Aether Sting MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Number	76
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pete Venters

Key Takeaways

Can pressure opponents by dealing damage when they cast creature spells, disrupting their game plan.
Demands specific mana and may compel discarding, challenging deck-building and resource management.
Effective in specific metas, especially against creature-centric decks, to shift game tempo.

Text of card

Whenever one of your opponents plays a creature spell, Æther Sting deals 1 damage to that player.

When Gatha fell, he was called to account for each abomination he created.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aether Sting doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but it does give you a recurring source of damage whenever a player casts a creature spell. This puts pressure on your opponents and can potentially diminish their resources over time.

Resource Acceleration: While Aether Sting does not provide traditional mana acceleration, it does indirectly speed up your game plan by dealing extra damage to your opponents. This effect can hasten the game in your favor, serving as a form of strategic acceleration.

Instant Speed: Aether Sting is an enchantment that operates at a passive speed, but its effect triggers instantaneously whenever an opponent casts a creature spell. This automatic response can be an advantage as it operates on your opponent’s turn without requiring mana expenditure or the use of your own instants.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Aether Sting card requires a strategic setup to make full use of its ability, which may lead to the need for discarding other valuable cards in order to maintain an optimal hand structure. This can be particularly challenging when the hand is already low on resources, potentially putting the player at a disadvantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: Aether Sting demands a specific mana cost that includes both generic and red mana. This commitment to red mana can restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce this color, thus limiting deck-building flexibility and its viability in multicolored strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that encompasses four mana, Aether Sting’s impact on the game is debatable when considering other available options. There are cards at or below this cost that can potentially provide more immediate and decisive effects on the battlefield or in terms of card advantage, making Aether Sting less attractive for players seeking efficiency in their card choices.

Reasons to Include Aether Sting in Your Collection

Versatility: Aether Sting has a unique ability that can be woven into various red-based decks. Its effect, which deals damage to an opponent whenever they cast a creature spell, can be a consistent source of pressure in longer games.

Combo Potential: This card provides a steady damage source which can be integrated into combos that capitalize on opponents casting spells. Pairing Aether Sting with cards that force opponents to cast creatures or with damage doublers amplifies its impact.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-heavy decks are dominant, Aether Sting stands out as a valuable countermeasure. It dissuades opponents from executing swarm strategies and can shift the tempo in your favor.

How to beat

Aether Sting is an intriguing enchantment in MTG that can influence the board state by dealing damage to opponents whenever they cast a creature spell. To navigate against Aether Sting effectively, players should consider using non-creature spells that can control or bypass this damaging ability. Cards such as Disenchant or Naturalize are perfect tools for removing Aether Sting from the battlefield without triggering its effect.

One can also switch tactics by focusing on casting powerful spells, or implementing a strategy that doesn’t rely heavily on creatures. Utilizing alternative win conditions, like planeswalker abilities or direct damage spells, allows players to circumvent Aether Sting’s passive damage altogether. Keeping the pressure with non-creature threats, players can ensure their own game plan proceeds uninterrupted while diminishing the impact Aether Sting has on their resources.

In essence, while Aether Sting may pose a persistent threat to creature-heavy decks, diversifying your approach and including enchantment removal or shifting to non-creature strategies can render this card far less intimidating and keep your opponents on their toes.

Cards like Aether Sting

Aether Sting serves up a unique play experience for enthusiasts piloting red decks in Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment deals passive damage to opponents whenever they cast a creature spell, setting it apart from other cards that rely on creatures entering the battlefield to trigger effects. In the same realm, we have cards like Burning Earth, which deals damage to opponents when they tap a nonbasic land for mana. While Aether Sting responds to creature spells, Burning Earth has a broader yet conditional application.

Analogous to Aether Sting is Harsh Mentor. Though the Mentor is a creature itself, its ability is similar – punishing opponents for activating abilities of artifacts, creatures, or lands that aren’t mana abilities. Harsh Mentor typically affects a wider range of actions compared to the specific trigger of Aether Sting. For players looking for a more creature-centric approach, there’s Rampaging Ferocidon. It not only deals damage to opponents when they play creatures but also prevents them from gaining life, further enhancing its disruptive capabilities.

These cards, while sharing similarities with Aether Sting, each bring a unique dynamic to gameplay, offering MTG players a choice in how they wish to hinder their opponents’ strategies. Aether Sting remains a niche choice, valued for its capacity to chip away at an opponent’s life total in creature-heavy matchups.

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

Uncontrollable Anger - MTG Card versions

Purphoros, God of the Forge - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aether Sting MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Sting and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Sting has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Aether Sting card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	The ability triggers when an opponent casts a creature spell, and goes on the stack above that spell. As such, the ability will deal 1 damage to that player before the creature enters the battlefield.