Aether Gust MTG Card


Time-walking opponents by bouncing key spells or permanents maintains card balance while disrupting momentum. Instant speed allows strategic responses during opponents’ moves, giving players an upper hand. Specific mana requirements and comparatively higher costs can limit deck building and in-game efficiency.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

Choose target spell or permanent that's red or green. Its owner puts it on the top or bottom of their library.

The chill wind extinguishes flame, and frosts the leaf on the branch.


Cards like Aether Gust

Aether Gust is a versatile blue instant that has found its niche in Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal of tempo spells. Much like its cousin, Unsummon, Aether Gust allows players to temporarily get rid of an annoying creature or spell, but it specifically targets red or green cards. This specificity sets it apart and can be a game changer against certain decks.

Another relative in the realm of tempo control is Essence Scatter. While Essence Scatter permanently counters a creature spell, it doesn’t provide the flexibility of targeting spells on the stack or creatures already on the battlefield like Aether Gust does. Then there’s Negate, a staple in blue control decks, which counters noncreature spells exclusively. Aether Gust’s ability to affect the board immediately often gives it a leg up over Negate in creature-heavy matchups.

Considering these alternatives, Aether Gust stands out with its precision and the power to disrupt opponents at a critical moment. It’s particularly potent in the current META, aligning well with strategies that seek to thwart aggressive red and green decks, thereby solidifying its place in the hierarchy of utility spells within the game.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Essence Scatter - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Aether Gust. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet MidrangeIzzet Midrange GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
All Other DecklistsAll Other Decklists PioneerAzorius ControlNRG Series $5,000 Trial - Madison, Wisconsin (Pioneer)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aether Gust can effectively act as a way to time walk an opponent by bouncing their key spells or permanents. It prevents your opponent from gaining momentum, and by choosing the right target, you can significantly set them back while keeping card equilibrium.

Resource Acceleration: While Aether Gust itself does not directly create resources, it efficiently disrupts the opponent’s resource development. By removing crucial threats or ramp spells, it indirectly accelerates your own board state by buying you precious time to develop your game plan without hindrance.

Instant Speed: The true versatility of Aether Gust lies in its instant speed, allowing you to respond to an opponent’s moves at the most opportune moment. This could mean bouncing a spell on the stack or removing a key creature during the combat phase, maintaining the upper hand in the fast-paced dynamic of the game.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Aether Gust’s requirement of one blue mana can be restrictive, forcing players to have a certain color of mana available or to design their decks around accommodating blue mana sources.

Discard Requirement: While Aether Gust itself does not require a discard, it’s important for players to consider the need to have other card options in hand. Casting Aether Gust without a follow-up plan can sometimes lead to a temporary solution rather than an advantageous position.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: A two-mana cost for its effect might be seen as steep when compared to other instant-speed interaction options in the game. This can be particularly relevant in faster-paced environments where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Aether Gust in Your Collection

Versatility: Aether Gust is an excellent addition to sideboards or main decks as it can effectively counter strategies relying heavily on red or green spells. Its instant speed allows you to adapt on the fly during the game, making it a flexible tool in various situations.

Combo Potential: This instant not only disrupts your opponent’s plays but also sets up the potential for your combos by removing threats or buying you critical time. The ability to choose whether the targeted spell or permanent goes on top or into its owner’s library also helps manage what your opponent will draw next.

Meta-Relevance: The card shines in a meta with dominant red aggro or green mid-range decks. Aether Gust helps to level the playing field by temporarily dealing with key threats or pivotal spells, providing a strategic edge in important match-ups.


How to beat

Aether Gust adds a unique strategic element to Magic: The Gathering, specializing in control by allowing players to temporarily remove red or green spells that threaten their game plan. To overcome Aether Gust, you’ll want to incorporate cards that aren’t solely red or green into your deck, thereby diversifying your threats and minimizing the impact of this spell. Moreover, playing cards with cheap costs can benefit you; even if they get hit by Aether Gust, their mana efficiency allows them to be replayed without significant tempo loss.

Utilizing spells with instant speeds can also be of great advantage. This not only offers flexibility but also presents an opportunity to bait out Aether Gust, allowing you to play more crucial spells later on. Furthermore, having access to countermagic of your own can protect your spells from being returned to your hand or library, maintaining board presence and advancing your strategy uninterrupted. By planning ahead and considering these tips, you’ll be better equipped to tackle the disruption that Aether Gust brings to the table.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aether Gust MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Gust and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Aether Gust Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 422015NormalBlackTomasz Jedruszek
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 3302015NormalBorderlessMateus Manhanini

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Aether Gust has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 If a spell is put into its owner’s library, it’s removed from the stack and thus will not resolve. The spell isn’t countered; it no longer exists. This works against a spell that can’t be countered.
2019-07-12 The owner of the target spell or permanent chooses to put it either on the top or bottom of their library.