Arcane Flight MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Number | 43 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Prescott |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances creatures affordably, converting ground units into aerial threats with a reasonable mana investment.
- Strategic flexibility in various blue decks benefits from the long-term, low-cost flying capability Arcane Flight offers.
- Countered effectively with creature removal or enchantment destruction spells to mitigate its impact on the game.
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has flying.
The Tolarian Academies are known for their magical research, powerful sorcerers, and accidental destruction of ecosystems.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While not directly providing additional cards, Arcane Flight’s low cost and boost to a creature’s capabilities create indirect card advantage. By turning a common creature into a formidable flying threat, it can help maintain pressure and reduce the need for additional cards to break through an opponent’s defenses.
Resource Acceleration: Although Arcane Flight doesn’t create mana or treasure tokens, it effectively accelerates your resources by enhancing a creature’s attributes at a very low mana cost. For just one blue mana, you’re able to improve your board presence significantly, which is a form of efficiency and resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: Arcane Flight is an enchantment aura with a casting speed that requires planning, unlike instant-speed spells. However, its impact on the battlefield can be immediate and unexpected, similar to instant effects, especially when it comes to blocking or attacking in the air where opponents might not be prepared.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Arcane Flight does not mandate discarding directly, it’s important to consider the possible necessity of discarding other cards to make space for such a specific aura in a deck, which may result in a depleted hand over time.
Specific Mana Cost: Arcane Flight requires one blue mana, which can potentially limit deck-building options to include blue mana-producing lands or sources, potentially affecting the deck’s color balance and overall strategy versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though costing only one blue mana might seem low, when evaluating its impact versus other one-mana spells, one might realize that Arcane Flight potentially offers less utility. Competitive environments often have other one-mana spells with broader impacts or abilities that can affect the board state more significantly.
Reasons to Include Arcane Flight in Your Collection
Versatility: Arcane Flight is not exclusive to any single deck archetype and can be a beneficial addition to any deck that aims to utilize flying creatures. It’s a low-cost enchantment that can easily fit into a range of blue decks.
Combo Potential: Equipping a creature with Arcane Flight can synergize with strategies that capitalize on creatures with flying. Its ability to grant flying can turn ground-based creatures into aerial threats, making it a strategic combo enabler.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, decks that can attack from multiple angles become more valuable. A creature with flying can be decisive in games, making Arcane Flight relevant in a constantly shifting meta.
How to beat
Arcane Flight is an enchantment spell that countless players have come to appreciate for its simplicity and immediate impact on the battlefield. By granting a creature +1/+1 and giving it flying until end of turn, it can rapidly turn the tides of a game in your opponent’s favor. However, overcoming this card requires an understanding of its mechanics and limitations.
To effectively counter Arcane Flight, removal spells are your most reliable option. Since the card is an Aura that attaches to a creature, eliminating the creature will also get rid of Arcane Flight. Utilize spells that can target and destroy or exile creatures, regardless of whether they have flying. Examples include Path to Exile and Murder, which can swiftly remove the buffed creature from play. For blue players, countering Arcane Flight with a spell like Negate as it is cast can prevent it from ever taking effect. Another strategy involves cards that can deal with enchantments directly, such as Naturalize, allowing you to remove the Arcane Flight even if the creature remains.
Recognizing that Arcane Flight can be a thorn in your side if left unaddressed, it’s crucial to have answers ready in your deck. With the right removal or counter spells, you can effortlessly ground your opponent’s aspirations and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Arcane Flight
Arcane Flight finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a low-cost enchantment designed to give creatures a flying ability. When you compare it to other spells like Jump, which also provides flying for a turn, Arcane Flight holds the advantage of being a permanent effect and adds a touch of power to the creature. While Jump is only temporary and does not boost the creature’s power, Arcane Flight ensures a lasting impact on the battlefield with its ongoing airborne capability.
Another spell to consider is Aerial Formation. Although this instant spell can give multiple creatures flying for a turn, Arcane Flight again differs with its permanency and singular focus. Aerial Formation is also more mana-intensive, especially when striving to affect numerous creatures. Lastly, we examine Levitation as an alternative. This enchantment grants flying to all creatures you control, offering a broad effect, in contrast to Arcane Flight’s target-specific approach. Nevertheless, the simplicity and efficiency of Arcane Flight, along with its power-boosting feature, make it a distinct and appealing choice for players who need to enhance an individual creature’s evasiveness and offensive potential.
The comparison reveals that, for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts seeking a cost-effective way to elevate their creatures’ abilities, Arcane Flight is a strong contender in the realm of aerial enchantments, balancing affordability with enduring in-game effect.
Cards similar to Arcane Flight by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arcane Flight MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Arcane Flight and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arcane Flight 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 |
