Golden-Scale Aeronaut MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dwarf Pilot |
| Abilities | Backup,Flying |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 15 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Javier Charro |
Text of card
Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) Flying
Johar had never heard of a pterodon. He just knew Saheeli's new invention let him fly circles around the invading monsters.
Cards like Golden-Scale Aeronaut
Golden-Scale Aeronaut is a notable creature in Magic: The Gathering with a unique blend of flying and bolster abilities. When looking at creatures with similar flying capabilities, Wind Drake stands out as a straightforward comparison. Wind Drake also features flying but lacks the bolster ability that Golden-Scale Aeronaut offers, favoring consistency over potential board impact.
Examining further, we find Aven Skirmisher, a fellow flyer with a lower cost. While it may get into the air sooner, its absence of the bolster effect makes it less impactful in the late game compared to Golden-Scale Aeronaut, which can strengthen other creatures on the battlefield. Then comes Mistral Charger, a card that also boasts flying and offers a strong white-based option that is both cost-efficient and has a sturdy power level for early pressure.
Considering these aspects of play, Golden-Scale Aeronaut presents a strategic advantage through its potential to sway the tide of battle by empowering fellow creatures. Its presence in a deck adds not only a reliable aerial threat but also a versatile support option, making it an attractive choice among aerial combatants in MTG.
Cards similar to Golden-Scale Aeronaut by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Golden-Scale Aeronaut enables you to control the battlefield while keeping your hand replenished. Its ability to explore upon entering the battlefield can potentially draw you an extra card while also setting up your future draws.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially placing an additional land onto the battlefield with its explore ability, the Golden-Scale Aeronaut can accelerate your resources, offering you a significant mana advantage in the mid to late game.
Instant Speed: While Golden-Scale Aeronaut itself doesn’t function at instant speed, its flying trait ensures that you always have a threatening blocker on standby. This can force opponents to think twice before attacking, allowing you to dictate the pace even during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Golden-Scale Aeronaut’s optimal play often hinges on enabling Revolt, which might necessitate discarding or sacrificing another permanent, potentially putting you at a card disadvantage or requiring set-up that does not always align with your board state or strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both general and white mana, Golden-Scale Aeronaut’s casting conditions can be restrictive. Deck construction must account for the white mana source, potentially constraining your mana base and making the card less flexible for multicolored deck variations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana, including one white, Golden-Scale Aeronaut competes with other impactful four-drop creatures or spells in Standard. The 2/2 flying body, even with the potential for a +1/+1 counter through Revolt, might not provide sufficient impact on the game’s progress, considering other potential plays at this resource level.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Golden-Scale Aeronaut’s ability to excel in various gameplay situations adds substantial value to decks seeking a blend of strength and tactical flexibility. Being a flying creature allows it to often bypass ground defenses, making it a strong choice for both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: As a creature with flying, the Aeronaut can easily be integrated into synergies that revolve around flying creatures. Due to its keyword abilities, this card works well in combos that exploit either evasion tactics or lifelink mechanics, depending on the deck’s focus.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where air superiority can dictate the pace of a game, incorporating flyers such as Golden-Scale Aeronaut can give you an edge. Its presence can shift the balance in matches where reaching over ground-based blockers is crucial, thus making it a strategic piece against decks lacking sufficient aerial defense.
How to beat Golden-Scale Aeronaut
The Golden-Scale Aeronaut offers a new twist to the roster of flying creatures in the game. With its renown for having both flying and the bolster mechanic, it can present a considerable challenge in aerial combat. Bolster adds counters to the creature with the least toughness, potentially making the Aeronaut a more formidable foe.
However, overcoming this card is not without strategy. Removal spells that don’t rely on damage, such as Murder or Path to Exile, can efficiently handle the Aeronaut before the bolster ability becomes a problem. Ensnaring bridge is another solid defense, preventing the Aeronaut from attacking if you have few cards in hand. Including instant-speed interactions that can disrupt your opponent’s plays, like Counterspell or Fatal Push, can also be effective tactics. Additionally, employing your own flying or reach creatures, or simply racing with a faster deck, can outpace and outmaneuver a strategy relying on the likes of Golden-Scale Aeronaut.
Adapting your tactics and integrating versatile removal or counters can deftly dispatch the Aeronaut, ensuring your dominance in the skies and maintaining control over the board. Ultimately, being prepared for combat in all zones is essential for any Magic: The Gathering player facing down the challenge of a Golden-Scale Aeronaut.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Golden-Scale Aeronaut MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Golden-Scale Aeronaut and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Golden-Scale Aeronaut has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Golden-Scale Aeronaut card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained. |
| 2023-04-14 | The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves. |