Arm with Aether MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Released | 2011-05-13 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | New Phyrexia |
| Set code | NPH |
| Number | 28 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Austin Hsu |
Key Takeaways
- Turns creature attacks into a tool for board disruption, hindering opponent’s creature setups.
- Demands specific blue mana but excels in controlling the pace of the game through creature interactions.
- Though it may have a higher mana cost, its strategic advantage in tempo-based matches can be pivotal.
Text of card
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, you may return target creature that player controls to its owner's hand."
"Anything we can do to hurt the Phyrexian invaders is worth dying for."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arm with Aether allows a player to potentially disrupt an opponent’s board state while still maintaining card parity. Since it returns potentially threatening creatures back to the owner’s hand, it can also indirectly lead to card advantage if these creatures were equipped with auras or equipment that then fall off.
Resource Acceleration: Although Arm with Aether itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration, by forcing opponents to replay their creatures, it effectively slows them down, buying you critical time to develop your own resources and advance your board position without additional mana expenditure.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Arm with Aether is played during your main phase which carries a strategic advantage, enabling you to attack with creatures and then post-combat, use Arm with Aether to clear blockers out of the way for future turns, setting up favorable conditions for your next attack phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Arm with Aether does not have a discard requirement, understanding when a card has this can help players evaluate its strategic use. Cards with a discard requirement might pose a challenge when trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Arm with Aether requires a specific combination of mana to cast—two generic and one blue—which means it fits primarily into blue-centric or blue-inclusive decks. This can limit its flexibility in decks that do not have a consistent blue mana source.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Arm with Aether may compete with other spells at this cost that could offer immediate gameplay impact. Its cost-effectiveness is a factor to consider, especially when there are alternative cards that could accomplish more for the same or lesser mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arm with Aether serves as a useful tool in decks that aim to disrupt opponents while developing their own board. It pairs well with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or when you want to ensure your attacks go through.
Combo Potential: This card can become a key piece in combos that capitalize on creatures dealing combat damage. Pairing it with cards that have on-hit effects can turn a simple attack phase into a turning point in the game.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right circumstances, Arm with Aether can swing tempo in your favor during matches. It’s particularly effective in metas where creature-based strategies prevail, allowing you to keep the battlefield clear and pave the way for victorious strikes.
How to beat
Arm with Aether is a unique card known for temporarily turning creatures into potential sources of control by allowing them to bounce opponents’ creatures upon dealing combat damage. This can be particularly disruptive and may tilt the battlefield in favor of the controlling player. To counter this card effectively, it’s important to recognize when an opponent is likely to play it. Since Arm with Aether requires a creature to be in play to achieve its effect, removing potential targets with removal spells before they can be armed can mitigate its impact.
In addition, having instant-speed interaction to react to the enchantment can be crucial. Cards like Negate or Dispel provide a safety net against such combat tricks and ensure you maintain board presence. When facing a deck utilizing Arm with Aether, it’s also advisable to keep a less aggressive posture, holding back attackers that could be subjected to the bounce effect, thereby reducing the card’s potential value. Additionally, cards that grant hexproof can protect your creatures from being targeted, nullifying Arm with Aether’s ability.
Ultimately, understanding the dynamics of your opponent’s strategy and employing timely disruption are key methods to overcome the challenges posed by Arm with Aether in MTG, maintaining control and balance during matches.
Cards like Arm with Aether
Arm with Aether is a unique spell that enables MTG players to gain a tactical edge by making creatures unblockable for a turn. Its closest relatives in blue include cards such as Artful Dodge, which also makes a creature unblockable but with flashback, providing a second use. Arm with Aether, however, pushes the envelope by allowing all of your creatures to skirt past blockers and additionally disorients the opponent by returning a creature to their hand upon dealing damage.
Distortion Strike provides repetition as well, not through flashback, but with rebound, offering a free second swing in subsequent turns. It lacks the wider impact of Arm with Aether, which can set up a full assault with multiple creatures. Another parallel could be drawn with Aether Tunnel, an enchantment that permanently makes a single creature unblockable. While Aether Tunnel ensures continued evasion, Arm with Aether’s temporal but widespread effect can be a game-changer in enabling a tide-turning alpha strike.
In essence, despite the existence of several cards that grant unblockability, Arm with Aether stands out in MTG by impacting multiple creatures and adding a layer of interaction through its bounce effect, a combination that can pivot the board state in a player’s favor remarkably.
Cards similar to Arm with Aether by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arm with Aether MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Arm with Aether 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arm with Aether has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arm with Aether card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-01 | In a multiplayer game, if an affected creature deals damage to two of your opponents simultaneously, the ability will trigger twice. |
| 2011-06-01 | Only creatures you control on the battlefield when Arm with Aether resolves gain the ability. Creatures you gain control of later in the turn won’t be affected. |
| 2011-06-01 | The affected creatures keep the ability even if another player gains control of them that turn. If such a creature deals damage to you, the ability will trigger, targeting a creature you control. |
| 2011-06-01 | The granted ability triggers on all damage dealt by the creature to one of your opponents, not just combat damage. |
