Buckle up, Magic fans! Aetherdrift, the latest set in Magic: The Gathering, is here to take you on a wild ride through the Multiverse's most exhilarating race. This set plunges players into a thrilling competition across three planes—Avishkar, Amonkhet, and Muraganda—where speed, strategy, and spectacle reign supreme.
New Mechanics: Speed and Exhaust
Aetherdrift introduces two brand-new mechanics—Speed and Exhaust—that perfectly capture the racing vibe while adding fresh strategic layers.
Speed: Rev Up and Reap the Rewards
Speed is all about building momentum—think of it as your tachometer climbing with every move you make.
How It Works: Kick things off with a card featuring "Start your engines!" to set your speed to 1 as a state-based action. Then, once per turn, increase your speed by 1 (up to a max of 4) whenever your opponents lose life during your turn—combat or otherwise. At max speed (4), your cards unlock powerful bonuses.
Exhaust: One Shot to Change the Race
Exhaust is your turbo boost—a single-use ability that can flip the script, but timing is everything.
How It Works: Permanents with Exhaust have a once-per-game ability that delivers a big effect. Use it wisely, because it's gone after that—unless you blink or copy it.
Returning Mechanics: Crew and Saddle
Aetherdrift brings back Crew and Saddle, enhancing the set's vehicular and racing flavor with these familiar mechanics.
Crew: Power Up Your Vehicles
Crew puts your creatures to work, turning Vehicles into battlefield juggernauts.
How It Works: Tap untapped creatures with total power equal to or greater than the Vehicle's Crew number, and it becomes an artifact creature until end of turn—ready to roll.
Saddle: Ride Your Mounts to Victory
Saddle harnesses the raw power of mounts, enhancing them when you ride them right.
How It Works: Tap creatures with total power equal to or greater than the mount's Saddle number to activate its saddled effects—usually a combat boost.
Bonus Highlight: The Aetherspark
Don't miss The Aetherspark, a Planeswalker/Equipment hybrid that's the set's narrative star. Equip it to a creature, gain loyalty counters when that creature deals damage, and unleash a game-altering ability at high loyalty. It's a wildcard that ties the mechanics and story together.
Ready to Race?
Aetherdrift offers an exhilarating mix of new and returning mechanics, each bringing unique strategic depth to the game. With innovative cards and exciting gameplay, this set is sure to captivate Magic fans and keep the races thrilling across the Multiverse. Get ready to start your engines and dive into the action!
