Gifted Aetherborn MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Aetherborn Vampire
Abilities Deathtouch,Lifelink
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient creature elimination potential through deathtouch, enhancing board control and indirect card advantage.
  2. Early game life total influence with vampiric lifelink, aiding in resource acceleration and survivability.
  3. Sways opponent play, acting as a deterrent and exerting a subtle, instant-like influence on the game.

Text of card

Deathtouch, lifelink

A few aetherborn have discovered a way to sustain their own existences at the cost of an insatiable hunger for the life essence of other beings.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gifted Aetherborn doesn’t directly grant card draw, but its deathtouch ability can efficiently deal with multiple opposing creatures over the course of a match. This inherent threat often forces your opponent to deal with it or risk losing their own creatures, essentially offering a form of card advantage through board control.

Resource Acceleration: While Gifted Aetherborn itself doesn’t provide additional resources or acceleration, its low mana cost allows for a quick deployment on the battlefield. This, coupled with its vampiric lifelink, can swing the life total gap early in the game, indirectly contributing to resource advantage as you maintain higher life totals while developing your board.

Instant Speed: Although Gifted Aetherborn can’t be played at instant speed, its presence on the board is a constant deterrent, similar to the effects that instant speed interactions have. By forcing opponents to play around its deathtouch and lifelink abilities, the Aetherborn subtly influences your opponent’s turn, shaping their plays as if you had an instant up your sleeve.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its impressive abilities, Gifted Aetherborn doesn’t come without downsides. One of the potential drawbacks of integrating it into your playing strategy is that it might align your game plan strictly to vampiric or nocturnal themes. This could inadvertently cause a discard of valuable cards to maintain that synergy, especially when you’re strategizing to keep a specific theme or mechanic active.

Specific Mana Cost: Something to consider when adding Gifted Aetherborn to your lineup is its specific mana cost, which entirely consists of two black mana. This can pose a restriction unless your deck is tailored for a heavy or at least a moderate black mana curve, potentially reducing its versatility in multicolored decks or ones that do not prioritize black mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a two-mana cost might seem moderate for a card with deathtouch and lifelink, when compared to the broader spectrum of two-drops available in MTG, you may find other creatures or spells that potentially offer greater tactical advantages or broader strategic flexibility at a similar, if not lower, mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gifted Aetherborn’s deathtouch and lifelink abilities make it a great fit for both aggressive and defensive strategies, ensuring it can adapt to various roles within different deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Its lifelink ability can be synergized with cards that benefit from life gain, while deathtouch works well with cards that require creatures to deal damage.

Meta-Relevance: Gifted Aetherborn remains relevant in formats where creatures play a key role. It can deter attacks, trade up with larger creatures, and provide a consistent life buffer against aggressive decks.


How to Beat

Gifted Aetherborn is a powerful creature card known for its vampiric prowess in the battlefield of MTG. With deathtouch and lifelink abilities, this two-mana-cost vampire quickly becomes a significant threat, able to gracefully dispatch larger creatures and maintain your life total. But every card has its Achilles heel, and for the Gifted Aetherborn, this lies in its susceptibility to removal spells.

Since it’s a creature with a modest toughness, spells that deal damage or those that can exile, like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, prove to be effective counters. Another strategy to beat it involves going wide on the battlefield. Overwhelming the opponent with a multitude of creatures can reduce the impact of the Aetherborn’s individual combat prowess. Also, flying creatures are particularly handy since the Aetherborn lacks reach, making it unable to block them. It’s also prudent to play around the two black mana requirement, taking advantage of times when mana is tapped out or not enough to summon it.

Understanding these strategies positions a player to handle the Gifted Aetherborn’s strengths, integrating countermeasures within their deck building and gameplay tactics to mitigate this renowed vampire’s impact on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepening your understanding of MTG’s intricate dynamics can reshape your gameplay experience. Gifted Aetherborn stands as a testament to the strategic depth found within these cards. Its proficiency in clearing creatures and sustaining your life total adds layers of strategy to every match. However, it’s also crucial to anticipate its vulnerabilities and know how to maneuver against it. Looking for more insights on maximizing your deck’s potential or countering popular threats? Embrace your tactical edge and join us as we unravel the intricacies of MTG playstyles, card interactions, and deck optimization for seasoned players and newcomers alike.


Cards like Gifted Aetherborn

Gifted Aetherborn stands out in the realm of two-mana creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It is often compared to the Vampire Nighthawk, a notable card from prior sets that shares both the Vampire creature type and the coveted keywords of flying, deathtouch, and lifelink. Gifted Aetherborn, though lacking flight, compensates with its lower mana cost, making it a highly efficient play early in the game.

Another card that comes to mind is Kalastria Highborn, which offers a different advantage within the Vampire archetype through its ability to drain life upon the death of another Vampire. While Gifted Aetherborn doesn’t have such a triggered ability, it stands its ground with its static presence on the battlefield, deterring attackers with its deathtouch and continually buffering one’s life total with lifelink.

When it comes down to two-drop creatures offering tremendous value for their cost, Gifted Aetherborn’s balance of power, toughness, and combat abilities allow it to shine in decks that aim to establish early board control and resilience. It’s a solid choice that provides an immediate impact on the game, subtly influencing the battlefield much like other high-caliber cards in its category.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Kalastria Highborn - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Kalastria Highborn - Worldwake Promos (PWWK)

Cards similar to Gifted Aetherborn by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cyclopean Mummy - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Rinascimento (RIN)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Black Knight - The List (PLST)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gifted Aetherborn MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Mystery Booster, 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 Gifted Aetherborn and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gifted Aetherborn Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Ryan Yee.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-01-20Aether RevoltAER 612015normalblackRyan Yee
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6692015normalblackRyan Yee
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2392015normalblackRyan Yee
42020-09-26The ListPLST AER-612015normalblackRyan Yee
52020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 912015normalblackRyan Yee
62022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 522015normalblackRyan Yee

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gifted Aetherborn has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

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