Scornful Aether-Lich MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Zombie Wizard |
| Released | 2009-02-06 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Conflux |
| Set code | CON |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 34 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steven Belledin |
Text of card
: Scornful Æther-Lich gains fear and vigilance until end of turn.
"With no flesh, there is no pain, no hesitation, no emotion of any kind. He is crafted perfection." —Tezzeret
Cards like Scornful Aether-Lich
The Scornful Aether-Lich is an intriguing MTG card that offers a blend of flexibility and defensive prowess. It shares similarities with a family of creatures known for their ability to alternate between phases or change their attributes. Take for instance the Morphling, which can adjust its power and toughness and has the versatility to adapt to various situations. However, the Scornful Aether-Lich differs in allowing its controller to have both a powerful defender and attacker, dependent on the color of mana available, providing a dual role unlike the single adaptable Morphling.
Another comparable card is the Vedalken Mastermind, offering a defensive strategy by allowing its owner to return target creature to their hand. While the Vedalken Mastermind provides a method to protect valuable creatures or reuse enter-the-battlefield effects, the Scornful Aether-Lich can become the needed blocker or aggressor directly on the battlefield. And then there’s Aetherling, resembling Morphling’s ability to control its combat role, yet it requires mana investment to attain the desired outcome, whereas the Scornful Aether-Lich demands a more strategic mana base to fully utilize its potential.
These comparisons reveal the subtleties in the roles that similarly versatile cards can play, highlighting Scornful Aether-Lich as a card that rewards players who can skillfully manage their mana for defensive or offensive transitions.
Cards similar to Scornful Aether-Lich by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scornful Aether-Lich provides a unique benefit to your gameplay by allowing for strategic plays that can generate card advantage over your opponent. This advantage is crucial in the progression of the game and can be the deciding factor in who maintains control of the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Scornful Aether-Lich itself may not directly contribute to resource acceleration, it can certainly be a significant asset when used in combination with other cards that do. Its presence can be a part of a greater synergistic strategy, contributing to a collective effort of ramping up your resources faster than your opponent.
Instant Speed: Although Scornful Aether-Lich is not an instant-speed spell, understanding the importance of instant speed interactions in MTG can never be underestimated. Being aware of this when building your deck means considering how to counter or complement Scornful Aether-Lich with instant-speed cards to optimize your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Scornful Aether-Lich mandates you to discard another card, which can be a significant setback, particularly when your hand is already dwindling and every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of this card is stringent, needing a precise combination of colors, which could be difficult to achieve consistently without a well-tuned mana base, potentially limiting its inclusion to specific deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side, it’s worth considering other options that might bring more value or have a greater impact on the game state, especially when faster-paced decks demand more immediate effects.
Reasons to Include Scornful Aether-Lich in Your Collection
Versatility: Scornful Aether-Lich offers a unique adaptability in games, with its capacity to switch between being a powerful attacker or an indestructible blocker. This ability allows it to be slotted into various deck strategies that value flexibility on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate artifact counts or benefit from the artifact type, Scornful Aether-Lich has significant synergy. Its type can enable combos with cards that trigger when artifacts enter the battlefield or with those that count artifacts for powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely heavily on targeted removal, Scornful Aether-Lich’s indestructible aspect can be crucial. When the meta is teeming with point-and-shoot damage spells or destroy effects, having a resilient threat can keep you firmly in the game.
How to beat
Scornful Aether-Lich is a card that presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. With its ability to become indestructible under specific conditions, this artifact creature can become a persistent threat that’s hard to remove through traditional damage-based means. As such, players must often adopt alternative strategies to outmaneuver this resilient adversary.
One effective way to overcome Scornful Aether-Lich is by employing removal spells that don’t deal damage but rather exile or force the opponent to sacrifice their creatures. Spells like Path to Exile or Diabolic Edict bypass the indestructible nature by removing the creature from the game entirely or by not caring about its damage-resistant state. It’s also worth noting that the indestructibility of Scornful Aether-Lich relies on its controller’s hand being empty. Therefore, compelling your opponent to draw cards or keep cards in hand can be just as effective as can be the use of hand disruption techniques to preempt its activation.
Considering these strategies, Scornful Aether-Lich demands a well-thought approach rather than direct confrontation. By focusing on these weaknesses, players can turn the tide and ensure the Aether-Lich’s strengths are kept in check.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scornful Aether-Lich MTG card by a specific set like Conflux, 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 Scornful Aether-Lich 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 Scornful Aether-Lich has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.