Derek 'Dez' Maggs 
Welcome, Planeswalkers, to a world where the roar of engines meets the arcane power of magic! We dive into the heart of Aetherdrift, a set that brings the thrill of vehicles and the ingenuity of engine-building to the forefront of Magic: The Gathering.
Imagine a battlefield where sleek, enchanted vehicles race across the terrain, powered by the mystical energy of Aether. Each card in this set is a cog in a grand machine, designed to fuel your strategies and drive your opponents to the brink. Buckle up and get ready to explore the synergy between mechanics and magic in this high-octane review of Aetherdrift!
The Aetherdrift set is like a fresh breeze in the Magic: The Gathering universe. With its distinctive focus on vehicles and the concept of a multiplanar race, Aetherdrift brings a whole new dynamic to the game. One which I love as the set is packed with powerful and thematic cards revolving around this racing concept, making gameplay both thrilling and cohesive with a real scifi Fast and furious vibe. That being said, with how that franchise is going it could quite easily be the plot for Fast 10!
The theme of racing and vehicles is consistently and beautifully implemented throughout the set, making for an immersive experience. Each card feels like a piece of a larger, exciting narrative. One of the standout features of Aetherdrift is its innovative mechanics. Introducing new elements like “crew” and “saddle” adds depth and variety to the gameplay. These mechanics not only enhance the strategic aspect but also ensure a more engaging and interactive experience. Additionally, the card design in this set is in a word remarkable, there is no other word for it. The Aetherdrift set brings a fun and fresh approach to Magic, combining exciting new mechanics with a well-executed theme to offer a dynamic and immersive gaming experience.
Living Energy Commander Deck Review: Harnessing the Power of Energy
Wizards of the Coast we lovely enough to send me The Living Energy Commander deck to preview this set. It is an absolute delight for players who thrive on synergy and energy production…. and adore ramp. Green for life!
Embracing the Temur colors (green, blue, and red), this vibrant and dynamic deck leverages a variety of strategies to generate and exploit energy, making for some truly satisfying gameplay. One of the deck’s standout features is its commanders. With commanders like Saheeli, Radiant Creator, and Pia Nalaar, Chief Mechanic, the deck excels at generating and using energy. Saheeli, a 4-mana 4/4, generates energy whenever you play an artifact or artificer, and she can create a 5/5 token copy of any permanent you control by spending three energy. Pia Nalaar, a 3-mana 2/4, generates energy whenever artifact creatures deal combat damage to a player and can create vehicle tokens with power and toughness equal to the energy spent at the end of the turn. I enjoyed Saheeli more that Pia, yet that was more a personal thing, as they both had there pros and cons but overall they are both solid commanders. This may even be the first commander deck where I’ve actually enjoy & rate the secondary commander of the deck.
The synergy in this deck is exceptional. The subthemes of artifacts and thopters blend seamlessly with the energy mechanics, creating numerous combo possibilities. With 27 creatures, including notable ones like Elder Gargaroth, Combustible Gearhulk, and Sai, Master Thopterist, the deck offers plenty of options. The 20 artifacts, including Panharmonicon, Retrofitter Foundry, and Lightning Greaves, further enhance the deck’s synergy.
As a ramp-heavy deck, much to my green loving self, you’ll often find yourself with an abundance of mana to cast big, impactful spells. The mix of sorceries and instants, such as Blasphemous Act, Explosive Vegetation, and Chaos Warp, ensures versatility and power. With 38 lands, including Academy Ruins, Command Tower, and various dual lands, the deck provides a solid foundation for resource management even for someone like me that is the king of the mana screwed society!
Playstyle
The Living Energy deck is designed to excel in generating mana quickly, thanks to its 15 different ramp or mana-fetch cards which in game one, I think I drew half of them. As the friends I was playing against had custom casual decks & this ramp-heavy strategy (and lucky drawing) allows me to accelerate to threat lives by turn 5. As after dropping a few powerful, high-cost creatures that earlier in the game. I was public enemy number 1 & quickly lost 23 points by the end of turn 7. And though I had some amazing fun & managed to drop some big bombs, I was the first eliminated.
The deck’s average mana value would be around 4, which is notably higher than that of typical Commander decks. However, Living Energy embraces this higher curve by including powerful, high-cost cards that can turn the tide of the game. These cards often have game-changing effects or provide substantial value, making the investment in ramp well worth it.
Game 2 I managed to bring out the beasts that are Elder Gargaroth and Combustible Gearhulk, which dominated the battlefield with their impressive abilities and brought home the ‘W’ in game 2, while in game 3 the boys where having none of it & bounced them the second they saw them coming.
Overall, the playstyle of Living Energy revolves around building a strong mana base early on and leveraging that mana to cast formidable spells and creatures. This approach requires careful planning of mana, as players need to balance their ramp efforts with their need to defend against early aggression, which is one of this Aetherdrift decks biggest weakness. When executed well, this deck is impressive straight out of the box, as if it gets started it easily overwhelms the board and quickly secures the victory.
Strengths and Weaknesses
In terms of strengths, the deck has strong ramp capabilities which after playing 5 games, the ramp doesn’t miss! It has two versatile commanders that synergise perfectly with the artifacts and energy counters. The inclusion of several high-value cards adds to the deck’s overall strength and desirability. However, as previously mentioned, the deck also has weaknesses, such as its high average mana value, which can make it slower if the ramp elements aren’t in your favour, and it definitely struggles against faster, more aggressive strategies (Dam you Luke and your stoopid Goblins!).
Value
The deck includes several valuable cards that enhance both its gameplay and collectible appeal. Notable mentions are Academy Ruins, which is valued between $15-$20, and Elder Gargaroth, which is worth over $10. Other valuable cards in the $5-$9 range include Retrofitter Foundry, Lightning Greaves, Panharmonicon, and Triplicate Titan. Which makes Living Energy worth the price even for some great commander cards.
Upgrades
This section did not come from my knowledge of Magic: the Gathering & was a discussion that we had after we played. I was given several upgrades idea to be considered to take this deck from a starter deck to a great casual deck.
They advised I should update to some more efficient ramp spells like Nature’s Lore or Three Visits as these will improve the already impress deck’s ramp capabilities. As well as adding cards like Aetherworks Marvel or Dynavolt Tower can increase the deck’s energy production, while more artifact synergy can be achieved with cards like Master Transmuter or Darksteel Forge.
These few upgrades which I plan on making, as I’ve loved this deck, will bring even better artifacts and energy mechanics, making this deck even more powerful and versatile.
Conclusion
The Aetherdrift set and Living Energy Commander deck bring a refreshing and exhilarating experience to the Magic: The Gathering universe. Aetherdrift introduces a wild race across various rich and diverse planes, each with its unique flavor and challenges. And honestly, has so many elements that bring me & everyone I know that has played it joy.
With its focus on vehicles and multiplanar races, Aetherdrift adds depth and excitement to the game, unlike any sets that I’ve had the privledge of playing before & is truly a breath of fresh air to the Magic landscape. Aetherdrift exemplify the creativity and innovation that Magic: The Gathering is known for. As the idea of racing across planes in sleek, enchanted vehicles or harnessing the power of energy promises unforgettable gaming experiences.
Do yourself a favour & dive into the world of Aetherdrift where magic and machinery collide in the most exhilarating ways.
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