Astral Drift MTG Card


Astral Drift guarantees continuous access to cards, streamlining deck searches for responses or threats. It provides strategic depth, allowing players to interact at instant speed for protection or disruption. Despite its advantages, the card’s specific mana cost and cycling discard requirement limit some decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Cycling

Text of card

Whenever you cycle Astral Drift or cycle another card while Astral Drift is on the battlefield, you may exile target creature. If you do, return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)


Cards like Astral Drift

Astral Drift stands out in the panorama of cycling cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its fundamental mechanic with cards like Lightning Rift and Fluctuator, but with a distinctive twist. While Lightning Rift capitalizes on the cycling mechanic to deal damage, Astral Drift uses it to flicker creatures. This enables players to save their creatures from removal, or to re-trigger beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects.

Comparatively, we have Slide of Conscription which also revolves around the cycling mechanic. It differs mainly in application, granting creature protection or undoing opponent’s next turn plans. Though it doesn’t possess the repeatability that Astral Drift offers through its cycling-triggered ability. Eternal Dragon is another card in this league, boasting plain cycling with a bonus. It can also be fetched from the graveyard to hand, thus providing a recurring threat as well as deck thinning potential.

In summary, while each card has its cycling-oriented advantages, Astral Drift’s unique ability to repeatedly protect and manipulate your own creatures gives it a steadfast position among similar MTG cards that utilize or benefit from the cycling mechanic.

Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions
Fluctuator - MTG Card versions
Eternal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Lightning Rift - MTG Card versions
Fluctuator - MTG Card versions
Eternal Dragon - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Astral Drift by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
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Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
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Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
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Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Astral Drift offers a unique approach to card advantage, granting cycling to effectively replace itself in your hand. This action ensures you’re never starved for options, letting you sift through your deck for answers or threats while still interacting with the board.

Resource Acceleration: By utilizing its cycling ability, Astral Drift aids in resource acceleration indirectly. Though it doesn’t produce mana itself, it allows players to streamline their game plan, filtering through their deck to reach essential land drops or key spells more consistently.

Instant Speed: Astral Drift’s triggered ability operates at instant speed, providing strategic flexibility. You can exile creatures in response to an opponent’s actions, save your creatures from removal, or simply disrupt opponent combos, all while fluidly adapting to the ever-changing battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Astral Drift necessitates that a player discard a card to activate its cycling ability. This cost can be particularly taxing on a player’s hand, especially in the late game when each card in hand could be pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: With a demand for white mana, Astral Drift may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t heavily favor white. It can be a setback in decks that require mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of three mana, including two generic and one white, can be considered steep for its effects. Other options in the same mana range could offer immediate board presence or more impactful game mechanics.


Reasons to Include Astral Drift in Your Collection

Versatility: Astral Drift offers dynamic gameplay, capable of fitting into various decks. Its ability to flicker creatures can save them from removal, reset enter-the-battlefield abilities, or even disrupt opponent’s combat strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has strong synergies with cycling decks, enabling intricate combos. It works well with cards that benefit from cycling or when creatures leave and enter the battlefield, essentially multiplying their value and impact during the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks and ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effects are prevalent, Astral Drift can become an essential tool. It allows for repeated manipulation of creature states, which is crucial for gaining the upper hand against opponents utilising such strategies.


How to Beat Astral Drift

Astral Drift is an intriguing card that can be a real headache for MTG players who aren’t prepared. At its core, Astral Drift’s cycle-triggered ability to exile creatures can disrupt your board presence and ruin your strategies. To effectively counter this, it’s imperative to limit its potential by minimizing the cycling effects. One tactic is to reduce the number of cards your opponent has in hand, thus limiting their ability to cycle and trigger Astral Drift’s effect.

Moreover, employing instant speed spells that can destroy or exile Astral Drift before it gets a chance to activate can save the day. Artifacts and enchantments like Disenchant or Naturalize offer quick and efficient ways to remove the enchantment from the battlefield, ensuring your creatures stay put. Keep in mind that Astral Drift pivots around the cycling mechanic, so sideboard cards that negate your opponent’s cycling abilities can also weaken the impact of Astral Drift significantly.

Being proactive and keeping Astral Drift’s mechanics in check can prevent your opponent from leveraging its full potential, thereby safeguarding your creatures and maintaining your game plan uninterrupted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Astral Drift can pivot a good MTG player to a great one. With its ability to flicker creatures and create card advantage, Astral Drift is a tool seasoned players use to outmaneuver opponents. If you’re keen on maximizing your deck’s potential and navigating the intricacies of MTG strategies, deepening your knowledge about cards like Astral Drift is essential. Harness its power to weave through matches with foresight and finesse. Expand your understanding and refine your gameplay with us as we explore the deeper synergies and tactics that make MTG a captivating and endlessly strategic game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Astral Drift MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons, 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 Astral Drift and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Astral Drift Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 728922015NormalBlackSvetlin Velinov
22019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 32015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer
32020-04-17Commander 2020C20 762015NormalBlackAnna Steinbauer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Astral Drift has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-06-14 Astral Drift’s triggered ability resolves before the cycling ability does. You won’t draw until after you choose the target and choose whether to exile the creature.
2019-06-14 Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist. Once the exiled creature returns, it’s considered a new object with no relation to the object that it was.
2019-06-14 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield.
2019-06-14 If you cycle a card during a player’s end step, the exiled creature will remain exiled until the next turn’s end step.