Metathran Aerostat MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Metathran |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 61 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Greg Staples |
Key Takeaways
- Metathran Aerostat’s flying ability offers a consistent aerial threat and potential card advantage.
- Requires discarding a card and blue mana, which may limit its playability in some decks.
- Its untap ability supports versatile combo options and can adapt to shifting meta dynamics.
Text of card
Flying o Xoo U You may put a creature card with converted mana cost X from your hand into play. If you do, return Metathran Aerostat to its owner's hand.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Metathran Aerostat can be a subtle yet potent source of card advantage. As a flying creature, it not only poses a threat your opponents must answer but often dodging common ground-based defenses, allowing you to maintain pressure while retaining cards in hand for other strategic plays.
Resource Acceleration: In decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or those with abilities triggered by flying creatures, this card can act as a catalyst. It accelerates your resources by enriching your board state with a relevant creature type which can be an enabler for other advantageous effects.
Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant itself, the inclusion of the card in your deck allows you to keep mana available for other instant-speed interactions, knowing you have a solid creature play on your turn. Additionally, the elements it brings to the table may complement your instant-speed strategies by offering an evasive threat that needs to be managed, thereby stretching your opponent’s resources thin and forcing them to choose between answering your threats or holding back to deal with your potential instant speed plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Metathran Aerostat comes with a requirement that players must discard another card from their hand to cast it. While this can be leveraged in decks focused on graveyard strategies, in many situations it forces players to make tough decisions about resource management, potentially putting them at a disadvantage if their hand size is already low.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes blue mana, which can restrict its inclusion to only blue or multicolored decks. Players running decks without blue mana might find it challenging to fit the Metathran Aerostat into their game plan, reducing its overall adaptability across various strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that may be considered high relative to its impact on the game, the Metathran Aerostat might not always represent the best use of resources. In fast-paced matches, where efficiency is key, players could find that there are other cards that fulfill a similar role at a lower cost, allowing them to maintain tempo and conserve mana for other plays.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Metathran Aerostat provides immediate aerial presence, which is a valuable asset in decks that require flying blockers or need to apply pressure in the air. Its flexibility makes it a useful card in various strategies, from control to aggro.
Combo Potential: With its ability to untap each turn, the Metathran Aerostat opens doors to multiple combo possibilities. It pairs well with cards that capitalize on untapped creatures or those that require consistent tapping/untapping to activate abilities.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting MTG meta, a card that can adjust to different game states is a boon. Metathran Aerostat’s adaptability can make it a surprisingly tough card to combat in a meta filled with ground-based creatures or when flying advantages are underestimated.
How to Beat the Metathran Aerostat
The Metathran Aerostat, a lesser-known but potentially frustrating card to face in MTG, demands an understanding of its strengths to effectively overcome it. This card offers flying capabilities, providing a layer of protection from non-flying creatures. However, its defining feature lies in its synergy with other Metathran creatures, potentially creating a robust battlefield presence.
To counter the Aerostat, incorporate artifact removal spells into your deck due to its creature type. Cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can dismantle the Aerostat’s presence swiftly, rendering your opponent’s aerial advantage moot. Ensnaring board wipes that target flying creatures, like Hurricane or Windstorm, can also take down the Aerostat along with any accompanying airborne threats.
A different technique is to minimize the Aerostat’s impact by steering clear of creature-dependent strategies. Instead, focus on direct damage or using spells that can bypass its flying trait. In decks capable of swift aggression, prioritize applying pressure early in the game. This approach can overwhelm an Aerostat user before their board establishes enough synergy to become a significant hindrance.
Cards like Metathran Aerostat
Metathran Aerostat stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its blend of flying utility and defensive capability. Comparable to Skyraker Giant in the sense of flying, the Aerostat offers sustained aerial dominance with its enduring presence in the skies. Unlike the Giant, it is not a tool of aggression, but rather a bulwark against airborne threats. Drifting Meadow is another card with shared aerial themes, offering a slower-paced defensive strategy with its cycling ability, but lacks the creature aspect and the immediate board presence provided by Metathran Aerostat.
Reflecting on utility, Aerial Responder is an example that offers a more aggressive counterpart with vigilance and lifelink, contrasted with the Aerostat’s sheer resilience. While both are valuable in managing the skies, they serve different roles in combat dynamics. Aerial Responder takes a proactive approach to dealing damage and gaining life, while Metathran Aerostat emphasizes protective strategies and blocking enemy creatures from above.
The nuanced differences between these cards highlight the diverse strategies within Magic: The Gathering. The Metathran Aerostat carves out its niche by providing steady airborne defense, remaining a noteworthy choice for players who prioritize stability over swift aggression.
Cards similar to Metathran Aerostat by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Metathran Aerostat MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Metathran Aerostat 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 Metathran Aerostat has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Metathran Aerostat card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You can activate the ability in response to itself and get more than one creature card onto the battlefield before this returns to its owner’s hand. |
