Aether Figment MTG Card

Zendikar (ZEN)
2009-10-02 - Number 40

Aether Figment - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)

Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
2014-03-14 - Number 5

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Illusion
Abilities	Kicker
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Aether Figment’s kicker option provides adaptability, scaling from early game presence to late-game evasion.
Deck synergy and mana consistency may limit its play but its evasion upsides are clear in the right build.
While unblockable, it can be overcome by universal removal or forced sacrifice strategies, demanding careful play.

Text of card

Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Æther Figment is unblockable. If Æther Figment was kicked, it enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aether Figment offers implicit card advantage through its ability to be unblockable when kicked. This feature allows it to consistently deal damage, making it a reliable source of advantage over time in a match.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing resources, Aether Figment’s low casting cost facilitates faster deployment. Coupled with its Kicker ability, it can be a versatile play either early or later in the game when more mana is available, potentially accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Aether Figment is not an instant, its unblockability once kicked can apply pressure during the combat phase, much like an instant would influence the board at crucial timing. The flexibility to play it as a quick two-drop or a later game evasive threat allows for strategic plays akin to instant-speed reactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aether Figment doesn’t come with an inherent discard mechanic but playing it within a control deck means you may need to keep your hand full, and its benefits might not justify the discard of other valuable cards for the purpose of deck synergy or strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires blue mana, which makes it a fit primarily for blue or multicolor decks. It’s not a universal fit for all types of decks, potentially limiting its playability across the diverse array of MTG deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Aether Figment offers a degree of evasion through its Kicker ability, the initial and kicker costs are substantial when compared to other creatures with similar abilities. There might be more cost-effective options that fit the bill, especially for players looking to maximize mana efficiency.

Reasons to Include Aether Figment in Your Collection

Versatility: Aether Figment offers flexibility in deck building, thanks to its evasive ability and the option to kick it for a greater effect. It can easily find a home in decks that capitalize on creatures being unblockable or that leverage +1/+1 counters.

Combo Potential: With its kicker ability, Aether Figment can synergize with cards that interact with +1/+1 counters or those that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield with additional stats. It feeds into strategies centered around proliferate mechanics or enhancing creature-based combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where many decks rely on targeted removal, Aether Figment can be a persistent threat due to its inherent ability to be unblockable. It seamlessly fits into meta-games that favor evasion tactics or where the board is often cluttered with ground-based creatures.

How to beat Aether Figment

Aether Figment holds a unique place in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to become unblockable. This quality makes it a tricky adversary to deal with because traditional blocking strategies fall short. However, this doesn’t make Aether Figment invincible. A straightforward way to undermine its presence is through the use of removal spells that don’t require targeting a specific creature, such as “Wrath of God” or “Day of Judgment,” thereby circumventing its ‘unblockable’ feature by not engaging it directly in combat.

Alternatively, cards that force a player to sacrifice a creature can prove to be effective since they bypass targeting restrictions as well. Examples like “Diabolic Edict” or “Liliana of the Veil” can be used to compel an opponent to choose and sacrifice their unblockable creatures, including Aether Figment. In addition, countering the spell before it ever hits the battlefield with a classic “Counterspell” or the more modern “Cancel” also proves to be a solid defense.

Effective resource management and understanding the right timing to play these cards are crucial. With the right strategy, players can navigate around Aether Figment’s elusive nature, ensuring that this card doesn’t become an unstoppable force within the game.

Cards like Aether Figment

Aether Figment is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, reflecting the inventive nature of blue spells. Mirroring this creature’s ability to slip past defenders with its unblockable trait, there are other notable cards such as Invisible Stalker. This particular card is also elusive to blockers and carries hexproof, providing additional protection from spells or abilities that target creatures. However, Aether Figment holds an advantage with its kicker ability, allowing a player to choose whether to make a larger investment for a more significant effect, which the Invisible Stalker lacks.

Another comparable card is Mist-Cloaked Herald, an inexpensive creature with noteworthy unblockable capabilities. While it boasts an inexpensive mana cost, it doesn’t offer the flexibility that Aether Figment’s kicker provides. Latch Seeker shares many similarities, being another unblockable creature, but lacks the modifiable nature of Aether Figment, which gives players the strategic choice to scale with the game’s progress.

Examining these options, it’s clear that while other creatures might rival Aether Figment in terms of being unblockable, the kicker ability distills a tactical layer that could cater to different game scenarios, solidifying Aether Figment’s place as a versatile addition to any MTG blue deck strategy.

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

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aether Figment MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Figment and other MTG cards: