Ether Well MTG Card


Ether Well - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Number65
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCharles Gillespie

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage and strategic flexibility make Ether Well a powerful inclusion in blue-centric decks.
  2. Despite its benefits, Ether Well’s mana cost and discard requirement demand judicious play.
  3. Its unique effect on creatures and the meta keeps it relevant and useful against opponents.

Text of card

Put target creature on top of owner's library. If that creature is red, you may choose to put it on the bottom of owner's library instead.

"Whoa—my tail will *never* fit through that hole!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ether Well excels at setting your opponent back by bouncing a creature while simultaneously granting you a scry, essentially offering a two-for-one situation that can swing the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Ether Well itself doesn’t generate additional resources, it effectively disrupts your opponent’s resource development by sending their creatures back to their hand, costing them precious time and mana.

Instant Speed: The adaptability of Ether Well shines at instant speed, allowing you strategic flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn or end phase, thereby retaining the element of surprise and keeping your options open.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ether Well necessitates discarding a card, potentially depleting your hand and leaving you at a strategic disadvantage if used without forethought.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s blue mana cost may restrict its integration into multi-colored decks, requiring a commitment to blue mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value, Ether Well might be considered costly for its temporary removal effect, especially when compared to other lower-cost alternatives.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ether Well offers flexibility as a blue instant, allowing it to be incorporated into different decks. Its ability to manipulate the board by bouncing creatures back to the owner’s library can be a versatile tool in both responsive and proactive strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with deck types that capitalize on manipulating the opponents’ creatures and playing with the stack. It can be included in decks seeking to exploit enter the battlefield effects or time-based mechanics, complementing more complex game plans.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies often dominate the landscape, Ether Well provides a relevant response option. It can delay your opponent’s plans and set them back a significant amount, maintaining tempo in a meta that rewards such finesse.


How to beat

Ether Well is a card from Magic: The Gathering with a unique capacity to disrupt opponents. This ability to return a target creature to the top of its owner’s library can be a setback for any adversary, especially when it represents their primary threat. But how does one counteract such an effect on the battlefield?

One approach to overcome Ether Well is by having an abundance of low-cost creatures to swiftly rebuild your board presence. Furthermore, cards that are immune to targeting spells provide a natural resistance to Ether Well’s effect. Another strategy involves leveraging instant-speed spells to protect your creatures or to counter Ether Well directly as it’s cast. Additionally, playing creatures that generate a benefit when they enter the battlefield can mitigate the impact, as returning them to your hand or library can be advantageous. It’s essential to recognize the shift in momentum Ether Well can cause and to plan ahead with spells or abilities that can prevent or minimize the control it can exert over the game.


Cards like Ether Well

Ether Well is an intriguing spell navigating the landscape of Magic: The Gathering temporary removal options. Comparable spells include Unsummon, which also sends creatures back to their owner’s hand, but Ether Well has a unique twist. Instead of simply returning the target to the hand, it places it on top of the owner’s library, causing a potential delay in its next appearance and a loss of their next draw.

Another similar spell is Vapor Snag, which not only bounces creatures but also deals 1 damage to its owners — a subtle but impactful addition. While both spells force opponents to replay their creatures, Ether Well’s ability to manipulate the draw creates a minor yet strategic advantage. Then there’s Into the Roil, which can return not just creatures but also other nonland permanents to the hand and has the bonus of drawing a card if kicked. This adaptability is something Ether Well lacks, but the delay of a draw can still be quite disruptive.

Overall, Ether Well stands out in the pantheon of blue spells with its capacity to control the pace of an opponent’s strategy by affecting the top of their library, making it a valuable tool for players who prioritize long-term board state manipulation over immediate tempo plays.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Into the Roil - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Into the Roil - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ether Well by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions
Weave Fate - MTG Card versions
Aetherize - MTG Card versions
Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Permafrost Trap - MTG Card versions
Bone to Ash - MTG Card versions
Sudden Storm - MTG Card versions
Weave Fate - MTG Card versions
Aetherize - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ether Well MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Ether Well and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ether Well has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 The choice of where to put the creature is made on resolution.