Aetherstorm Roc MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 3
2016-09-30 - Number 3s
2020-11-12 - Number 4
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Aetherstorm Roc’s abilities enable it to become a formidable force, gaining strength with every attack.
- Energy counter mechanics provide subtle resource acceleration, enhancing its combo potential in matches.
- The card’s specific mana requirements could pose a challenge for multi-color deck integration.
Text of card
Flying Whenever Aetherstorm Roc or another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you get (an energy counter). Whenever Aetherstorm Roc attacks, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it and tap up to one target creature defending player controls.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Aetherstorm Roc has the potential to provide ongoing card advantage with its ability to place +1/+1 counters on itself. Each time it attacks, you get to bolster its power and toughness, which can lead to dominance on the battlefield, forcing your opponent to deal with an increasingly threatening creature, or trade more resources to get rid of it.
Resource Acceleration: Every time a permanent you control is tapped for energy, you gain that much energy plus an energy counter due to Aetherstrom Roc’s triggered ability. This can be a subtle form of resource acceleration, allowing you to potentially activate other energy-related abilities quicker or more often, which could snowball into a significant advantage.
Instant Speed: While Aetherstorm Roc itself does not operate at instant speed, it can benefit from other instant-speed interactions. For instance, instant-speed spells that tap creatures can enable you to make the most of the Roc’s ability outside of your attack phase, adding strategic depth to your plays and making your strategy less predictable to your opponents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Aetherstorm Roc may not demand a card to be discarded, yet it does necessitate a resource in the form of energy counters. Generating and maintaining these counters can be taxing for a deck, diverting valuable resources that could be used elsewhere.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Aetherstorm Roc is somewhat restrictive, requiring two white mana. This specificity can make it challenging to cast in a multi-color deck that may not consistently generate the needed white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two white, Aetherstorm Roc’s abilities must be weighed against other cards within the same mana range. Some players might find other four-mana creatures or spells to be a more impactful use of their mana resources.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Aetherstorm Roc slides comfortably into various deck archetypes, particularly those which revolve around +1/+1 counters or flying synergies. Its ability to control the board while boosting itself makes it a dual-threat in both aggressive and controlling strategies.
Combo Potential: This avian powerhouse has the intrinsic potential to combo with cards that capitalize on energy counters or exploit the tap and untap mechanics. The Roc can pave the way for intricate plays, leading to decisive in-game advantages.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based tactics, Aetherstorm Roc can be a game-changer. Its energy-generating ability, coupled with its prowess to tap potential blockers, allows it to adapt and thrive amidst various competitive environments.
How to beat
Aetherstorm Roc is a unique creature card that brings a dynamic presence to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its flying ability and the knack to disrupt the opponent’s board by tapping creatures, conquering this bird requires strategy.
To tackle Aetherstorm Roc, removal spells are key. Instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the Roc before its abilities take effect. Counter spells are also effective; countering it upon casting ensures that it never gets its wings flapping. Another method is to minimize its impact by refraining from casting spells during your own turn, thus limiting the opportunities for Aetherstorm Roc to gain energy counters and keeping your creatures untapped. Finally, board wipes can sweep it away along with any other threats, setting the state for your comeback.
Remember, understanding your opponent’s strategy and planning ahead can turn a challenging card like Aetherstorm Roc into a manageable hurdle in your path to victory. By incorporating these tactics into your game plan, Aetherstorm Roc’s potential for disruption can be significantly diminished.
Cards like Aetherstorm Roc
The unique capabilities of Aetherstorm Roc make for interesting gameplay and strategic deck building in MTG. In a deck focused on creature control and maximizing energy counters, this card shines by capitalizing on both strength and resource management. Its closest relatives might be Thunderclap Wyvern and Empyrean Eagle, both of which offer a buff to other flying creatures. While they don’t directly relate to energy counters, they serve a similar role in empowering flying-centric strategies.
Another card worth comparing is Cloudblazer, which shares the same colors as Aetherstorm Roc and offers immediate value through life gain and card draw upon entering the battlefield. However, it lacks the ongoing control and board impact provided by Aetherstorm Roc’s energy counter mechanics. The latter can continuously manage the board state by tapping potential blockers, a feature Cloudblazer doesn’t possess.
Ultimately, Aetherstorm Roc stands out among its peers due to its ability to accumulate and utilize energy counters for a sustained advantage. Its capacity to both develop a player’s board presence and disrupt opponent strategies positions it uniquely in MTG gameplay. For players who prefer a dynamic approach with a focus on energy mechanics, Aetherstorm Roc proves to be a valuable piece in the aerial dominance puzzle.
Cards similar to Aetherstorm Roc by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Aetherstorm Roc MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Promos, 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 Aetherstorm Roc 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 Magic products
Printings
The Aetherstorm Roc Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Scott Murphy.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 3 | 2015 | normal | black | Scott Murphy | |
| 2 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Promos | PKLD | 3s | 2015 | normal | black | Scott Murphy | |
| 3 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 4 | 2015 | normal | black | Scott Murphy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Aetherstorm Roc has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aetherstorm Roc card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-09-20 | A creature entering the battlefield at the same time as Aetherstorm Roc causes its first triggered ability to trigger. |
| 2016-09-20 | Aetherstorm Roc's second triggered ability resolves before blockers are chosen. A creature tapped this way won't be able to block. |
| 2016-09-20 | You don't have to target a creature with Aetherstorm Roc's last ability. If you do choose a target, and that target becomes illegal, the ability doesn't resolve and you won't be able to pay to put a counter on Aetherstorm Roc. |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They're not associated with specific permanents. (Other kinds of counters that players may have include poison and experience.) |
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters aren't mana. They don't go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana “of any type” to your mana pool can't give you energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | If a triggered ability with one or more targets states that you “may pay” some amount of , and each permanent that it targets has become an illegal target, the ability doesn't resolve. You can't pay even if you want to. |
| 2017-02-09 | If an effect says you get one or more , you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters. |
| 2017-02-09 | Keep careful track of how many energy counters each player has. You may do so by keeping a running count on paper, by using a die, or by any other clear and mutually agreeable method. |
| 2017-02-09 | Some triggered abilities state that you “may pay” a certain amount of . You can't pay that amount multiple times to multiply the effect. You simply choose whether or not to pay that amount of as the ability resolves, and no player may take actions to try to stop the ability's effect after you make your choice. |
| 2017-02-09 | You can't pay more energy counters than you have. |
| 2017-02-09 | is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter. |
