Wild Aesthir MTG Card

Alliances (ALL)
1996-06-10 - Number 21b

Alliances (ALL)
1996-06-10 - Number 21a

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 34

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Bird
Abilities	First strike,Flying
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Wild Aesthir can grant meaningful card advantage through its unique creature-revealing ability.
It offers potential for quicker creature deployment, bypassing normal mana costs.
Instant-speed synergy maximizes Wild Aesthir’s ability for strategic plays.

Text of card

Flying, first strike o Wo W: +2/+0 until end of turn. You cannot spend more than o Wo W in this way each turn.

"What Barbarian secrets do they spy from their lofty perch?" —General Varchild

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Wild Aesthir card offers a unique way to gain card advantage by revealing cards from the top of your deck until you reveal a creature card. It allows you to add that card to your hand, potentially giving you the right tool at the right time to tip the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card can also contribute to resource acceleration by potentially bypassing your mana curve constraints. Getting creatures onto the battlefield or into your hand without paying their mana cost allows for quicker deployment than traditional casting methods. This can be especially beneficial in decks designed around synergies with creatures entering the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Wild Aesthir itself may not be an instant, its triggered ability could synergize well with instant-speed spells and effects. Playing creatures with flash during an opponent’s turn or on the end step before your turn can trigger Wild Aesthir’s ability, maximizing the potential card advantage and momentum in your gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Bringing Wild Aesthir into play demands that you discard another card, which could be a setback if your hand is already dwindling in options. This makes the card less optimal during tight situations where each resource must be maximized for strategic advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Wild Aesthir’s mana cost is not as flexible as some players would prefer. It requires a particular combination of mana types that may not always be readily available, especially in a multi-color deck that spreads its resources across a wider array of spells and abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Consider the resources committed to summoning Wild Aesthir – given the mana you invest, there could be alternate choices that provide more value or utility. Its mana cost puts it at a disadvantage when held up against other creatures or spells that could potentially deliver a greater impact to the game state.

Reasons to Include Wild Aesthir in Your Collection

Versatility: Wild Aesthir stands out due to its ability to adapt to different play styles. Its flying trait allows for consistent aerial attacks that can be a nuisance for opponents to deal with. Moreover, it’s a great card to have for drafts and sealed formats where evasion is king.

Combo Potential: Despite being a relatively straightforward card, Wild Aesthir can be utilized in combos with cards that benefit from flying creatures or those that need to get through for connective damage. Alongside cards that bolster flying creatures, it can be a subtle yet impactful addition to an aerial offensive.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board control is vital, flying creatures can be key. When the meta shifts towards ground-based defenses, having Wild Aesthir can provide the edge needed to circumvent those strategies, particularly in sideboard plans where it can unexpectedly outmaneuver grounded stall tactics.

How to Beat

The Wild Aesthir card may at first seem like a modest threat in Magic: The Gathering, but its hidden potency lies in its synergetic capabilities. As a flying creature, it can evade many common ground-based defenses, making it essential to have a strategy against such aerial foes. One effective tactic is to use cards with reach or flying to block and eradicate it before it can trigger any combo effects on the battlefield.

Spell-based removal comes in handy as well; instant speed spells that can target and destroy or exile a creature are particularly useful, especially because they can be used in the combat phase when the Wild Aesthir might be attacking. It’s important to keep mana available for these circumstances. Additionally, creature sweepers that affect all creatures on the board, or at least all creatures with flying, can reset the game state and remove the Aesthir along with other potentially threatening creatures.

Ultimately, the Wild Aesthir requires prompt attention on the board. Neglecting it might lead to your opponent capitalizing on its strengths. With the suitable counters in place, whether through strategic blocking, targeted removal, or board sweepers, keeping the Wild Aesthir at bay can be managed efficiently, allowing you to maintain control of the game.

Cards like Wild Aesthir

Wild Aesthir stands as a unique creature in the Magic: The Gathering arena. Flying and first strike make it akin to other two-mana creatures, such as Skyknight Legionnaire from the Ravnica sets. Both share the flying ability, but Wild Aesthir’s first strike gives it a tactical edge in combat against other creatures without this feature. However, the Skyknight Legionnaire plunges ahead with its haste ability, allowing for immediate board impact, something that Wild Aesthir lacks.

Scrutinizing Aven Sentry reveals another card with comparable mana cost and flying attribute. While both cards offer aerial advantages, Wild Aesthir’s first strike presents an added layer of defense against attacking creatures. On the flip side, Aven Sentry touts a slightly higher power, which may prove more advantageous in the race to deplete an opponent’s life total.

Evaluating these similarities and differences draws attention to Wild Aesthir’s capacity to hold the fort in the skies while potentially outmaneuvering the competition. This distinction underscores its place in strategies that value both offensive potential and resilience in aerial combat.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions

Skyknight Legionnaire - Arena League 2005 (PAL05)

Cards similar to Wild Aesthir by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Sanctum Prelate - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wild Aesthir MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Wild Aesthir and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wild Aesthir Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Greg Simanson.

#	Release	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1996-06-10	Alliances	ALL	21b	1993	normal	black	Greg Simanson
2	1996-06-10	Alliances	ALL	21a	1993	normal	black	Greg Simanson
3	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4	34	1997	normal	black	Greg Simanson