Aerial Responder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Dwarf Soldier
Abilities Flying,Lifelink, Vigilance
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient at both attacking and defending, often forcing opponents to manage their resources effectively.
  2. Its unique abilities make it a potent force in the air, fitting into decks that aim for aerial control.
  3. Despite its strengths, it can be outpaced in high-velocity games, where low-cost creatures may offer more.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying, vigilance, lifelink

Dwarves have an instinct for repair, an inherent understanding of how systems work, and a reputation for fearlessness. They're perfect candidates for the Fair's emergency response team.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aerial Responder doesn’t directly draw you more cards. However, its flying and vigilance abilities allow it to be an efficient blocker and attacker, often trading with multiple enemy creatures over time or demanding an answer from your opponent, which can indirectly lead to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Aerial Responder doesn’t ramp your mana, it does allow you to maintain a solid board presence which can free up resources. Essentially, you’re accelerating your game plan by applying pressure and demanding answers from the opponent without needing to commit additional resources to the board.

Instant Speed: Although Aerial Responder is a creature that must be cast at sorcery speed, its inherent value comes from being a constant, reliable threat. Its ability to be both an attacker and a defender gives it an ‘always on’ status that can act as a deterrent to opponents, similar to the flexibility that instant speed interaction provides.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Aerial Responder does not have a discard requirement itself, its inclusion in your deck may necessitate keeping other cards to maintain balance, which could limit your hand flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost featuring both white symbols, Aerial Responder requires a solid commitment to white mana, making it less versatile in decks that are not heavily white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, this card offers vigilant flying and lifelink, which is decent; however, in a fast-paced game, there may be more impactful creatures or spells one could cast for similar cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aerial Responder has a rare combination of abilities for its mana cost, making it a robust addition to various decks, especially in formats where flying creatures dominate the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Its lifelink and vigilance abilities synergize well with strategies that capitalize on life gain or need reliable blockers that can also press the attack.

Meta-Relevance: Aerial Responder shines in an environment filled with aggressive strategies, providing a stable life buffer while efficiently dealing with evasive threats.


How to beat

Aerial Responder is a solid creature in MTG, earning its nickname ‘Vampire Hawk’ due to its impressive trifecta of abilities — flying, vigilance, and lifelink. It’s easy to see how it can become a persistent threat in the game. This winged warrior gives its controller a cushion of life points while chipping away at the opponent’s life total. To counter this creature, effective removal spells are your best allies. Since it has a modest toughness, direct damage spells like Lightning Strike or Fatal Push can easily dispatch it. Enchantment-based removal, such as Pacifism, can also neutralize the threat without triggering any death effects that Aerial Responder might benefit from if it had such abilities.

Another strategy is to control the skies. Deploying your own fliers that can block and compete with Aerial Responder is a sound approach. Alternatively, effects that strip away abilities, like those found on Turn to Frog, render the Responder a mere shadow of its former self. Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of a well-timed counterspell. By preventing it from entering the battlefield in the first place, you save yourself the trouble of dealing with it later on. Whichever method you choose, dealing with this card promptly helps ensure it doesn’t lead to your opponent’s victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Revving up your MTG gameplay means leveraging every card to its fullest potential. Aerial Responder is a distinctive card for its cost-efficient abilities that command the skies with authority. Whether you’re defending the ground or attacking from above, mastering the intricacies of this vigilant flier can turn the tide in your favor. If you’re aiming to refine your collection or optimize your deck’s performance, considering the dynamics of Aerial Responder is a step towards outmaneuvering opponents in a variety of matchups. Join us as we dive deeper into the world of MTG, where strategic card choices like Aerial Responder bring you closer to triumph. Learn more as we navigate the layers of gameplay and card synergy to enhance your MTG prowess.


Cards like Aerial Responder

Aerial Responder is a noteworthy creature in Magic: The Gathering, finding its place among efficacious aerial threats. This vigilant dwarf provides a solid comparison to other flying creatures like Vampire Nighthawk, which shares the flying and lifelink abilities but adds deathtouch instead of vigilance. This gives the Nighthawk an edge in combat, often deterring opponents from attacking altogether.

Another card that echoes the lifelink and flying synergy is Healer’s Hawk. While it’s significantly lower in power and toughness, the one-mana cost makes it a popular early-game choice for lifegain strategies. What Aerial Responder lacks in early-game accessibility, it makes up for with its robust combat presence and vigilance, allowing for both attack and defense stances in a single turn.

Comparing these cards, Aerial Responder stands out for its balanced attributes and the ability to engage without being tapped, providing a constant threat on the board. Its combination of flying, vigilance, and lifelink presents a trifecta of abilities that enhance its place within the realm of flier creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Healer's Hawk - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Cards similar to Aerial Responder by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Elvish Healer - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Elvish Healer - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aerial Responder MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Archenemy: Nicol Bolas, 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 Aerial Responder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aerial Responder Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 22015normalblackRaoul Vitale
22017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 22015normalblackRaoul Vitale
32018-11-16Game NightGNT 62015normalblackRaoul Vitale
42020-04-17Commander 2020C20 722015normalblackRaoul Vitale
52020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 12015normalblackRaoul Vitale

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aerial Responder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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