AETHERDRIFT - FULL SET REVIEW FOR CEDH APPLICABILITY

Hello everyone, here is a full set review of Aetherdrift and its impact on cEDH. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a very powerful set, but I think there are a few potential staples and some cards with fringe playability as well. The set was just fully spoiled as of January 31st, so these are initial takes and are subject to change as the meta shifts and more interactions between cards are discovered.

I’ll break things down into three categories: cards that will likely see play, cards that might see fringe play, and cards that are traps to avoid or are close to being playable, but miss the cut. 

Read below for a full write up. There is also a podcast/video available if anyone is interested.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBDdTz4jg0I

Check out our podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@ThecEDHSermon and let us know what you think. We just started a few weeks ago, but reception has been great so far.

Now for the review…

THE GOOD - these are the cards that will likely see play

[[Repurposing Bay]] - [2U] - Artifact - (2), Tap, Sacrifice another artifact: Search your library for an artifact card with mana value equal to 1 plus the sacrificed artifact’s mana value, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle. Activate only as a sorcery.

  • PROS: It’s [[Birthing Pod]], but for artifacts instead of creatures. Fair CMC. Very good for toolbox decks with lots of artifacts.  
  • CONS: No easy finishing combo lines like birthing pod (Are there any good ones?) There are a few convoluted lines that could be crafted, but would result in having to run too many sub par cards in the deck to allow for them. 
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Possibly Urza, Shorikai, (Kinnan - feels like a trap card - could sac a 2CMC rock to get basalt, but there are better tutors) (Tivit - also feels like a trap - could sac clues or treasures for a grafdigger’s cage if desperate for that effect // could also create some sort of line like Clue(0)->[[Voltaic Key]](1)-> [[Time Sieve]](2).
  • FINAL VERDICT: It has tons of potential, and it has a home in a few decks potentially, but until I see some realistic lines that win the game, it’s not some incredible finisher like Birthing Pod. It’s more of a toolbox enabler (which is still really cool). I’ve seen a few comments out there with potential lines if you have infinite mana, but they require numerous cards, and if you have infinite mana, there are a million better outlets than some 5 card combo.

[[Unstoppable Plan]] - [2U] - Enchantment - At the beginning of your end step, untap all nonland permanents you control.

  • PROS: Similar to Seedborn (but not as good) / Relatively cheap CMC for effect / Works well with necropotence / good for control decks.
  • CONS: Some of the decks that might want this can’t reliably tutor for it, seedborn is better in almost every way (mainly Kinnan) 
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Could see it being really good in necropotence or other turbo focused decks - you can even tap out to play all your mana rocks or some extra setup pieces and then Unstoppable Plan - go to end step, untap everything, and now you either have ad naus waiting to go with everything untapped or a full grip with necro // Could also see it being good in control decks like Shorikai that want to be untapping and activating, but [[Unwinding Clock]] is a bit easier to tutor for in those decks.
  • FINAL VERDICT: Worth testing in some decks, especially necropotence decks. Kinnan should avoid this card - it’s a trap!

[[Speed Demon]] - [3BB] - Legendary Creature - 5/5 - Flying - Trample - Start your engines! - At the beginning of your end step, you draw X cards and lose X life, where X is your speed

  • PROS: It does draw and ok amount of cards over time, but is outshined by TOR (you could argue that it is a similar rate to the one ring in the sense that the amount you draw increases each turn cycle, but it lacks the other benefits that TOR has and what decks is it realistically going in that would want it - maybe as a reanimation target? 
  • CONS: High CMC, Very slow, draw effect can’t be abused like TOR (can untapped it), better draw spells in those colors like Ad Naus, Necro, Peer into the Abyss, etc…
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: As a commander? - Probably not // As a target in reanimator decks - maybe? // Probably doesn’t see any play but you never know - it’s similar enough to TOR to seem good, but it can’t be abused by untapping it like you can with TOR.
  • FINAL VERDICT: Too slow for most decks, but I think it might see play in some mono black decks or reanimator decks.

[[Howlsquad Heavy]] - [2R] - Creature - Goblin Mercenary - 2/3 - Start your engines! - Other Goblins you control have haste. At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token. That token attacks this combat if able. Max Speed — {T}: Add {R} for each Goblin you control.

  • Great for Winota. Legion War Boss, but better. Gives other goblins haste and has the potential to ramp if it sticks around long enough. This is an easy swap in my opinion, but if Winota pilots would prefer to have two creatures with this effect, they’re both worth running.

[[Thunderous Velocipede]] - [1GG] - Artifact - Vehicle - 5/5 - Trample - Each other Vehicle and creature you control enters with an additional +1/+1 counter on it if its mana value is 4 or less. Otherwise, it enters with three additional +1/+1 counters on it. Crew 3

  • DOES THIS GO IN TAYAM???!!! I don’t know enough about Tayam to know if this is an auto include, but a deck that runs as many creatures as it does that also wants +1/+1 counters should want a card like this. I feel like it being an artifact may hurt it in some scenarios (can’t tutor it as easily), but help it in others (avoiding OBM or a toxic deluge).

[[Brightglass Gearhulk]] - [GGWW] - Artifact Creature - Construct - 4/4 - First Strike - Trample - When this creature enters, you may search your library for up to two artifact, creature, and/or enchantment cards with 1 cmc or less, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.

  • PROS: Double tutor that can get a ton of staples: Esper Sentinel, Mockingbird, Allosaurus Shepard, Mystic remora, Deafening Silence, Swift Reconfiguration, gravedigger’s cage, and any mana rocks that are 1 CMC or less, etc... There is also potential for a new 1 CMC card to be printed that creates a combo with another 1 CMC permanent that it can grab. 
  • CONS: A bit expensive and mana intensive due to being 4 colored pips. 
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Midrange decks with a high concentration of desired cards to tutor up with it’s effect. Decks with flicker/blink the effects that can make the most of the double tutor. It’s hard to list any specific decks because it’s kind of a clunky card, but I think it will find a home in a few decks.
  • FINAL VERDICT: Great effect, clunky mana cost, will only get better as more 1 CMC permanents are printed.

[[Hashaton, Scarab’s Fist]] - [WB] - Legendary Creature - Zombie Wizard - 1/3 - Whenever you discard a creature card, you may pay {2}{U}. If you do, create a tapped token that’s a copy of that card, except it’s a 4/4 black Zombie.

  • LINK TO DECK TECH VIDEO (Hashaton starts at 39 minute mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV1OoSYy-Ik
  • PROS: Great color identity in cEDH, Aggressively costed, 3 toughness on 2 CMC creature (less likely to die to OBM), very versatile ability that can be used for a win variety of builds. The ability also doesn’t care if the card hits the graveyard, it just needs to be discarded. 
  • CONS: Are their any??? I guess the ability could cost less, but it’s hard to complain about anything with this card.
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: A new great option for an Esper commander in the format. I don’t think this will be the absolute best Esper choice, but it will likely show up at upcoming tournaments. Who knows, it could very well be the next top Esper commander.
  • FINAL VERDICT: Great commander for Esper, I could even see it showing up in the 99 of a few decks that can run it.

[[Ketramose, the New Dawn]] - [1WB] - Menace, lifelink, indestructible Ketramose can’t attack or block unless there are seven or more cards in exile. Whenever one or more cards are put into exile from graveyards and/or the battlefield during your turn, you draw a card and lose 1 life.

[[Loot, the Pathfinder]] - [2GUR] - Legendary Creature - Beast Noble - 2/4 - Double strike, vigilance, haste - Exhaust — {G}, {T}: Add three mana of any one color. (Activate each exhaust ability only once.) - Exhaust — {U}, {T}: Draw three cards. - Exhaust — {R}, {T}: Loot deals 3 damage to any target.

  • PROS: A [[Food Chain]] finishing piece / all 3 exhaust abilities are good
  • CONS: Higher CMC than desired for a commander / exhaust limits usage (unless flickered/recast)
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Potential Temur Food Chain commander. I feel like it will struggle to assemble the combo due to lack of tutors for food chain, but an alternate win con could be using Dualcaster + flicker effects like [[Ghostly Flicker]] with more than one target to go infinite with Loot. Maybe that’s the better build and Food Chain should be left out entirely? Not quite sure at this point.
  • FINAL VERDICT: Loot is cute. Will likely end up as a fringe Temur commander, but I think there are better options.

THE BAD - these are the cards that might see fringe play

[[Diversion Unit]] - [1U] - Artifact Creature - Robot - 2/1 - Flying - [U], sacrifice this creature: counter target instant or sorcery spell unless its controller pays 3

  • PROS: Cheap, evasive creature with a counterspell stapled onto it - harder to counter abilities
  • CONS: No flash, only counters instants/sorceries, and can be bypassed if opponent has enough mana
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Not great by any means, but I immediately thought of [[Raffine, Scheming Seer]] when I saw this card so I guess it has at least one potential home. I don’t see it getting much play in general, but a flyer that can sacrifice to potentially counter something isn’t a terrible includet in a Tymna deck with blue in it. Again, we’re scrapping the bottom of the barrel here for playable stuff so…
  • FINAL VERDICT: Probably won’t see much play, but I sort of like creatures like these in decks like Raffine or maybe Tymna/Malcom.

[[Transit Mage]] - [2U] - Creature - Human Wizard, 2/2. When this creature enters, you may search your library for an artifact card with mana value 4 or 5, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.

  • PROS: Finds Birthing Pod (not many pod decks with blue), TOR, Ancestral Statue (Animar - fringe play), Unwinding Clock
  • CONS: Less need for 4/5 CMC artifacts in most decks
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Potentially a few very specific decks like Animar. You need to have more than one target though. TOR is simply not enough to run this card. I'd say you probably want 3 relevant/powerful targets, otherwise leave this one out.
  • FINAL VERDICT: It’s ok in a few niche decks, but will likely be outshined by more versatile artifact tutors

[[Vnwxt, Verbose Host]] - [1U] - Legendary Creature - Homunculus - 0/4 - Start your engines / no maximum hand size / Max Speed: if you would draw a card draw two instead

  • PROS: Cheap CMC, get’s the start your engines mechanic going early (if that will even matter LOL), doubles your draws - Maybe an ok piece for Raffine. 
  • CONS: Start your engines mechanic is just too slow. Could be more of a win more card. You want effects that draw you cards, not draw you more cards if you are already drawing.
  • WHERE DOES IT FIT: Maaaaybe Raffine. That is the only reason it’s on here. 
  • FINAL VERDICT: If we somehow figure out how to break the start your engines mechanic, it will be decent and probably find a home in Raffine for better card selection during connives. 

[[Adrenaline Jockey]] - [2R] - Creature - Minotaur Pilot - Whenever a player casts a spell, if it’s not their turn, this creature deals 4 damage to them - Whenever you activate an exhaust ability put a +1/+1 counter on it

  • I like the idea behind it being a stax piece that punishes interaction on other players turns, but it probably won’t see much if any play. 4 damage isn’t enough. It would be so much better if it dealt damage equal to its power. That way you could play it alongside relevant commanders that could boost its power to really punish counterspells or other instant speed shenanigans. Maybe in a deck with a ton of clone effects? Even still, the effect is for all players so I just can’t imagine too many scenarios where this would be relevant.

[[Boommobile]] - [2RR] - Artifact - Vehicle - 5/5 - When this Vehicle enters, add four mana of any one color. Spend this mana only to activate abilities. Exhaust — {X}{2}{R}: This Vehicle deals X damage to any target. Put a +1/+1 counter on this Vehicle. (Activate each exhaust ability only once.) Crew 2

  • Ok hear me out…there’s gotta be a way to break this card. I’m thinking specifically with [[Zirda, the Dawnwaker]]. If there’s another card you can pair with this to flicker it with an activated ability or something, you could potentially play it for 4, add 4, use 2 of it on the ability which now costs 2 less to deal 1 damage to an opponent, then you have 2 mana left to potentially activate some sort of ability. Now that you’ve heard me out, let’s get realistic. It’s not great at all, but I am determined to somehow make this work just for the hell of it.

[[Beastrider Vanguard]] - [1G] - Creature - Human Knight - 2/2 - {4}{G}: Look at the top three cards of your library. You may reveal a permanent card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

  • Only included as a potential replacement for [[Duskwatch Recruiter]] in Yisan. It’s an infinite mana outlet and a way to filter through your deck. Not very good outside of Yisan.

[[Mimeoplasm, Revered One]] 

  • Has potential for fringe GY combos. First thought is it’s a Sultai Necrotic Ooze. (Do all of the same combos apply?) Seems too mana intensive though. 

[[Veteran Beastrider]] - [1GW] - Creature - Human Knight - 3/4 - At the beginning of your end step, untap each creature you control. {2}{G}{W}: Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

  • Just a worse version of unstoppable plan, but it is a creature that can be tutored easier. In heavy creature decks I’d say it’s worth including. It would be so much better if it was a warrior for more midrange Najeela builds, but I’m not sure it would see play there either. Maybe I’m not giving it enough credit, but when there is another card in the set that does the same thing but better, it’s hard to jump for joy.

[[Monument to Endurance]] - [3] - Artifact - Whenever you discard a card choose one that hasn’t been chosen this turn - (Draw a card / Create a treasure / each opponent loses 3 life)

  • The once per turn for each of the abilities limits this card heavily. If only this was a creature, it could go in Raffine. The extra draw, treasure, damage, every turn would be really nice. It’s just not worth it as a 3 CMC artifact that’s not actively adding to the creature intensive gamelan. 

[[Stridehangar Automaton]] - (3) - Artifact Creature - Construct - 1/4 - Thopters you control get +1/+1. If one or more artifact tokens would be created under your control, those tokens plus an additional 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying are created instead.

  • There’s gotta be a way to break this! Similar effect to [[Chatterfang]] in that it creates additional tokens. If there is a commander or high concentration of cards that can abuse this in your deck, it’s worth looking at, but otherwise it doesn’t do enough on its own to be an include in any decks.

Verge lands - They are ok in 2 color decks, but I feel like there are probably better utility options for additional land slots that you’d use before these.

THE UGLY - these are cards worth mentioning because they are either traps or have potential if newer cards are printed

[[Skyseer’s Chariot]] - [1W] - Artifact - vehicle - Flying - As this vehicle enters, choose a non land card name. Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name cost 2 more to activate.

  • Terrible - there are so many other cards that do this better and this one has nothing of note to set it apart other than being bad at its job. Pithing Needle, Phyrexian Revoker both name cards and completely stop the activation - they see extreme fringe playability. Cursed totem shuts down all activated abilities for 2 mana. Disruptor flute has flash and makes the spell cost 3 more to cast plus stops the activated abilities other than mana ones. 

[[Bounce Off]] - [B] - Instant - Return target creature or vehicle to it’s owner’s hand.

  • Worth mentioning since it can target both opponent and your own creatures, but it is outshined by other options. (Chain of Vapor, Into the Floodmaw) - It’s basically unsummon but includes vehicles. 

[[Maximum Overdrive]] - [1B] - put a +1/+1 counter on target creature and give it deathtouch and indestructible until EOT

  • Pretty bad. There isn’t much in mono black in the way of protection but this just doesn’t justify its cost with the effect. Too much gets around it. Bouncing the creature, exiling, sacrifice, reducing P/T to 0. NOPE. 

[[Defend the Rider]] - [G] - Instant - Choose One: Target Permanent you control gains hex proof and indestructible until end of turn // OR // Create a 1/1 colorless pilot creature token with “this token mounts and crews as though its power was 2 greater”

  • Worth mentioning, but we have better options in green if this effect is needed (Legolas’s Quick Reflexes), Heroic intervention is almost never played and gives all of your permanents hex proof and indestructible for 2 mana. Tyvar’s Stand, Tamiyo’s Safekeeping , etc, etc… None of them really see much play and they essentially do the same thing. Unless the pilot token somehow becomes relevant in the future with a combo or something, it probably won’t see play.

[[Molt Tender]] - [G] - Creature - Insect Druid - Tap to mill a card OR Tap to exile a card from your graveyard and add one mana of any color

  • If it was a 0/3 I’d say maybe, but with OBM running rampant and it requiring a card to be in your graveyard, it just won’t make the cut. It’s cute though.

[[Ovaya, Automech Artisian]] - [3G] - Legendary Creature - Human Artificer - Each creature that’s attacking one of your opponents has trample. Pay [G] and Tap: Put a creature or vehicle card from your hand onto the battlefield. Artifacts put out this way get two +1/+1 counters

  • TOO SLOW. It’s a cool concept and will probably see a ton of casual play for cheating out giant stomp things, but it takes way too long (like the rest of the set) to do anything. Play for 4, wait a turn, activate and put bomb on field, potentially wait another turn cycle if you plan on attacking, because that’s what you’d do with this deck right? It almost has to be in the command zone to make it worth it. Cheating something out like Vilas or Razaketh would be awesome but then you have this slow clunky 4 drop that doesn’t do shit on it’s own in the deck.

[[Radiant Lotus]] - [6] - Artifact - {T}, Sacrifice one or more artifacts: Choose a color. Target player adds three mana of the chosen color for each artifact sacrificed this way.

  • I’m sure there’s a bunch of ways of going infinite by recurring artifacts, but do we really want a 6 CMC combo piece that requires a bunch of setup? Maybe I’m missing something, but I do not think this is good outside of casual.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

  • [[Dune Drifter]] - any way to use LED and another card to infinitely flicker/recur and get infinite mana?
  • [[Redshift, Rocketeer Chief]] - Any way to break this?

Thanks for reading/watching. Let me know if we missed anything and feel free to join in to discuss how you feel about individual cards and the set in general!