Aether Spellbomb MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Aether Spellbomb allows card draw for a single blue, subtly tipping card advantage.
  2. It’s an artifact synergy enabler, offering cheap resource acceleration options.
  3. Instant-speed activation provides strategic adaptability during critical game moments.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Æther Spellbomb: Return target creature to its owner's hand. , Sacrifice Æther Spellbomb: Draw a card.

"Release that which was never caged." —Spellbomb inscription


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aether Spellbomb offers a chance to cycle itself, letting you pay a single blue mana to return it to your hand and draw a card, subtly shifting the card advantage in your favor during the match.

Resource Acceleration: With its low cost of one generic mana to play and the ability to return to your hand, Aether Spellbomb integrates well with decks focusing on artifact synergies, effectively acting as a springboard for potential resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The utility of Aether Spellbomb is compounded by its instant-speed activation. This flexibility allows you to adapt to the board state, either bouncing a threatening creature to its owner’s hand or drawing a card at the moment that best disrupts your opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite the flexibility Aether Spellbomb provides, it does not escape the fact that using its “draw a card” ability requires you to sacrifice it. Consequently, this action equates to discarding the artifact itself, which can be a setback if your strategy revolves around maintaining artifacts on the battlefield for synergistic purposes.

Specific Mana Cost: While Aether Spellbomb’s generic mana cost for casting is convenient, its ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand is contingent on paying blue mana. This requirement can potentially restrict its integration into decks that are not blue-heavy or those that prefer a more fluid mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although one might argue that the cost for Aether Spellbomb is reasonable, when put side by side with other one-drop artifacts, its utility might be considered costly. This is especially noticeable when you factor in the additional blue mana needed to activate its bounce effect, which ultimately makes it less efficient compared to other low-cost options available in the game that can offer similar or even better board control capabilities.


Reasons to Include Aether Spellbomb in Your Collection

Versatility: Aether Spellbomb can be a flexible addition to decks that might require a temporary solution to deal with an opponent’s threats. With its ability to either draw a card or return a creature to its owner’s hand, it offers multiple options depending on your current situation in the game.

Combo Potential: This artifact can synergize with strategies that capitalize on bounced creatures or artifact recursion. It can also serve as an enabler for decks that rely on casting multiple spells in a single turn or that benefit from artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies dominate, Aether Spellbomb provides a cost-efficient method for disruption. It’s particularly useful for getting around indestructible creatures or those with protective abilities, making it a smart tech choice in many metas.


How to beat

Aether Spellbomb is a versatile artifact that serves multiple roles on the battlefield. Essentially a utility card that can disrupt opponent strategies or save your creatures from an imminent threat, understanding its functioning is key to countering it effectively. The Spellbomb can be sacrificed by paying one blue mana, forcing an opponent to return a creature to their hand, or you can pay one generic mana to simply draw a card.

To forge a strategy against the Aether Spellbomb, considering the type of deck it’s included in is crucial. Aggressive decks might use it to clear a path for an attack, while control decks may utilize it more defensively. Either way, remember that once the Spellbomb is on the table, your opponent is looking for the perfect moment to capitalize on its effect, so always be mindful of open mana and potential sacrifice triggers. One simple yet effective tactic is to play creatures with enter the battlefield effects. This way, if a creature is bounced back to your hand, you gain additional value when you redeploy it. Additionally, an emphasis on non-creature spells or those with hexproof can leave the Spellbomb with no viable targets, rendering it less effective.

It’s essential to make a calculated decision when investing in spells and creatures against a deck featuring Aether Spellbomb. Anticipate when to commit resources to the board and when to hold back, and this subtle artifact will lose much of its influence over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Aether Spellbomb embodies the essence of flexibility within the MTG realm. As a player, it’s prudent to recognize the significance of how this card can shift the game’s momentum in your hands. Artifacts like the Spellbomb can serve double duty by disrupting your opponent’s strategy or offering card draw to further your own game plan. With this in mind, we encourage you to bolster your deck with this nimble card, as mastering its strategic use can be pivotal in clinching victories. Eager to refine your tactics and make each play more dynamic? Dive deeper with us, where strategies are unfolded, and winning decks are crafted.


Cards like Aether Spellbomb

The Aether Spellbomb stands out in the Magic: The Gathering arena as a versatile utility artifact. It’s often associated with its close relative, the Pyrite Spellbomb. Both cards require a minimal investment to play and offer the option of sacrificing them for an effect. Aether Spellbomb can either serve as a temporary evasion tool, bouncing an opposing creature back to its owner’s hand, or it can be a modest investment for card draw.

Comparatively, there’s the Executioner’s Capsule, which although costs the same, serves a different purpose by providing targeted removal. Both cards are part of a cycle that gives players conditional utilities based on their mana investment and board state requirements. The subtle distinction of Aether Spellbomb lies in its ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy, potentially saving the player in a tight situation by removing a key threat, or cycling itself when the path is clear for more options.

In the broad spectrum of artifacts in Magic: The Gathering, Aether Spellbomb is appreciated for its dual functionality. It thus earns a rightful place in decks that appreciate tactical flexibility and the potential to adapt to various situations encountered during gameplay.

Pyrite Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Executioner's Capsule - MTG Card versions
Pyrite Spellbomb - Mirrodin (MRD)
Executioner's Capsule - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Aether Spellbomb by color, type and mana cost

The Blackstaff of Waterdeep - MTG Card versions
Sphinx's Herald - MTG Card versions
Flight Spellbomb - MTG Card versions
Merchant's Dockhand - MTG Card versions
Blurry Beeble - MTG Card versions
Socketed Sprocketer - MTG Card versions
Mantle of Tides - MTG Card versions
Witching Well - MTG Card versions
Giant's Amulet - MTG Card versions
Trickster's Talisman - MTG Card versions
Silver Raven - MTG Card versions
Secret Door - MTG Card versions
Network Disruptor - MTG Card versions
Moonsnare Prototype - MTG Card versions
Combat Courier - MTG Card versions
Font of Progress - MTG Card versions
Surgical Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Tome of Gadwick - MTG Card versions
K-9, Mark I - MTG Card versions
The Enigma Jewel // Locus of Enlightenment - MTG Card versions
The Blackstaff of Waterdeep - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Sphinx's Herald - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Flight Spellbomb - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Merchant's Dockhand - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Blurry Beeble - Unstable (UST)
Socketed Sprocketer - Unstable (UST)
Mantle of Tides - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Witching Well - Commander Masters (CMM)
Giant's Amulet - Kaldheim (KHM)
Trickster's Talisman - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Silver Raven - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Secret Door - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms (AFR)
Network Disruptor - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Moonsnare Prototype - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Combat Courier - The Brothers' War (BRO)
Font of Progress - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Surgical Skullbomb - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Tome of Gadwick - Alchemy: Wilds of Eldraine (YWOE)
K-9, Mark I - Doctor Who (WHO)
The Enigma Jewel // Locus of Enlightenment - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aether Spellbomb MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Archenemy, 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 Aether Spellbomb and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aether Spellbomb Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1412003normalblackJim Nelson
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 1022003normalblackJim Nelson
32013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1962003normalblackJim Nelson
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15402003normalblackJim Nelson
52020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4562015normalblackJim Nelson
62020-09-26The ListPLST MMA-1962003normalblackJim Nelson
72022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 7522015normalblackJim Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Spellbomb has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

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