Aether Membrane MTG Card

Planar Chaos (PLC)
2007-02-02 - Number 93

Aether Membrane - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)

Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
2012-03-30 - Number 48

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wall
Abilities	Defender,Reach
Power	0
Toughness	5

Key Takeaways

Aether Membrane can disrupt plays by bouncing attacking creatures, indirectly creating card advantage.
Its lower casting cost offers strategic defense while keeping mana for other moves.
Despite valuable traits, its specific mana needs could limit versatility in multi-colored decks.

Text of card

Defender Æther Membrane can block as though it had flying. Whenever Æther Membrane blocks a creature, return that creature to its owner's hand at end of combat.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the key strengths of Aether Membrane is its ability to return attacking creatures to their owner’s hand, disrupting your opponent’s board presence and potentially setting them back in resources. This ability can indirectly lead to card advantage as it may force your opponent to re-deploy threats, consuming more of their resources and time.

Resource Acceleration: Although Aether Membrane doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, its relatively low casting cost can help maintain momentum by allowing you to deploy a defensive measure while still having mana available to execute other strategies. This flexibility can accelerate your game plan indirectly by providing a robust defense.

Instant Speed: Aether Membrane’s activated ability to block creatures with the “Defender” keyword doesn’t operate at instant speed itself. However, the nature of this card allows you to react to incoming threats on the fly, preserving your life total without having to commit other spells or creatures to defense during your turn, keeping mana and options open for instant speed interactions elsewhere in your strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aether Membrane requires a specific setup to effectively utilize its ‘return to hand’ ability, which can be a setback when you are aiming for a straightforward defensive strategy without additional steps.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands one red mana, Aether Membrane can be restrictive for multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary red mana sources readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a defender creature, an investment of three mana might be considered on the higher side, especially when you could deploy other creatures or spells that might provide a better defensive value for the same or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aether Membrane brings something unique to the table with its ability to block creatures with flying, unlike many other defenders. This gives it a good fit in decks that focus on controlling the airspace or require protection from evasive attackers.

Combo Potential: With its return-to-hand mechanic upon dealing damage, Aether Membrane can repeatedly open up opportunities for enter-the-battlefield effects. This synergizes with strategies revolving around creatures or permanents that capitalize on being cast multiple times.

Meta-Relevance: Considering its low mana cost and the frequent presence of aggressive flying creatures in various formats, Aether Membrane can serve as an excellent defensive choice. It can disrupt tempo-based and voltron strategies effectively, making it a meta-relevant sideboard option or even main-deck material in the right environment.

How to beat

Aether Membrane is an intriguing defensive card in Magic: The Gathering, prized for its ability to bounce attackers back to their owner’s hand. Unlike other defenders, Aether Membrane allows you to be aggressive in your defensive strategy, potentially disrupting your opponent’s board presence. Its reach helps it act as a solid deterrent against flying creatures, which often slip past ground defenses.

To effectively counter Aether Membrane, players should consider bypassing its block ability. Utilizing spells or abilities that grant your creatures the ability to evade defenders, such as trample, flying, or “can’t be blocked,” can be a sharp strategy. Additionally, removal spells that specifically don’t destroy but exile, such as Path to Exile, can be a clean solution to the pesky defender. Remember to be strategic about your attacks and what creatures you commit to the battlefield, as rash decisions can lead to a swift rebound courtesy of the membrane’s punishing effect.

Understanding the unique dynamics of Aether Membrane enables you to craft a game plan that either circumvents its strengths or removes it without triggering its return ability. Adjusting your approach and choosing the right spells are key to overcoming this resilient defender in your MTG matches.

Cards like Aether Membrane

In the realm of defender creatures, Aether Membrane is a unique entry with its ability to return attacking creatures to their owner’s hand. Card aficionados might draw parallels with the likes of Wall of Nets, which also has a defensive ability that exiles creatures it blocks. However, Wall of Nets requires the creature it blocks to be destroyed first, unlike the immediate effect of Aether Membrane’s bounce mechanism.

Considering the bounce strategy further, we discover Guard Gomazoa—a defender that prevents all combat damage that would be dealt to it, though it lacks the proactive attack on the opposing offense seen with Aether Membrane. On the other hand, the Vent Sentinel is another defensive unit but with an entirely different angle, leveraging the number of defenders you control to deal direct damage to opponents.

Comparing these options highlights the unique position of Aether Membrane. The creature doesn’t just block effectively; it also disrupts the opponent’s board by forcing them to replay their creatures. This aspect can be pivotal in controlling the pace of the game. So, in the lineup of defender cards, Aether Membrane stands out as a choice with strategic board impact potential.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aether Membrane MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth, 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 Aether Membrane and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aether Membrane Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2012-03-30. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-02-02	Planar Chaos	PLC		93	2003	Normal	Black	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
2	2012-03-30	Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth	DDI		48	2003	Normal	Black	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Membrane has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aether Membrane card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2007-02-01	The blocked creature is returned to its owner’s hand at end of combat only if the blocked creature is still on the battlefield. It doesn’t matter whether Aether Membrane is on the battlefield.