magic: The Gathering. When this creature enters the battlefield, it generates an energy counter that can be used to boost its power, making it a potentially formidable adversary. Notably, this extra strength coupled with trample can turn Aetherstream Leopard into a recurring threat each turn.
To counteract Aetherstream Leopard, consider using removal spells that can handle creatures at a low cost before the energy ability becomes a factor. Cards such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile provide efficient answers to the Leopard before it can build up energy counters and overpower your defenses. Additionally, incorporating strategies that strip energy counters or prevent their accumulation can hinder its effectiveness, rendering the Leopard far less threatening.
Ultimately, dealing with Aetherstream Leopard requires preemptive measures or quick responses. By prioritizing the removal of creatures that thrive on energy, you can maintain board control and prevent your opponent from leveraging additional power from their energy reserve, ensuring that Aetherstream Leopard’s impact is as minimal as possible in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aetherstream Leopard MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Aetherstream Leopard and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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Printings
The Aetherstream Leopard Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-01-20 | Aether Revolt | AER | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 538 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aetherstream Leopard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aetherstream Leopard 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. |