Aethertow MTG Card

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 136

Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
2017-03-17 - Number 205

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Conspire

Key Takeaways

Aethertow provides tactical advantage by disrupting opponent plays with its flexible removal capability.
Its conspire mechanic optimizes unused resources, enhancing your strategic maneuvers without extra cost.
Instant speed allows for dynamic control, readying you for surprise counteractions against threats.

Text of card

Put target attacking or blocking creature on top of its owner's library. Conspire (As you play this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aethertow provides a tactical edge by potentially removing two threats from the battlefield. This forced removal can disrupt opponent strategies and improve your board state, essentially functioning as a two-for-one in the right circumstances.

Resource Acceleration: By utilizing the conspire mechanic, Aethertow offers the opportunity to tap unused creatures for an additional effect without expending extra mana. This effectively harnesses resources that may otherwise go unused, thereby accelerating your potential plays.

Instant Speed: Aethertow’s instant speed gives you the flexibility to act during your opponent’s turn, making it a powerful tool for surprise swings in board control. It allows you to react spontaneously to threats, keeping your opponents guessing and your strategy dynamic.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aethertow doesn’t directly make you discard, but it can indirectly lead to card disadvantage. It functions by putting a creature on top of its owner’s library rather than providing a permanent solution, so you might end up using another card later to handle the same threat.

Specific Mana Cost: Aethertow requires a mix of generic and hybrid white/blue mana, which could be tricky in decks that aren’t aligned with these colors. This can hamper its inclusion in multi-colored decks that don’t support white and blue mana well.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana (two generic and two hybrid white/blue), Aethertow might come off as costly, considering some alternative spells could remove or counter threats for less. This can affect the pacing of gameplay, especially in fast-paced formats where mana efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aethertow demonstrates a broad appeal as it offers both a tempo play and a creature management solution. As an instant, it aligns with a variety of strategies, helping to either clear blockers or protect your life total by temporarily dealing with threats.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with strategies centered around persist mechanics or when a controlled return of creatures to the hand can be utilized for repeating enter-the-battlefield effects. Also, using Aethertow’s conspire ability can be a game-changer, multiplying its effect.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to interact with opponents’ creatures, it holds up well in environments teeming with aggressive creature-based decks. The ability to delay opponent’s strategies while setting up your own board can provide the necessary edge.

How to Beat Aethertow

Aethertow is a unique combat trick that can disrupt your battlefield presence in the game of Magic: The Gathering. Its strength lies in its ability to not only bounce a creature to its owner’s hand but also to tuck it into the library—a tactic that can effectively delay your opponent’s strategy and give them a setback.

Overcoming this can be tricky. A proactive approach is to limit the impact of Aethertow by maintaining a diverse gathering of low-cost creatures rather than relying on a single, high-value target. This way, even if Aethertow is used, it won’t significantly hinder your board presence. Additionally, instant-speed spells that grant hexproof or indestructible, such as Blossoming Defense or Heroic Intervention, can protect your critical creatures from being targeted.

Lastly, awareness of open mana and potential spells your opponent could have at their disposal, including Aethertow, is essential. Playing around this by not over-committing to the board and keeping mana open for your protective spells ensures you’re prepared for whatever tactics your opponent may employ.

Cards like Aethertow

Aethertow is a card that commands the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering with its unique combination of tempo control and creature interaction. In a similar sphere, we have the spell Unsummon. While Unsummon strictly focuses on returning a creature to its owner’s hand for a single blue mana, it doesn’t offer the same control as Aethertow since it lacks the “put on bottom of library” option. Additionally, Unsummon cannot affect the combat phase as decisively as Aethertow can, which allows for unexpected combat tricks.

Another card to mention is Condemn, an instant that places an attacking creature on the bottom of its owner’s library much like Aethertow but only targets attacking creatures. It also provides a life gain to the opponent, which could be a downside in comparison. However, Condemn does excel in mana efficiency, requiring only one white mana compared to Aethertow’s four mana cost.

Looking at the versatility and potential game swings, Aethertow solidifies its position in MTG as a powerful option for players who want to dictate the pace of combat while subtly manipulating their opponent’s board presence.

Cards similar to Aethertow by color, type and mana cost

Twining Twins // Swift Spiral - MTG Card versions

Threadbind Clique // Rip the Seams - MTG Card versions

Stand // Deliver - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Reviving Vapors - Ultimate Masters (UMA)

Ojutai's Command - Historic Anthology 5 (HA5)

Aethermage's Touch - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Vanish into Memory - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)

Mirrorweave - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Dovin's Dismissal - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Sphinx's Insight - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Twining Twins // Swift Spiral - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)

Threadbind Clique // Rip the Seams - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aethertow MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Aethertow and other MTG cards: