Ambitious Aetherborn MTG Card

Provides card advantage, enabling better resource access and decision-making during the game. Allows for rapid board development and strategic plays with its ability for instant speed actions. Presents challenges with its discard requirements and specific, often steep, mana costs.

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 72

Ambitious Aetherborn - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 564

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number KLD-72

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Aetherborn Artificer
Abilities	Fabricate
Power	4
Toughness	3

Text of card

Fabricate 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.)

Aetherborn who are unwilling to accept the decomposition of their bodies invent ways to preserve and augment themselves.

Cards like Ambitious Aetherborn

Exploring the vast array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Ambitious Aetherborn presents itself as a value-laden creature card. Its similarities shine when compared to Filigree Familiar, another creature which also navigates the realm of providing additional value upon death. While Filigree Familiar grants you life and card draw when it dies, Ambitious Aetherborn instead leaves behind Servo tokens, persisting in value as it translates into further board presence.

Another parallel can be drawn with Pawn of Ulamog, a creature that boasts a similar death-triggered ability, creating 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn tokens that can be sacrificed for mana. Ambitious Aetherborn, while it does not offer mana ramp, creates 1/1 tokens which can contribute to offensive strategies as well as chump blocks. Also, Carrier Thrall is a lesser version, leaving behind a single 1/1 token compared to the Aetherborn’s potential to create multiple Servos, enhancing its role in strategies that capitalize on numerous creatures.

Such comparisons underline the strategic flexibility and value Ambitious Aetherborn brings to the battlefield. It carves a niche for itself within the MTG creature landscape, marrying the demise of a creature with the ascension of new assets to aid players in their quest for victory.

Cards similar to Ambitious Aetherborn by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ambitious Aetherborn shines in providing players with extra options by generating card advantage. This ability is critical for outpacing opponents by having access to more resources throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: By offering resource acceleration, Ambitious Aetherborn enables players to rapidly expand their board presence. Using it can significantly shorten the time needed to deploy high-cost spells, tipping the scales in favor of the player who includes it in their deck.

Instant Speed: The power of Ambitious Aetherborn is not just in what it does, but also in its speed of execution. With instant speed, it allows players strategic flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions or end-of-turn situations, making it a versatile asset in any game scenario.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ambitious Aetherborn demands a sacrifice in the form of card discard, which could precipitate a loss of vital hand advantage. This downside is particularly detrimental when your available options are already sparse, and it forces players to make tough decisions about resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Ambitious Aetherborn is not just steep; it’s also color-specific. Requiring a particular mix of mana, this card may struggle to find a home outside of dedicated decks that can reliably produce the needed black mana, potentially restricting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that may be considered on the higher side for its effects, Ambitious Aetherborn competes with other cards that might deliver greater value or impact. Players may find themselves weighing its potential against other options that could advance their game plan with less mana investment.

Reasons to Include Ambitious Aetherborn in Your Collection

Versatility: Ambitious Aetherborn’s flexible nature lets it slip into a variety of decks that capitalize on its synergy with +1/+1 counters and death-trigger effects. Its ability to serve as both an aggressive early play and a valuable late-game draw means it can adapt to the evolving pace of the game.

Combo Potential: The way Ambitious Aetherborn interacts with proliferate mechanics or any strategy that revolves around manipulating counters makes it a linchpin in many combo setups. Whether it’s leveraging the lifelink for a critical life swing or bolstering other creatures, this card multitasks efficiently within complex strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based tactics or where combat tricks and graveyard play are prevalent, Ambitious Aetherborn shines. Its relevance increases in environments where its activation cost can be easily met or in match-ups that demand a steady stream of creatures for progression or defense.

How to beat

Ambitious Aetherborn is a versatile creature card that brings a solid presence to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to understand its strengths and prepare specific strategies. A cornerstone of such strategies could involve removal spells that can eliminate Ambitious Aetherborn without triggering its death-related abilities. Cards like Path to Exile offer a swift and mana-efficient response to exile creatures directly from the battlefield.

Control decks that utilize counterspells can also be a formidable obstacle for an opponent trying to play Ambitious Aetherborn. By disrupting the casting process with spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak, you can prevent Ambitious Aetherborn from ever entering the battlefield. Additionally, employing board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear multiple threats at once, including the Ambitious Aetherborn, bypassing its on-death ability and preserving card advantage.

Addressing Ambitious Aetherborn requires a dual approach: disrupting its play and countering its abilities. With proper timing and the right removal options, players can mitigate the impact of Ambitious Aetherborn and maintain the upper hand in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ambitious Aetherborn MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Mystery Booster, 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 Ambitious Aetherborn and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ambitious Aetherborn Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Josu Hernaiz.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-09-30	Kaladesh	KLD	72	2015	Normal	Black	Josu Hernaiz
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	564	2015	Normal	Black	Josu Hernaiz
3	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	KLD-72	2015	Normal	Black	Josu Hernaiz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ambitious Aetherborn 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 Ambitious Aetherborn card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-09-20	Fabricate doesn't cause the creature with the ability to enter the battlefield with +1/+1 counters already on it. For example, Weaponcraft Enthusiast will enter the battlefield as a 0/1 creature, then its fabricate ability goes on the stack. Players may take actions (such as casting instants) while the ability is waiting to resolve.
2016-09-20	If you can't put +1/+1 counters on the creature for any reason as fabricate resolves (for instance, if it's no longer on the battlefield), you just create Servo tokens.
2016-09-20	You choose whether to put +1/+1 counters on the creature or create Servo tokens as the fabricate ability is resolving. No player may take actions between the time you choose and the time that counters are added or tokens are created.