Azorius Aethermage MTG Card


Azorius Aethermage - Dissension
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Released2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set nameDissension
Set codeDIS
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number104
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byHeather Hudson

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage through creature bounce tactics, bolstering hand size and maintaining strategic flexibility.
  2. Instant speed activation for the ability enhances interaction opportunities, creating unpredictability in play.
  3. Specific mana cost and deck synergy requirements guide its inclusion in Azorius or multicolor decks only.

Text of card

Whenever a permanent is returned to your hand, you may pay . If you do, draw a card.

In her single metasphere are bound the records of every Ætheric transaction since the time of Azor.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Azorius Aethermage offers a specific form of card advantage by enabling you to capitalize on creature control tactics. Each time a creature is bounced to its owner’s hand, whether it’s your own for protection or an opponent’s for disruption, you gain a card, which keeps your hand replenished and your options open.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly accelerating resources, this card can still positively impact your mana allocation. It rewards you for using bounce effects, a common strategy in the Azorius color pie, which can indirectly lead to mana savings by replaying cheaper creatures or denying opponents the ability to utilize their mana efficiently.

Instant Speed: This creature’s ability can be utilized at instant speed, which provides strategic flexibility in gameplay. You can trigger its ability during the opponent’s turn or in response to actions, which keeps your adversaries guessing and can create favorable windows for your other instant-speed interactions and counterplays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Azorius Aethermage requires players to have a creature with flash or a creature card to discard upon entering the battlefield. This can be counterproductive when you are holding crucial cards for your strategy or when your hand is near empty, compromising your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Costing both white and blue mana makes this card exclusive to Azorius or multi-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility. Players running a single-color deck or those without a balanced mana base may find it challenging to meet this requirement, impacting the card’s effectiveness and reducing its playability across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana for a creature that only has an ability to draw cards when another creature with flash enters the battlefield under your control, Azorius Aethermage’s value may seem reduced. There are other creatures or spells available at a lower cost that can net you cards more reliably or provide additional utility, making the investment into the Aethermage seem steep by comparison.


Reasons to Include Azorius Aethermage in Your Collection

Versatility: Azorius Aethermage is a utility card that can sneak into various deck builds. Its ability to draw a card whenever a permanent is returned to its owner’s hand makes it a suitable match for decks that capitalize on bouncing creatures or other permanents for value and disruption.

Combo Potential: This creature can potentially form combative synergies with cards designed to flicker permanents, such as “Deadeye Navigator.” These interactions could allow you to rapidly draw multiple cards and give you an edge over your opponent by quickly filling your hand with options.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where control strategies prevail, Azorius Aethermage offers incremental card advantage. This can be crucial for maintaining resource parity with opponents, especially in formats where long, grindy matches are common.


How to beat Azorius Aethermage

Azorius Aethermage is a unique creature card that can be quite a challenge to face in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to capitalize on the ‘blink’ or ‘flicker’ effect. Its strength lies in generating card advantage each time a creature enters the battlefield under your control if you pay one mana. This effect might not seem overwhelming at first, but in a deck built around entering and leaving the battlefield, it can create an insurmountable advantage.

Counteracting Azorius Aethermage’s ability requires disruption of the enter-the-battlefield strategy. Instant removal spells that can target and swiftly deal with this creature before the opponent gets a chance to exploit its ability are highly effective. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the task due to their low mana cost and instant speed. Additionally, employing graveyard hate that interferes with recurring creatures, such as Grafdigger’s Cage, limits the potential loops an opponent might be aiming for. In essence, quick responses and strategic prevention can tip the scales back in your favor when facing the challenge of an Azorius Aethermage.


Cards like Azorius Aethermage

Azorius Aethermage provides Magic: The Gathering players with a unique way to capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield. Like Deputy of Acquittals, it also thrives in decks featuring a lot of creature-based strategies. Deputy of Acquittals allows for a creature to be returned to hand on casting, while Azorius Aethermage rewards you with card draw for each creature returning to your hand or hitting the battlefield.

Champion of Wits is another peer within this group, offering both card draw and a way to filter through your deck upon entering the battlefield or eternalizing. Azorius Aethermage demands consistent creature play for incremental card advantage, while Champion of Wits is a one-time substantial pitch-and-draw event. The Aethermage is subtler but potentially more powerful over time in the right deck.

Beyond these, there’s also the Vedalken Aethermage, which shares a thematic link but serves a different purpose. As a wizard tutor with a different style of utility, its strategic role diverges, focusing more on fetching key creatures rather than drawing cards. Each card shines in the appropriate context, but Azorius Aethermage stands out for those looking to build a constant stream of card draw fused with creature-based tactics.

Deputy of Acquittals - MTG Card versions
Champion of Wits - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Aethermage - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Acquittals - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Champion of Wits - Hour of Devastation (HOU)
Vedalken Aethermage - Future Sight (FUT)

Cards similar to Azorius Aethermage by color, type and mana cost

Adarkar Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Leering Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Guiding Spirit - MTG Card versions
Sky Spirit - MTG Card versions
Samite Archer - MTG Card versions
Riptide Crab - MTG Card versions
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Emissary - MTG Card versions
Silver Drake - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Kangee - MTG Card versions
Soulherder - MTG Card versions
Kotori, Pilot Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Soulsworn Jury - MTG Card versions
Minister of Impediments - MTG Card versions
Court Hussar - MTG Card versions
Azorius Herald - MTG Card versions
Jötun Owl Keeper - MTG Card versions
Thistledown Duo - MTG Card versions
Plumeveil - MTG Card versions
Silkbind Faerie - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Unicorn - Ice Age (ICE)
Leering Gargoyle - Mirage (MIR)
Guiding Spirit - Visions (VIS)
Sky Spirit - Tempest (TMP)
Samite Archer - Invasion (INV)
Riptide Crab - Invasion (INV)
Hanna, Ship's Navigator - Commander Masters (CMM)
Tolarian Emissary - Invasion (INV)
Silver Drake - Planeshift (PLS)
Disciple of Kangee - Planeshift (PLS)
Soulherder - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kotori, Pilot Prodigy - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)
Soulsworn Jury - Dissension (DIS)
Minister of Impediments - Dissension (DIS)
Court Hussar - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Azorius Herald - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Jötun Owl Keeper - Coldsnap (CSP)
Thistledown Duo - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Plumeveil - Modern Masters (MMA)
Silkbind Faerie - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Azorius Aethermage MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, 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 Azorius Aethermage and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Azorius Aethermage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-05-01 This ability will trigger whenever any permanent, including a token creature or Azorius Aethermage itself, is returned to your hand. It doesn’t matter who controlled the permanent or if it had ever actually been in your hand before.

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