Aetherdrift Preview Season Revs Its Engines

Aetherdrift key art | art by Julian Kok and Joon Wen

It's time to preview Aetherdrift, the newest upcoming Magic: The Gathering expansion! This new set occurs in three different Magic planes and focuses on an interplanar race for a momentous prize.

With ten different teams in the spotlight and vying for the prize of the Aetherspark, anything is possible! So without further ado, let's look at the cards debuted in today's WeeklyMTG stream!

The Premise of Aetherdrift

To start, some key notes about Aetherdrift's story. These tidbits of information are vital for understanding the story so far. We will break this up into pre- and post-March of the Machine lore dumps.

If you know the March lore, you can read past to the Aetherdrift premise. Feel free to read on if you know what's what, but it might be good to stick to this!

Info For Those Unaware Of Events Post-MOM

The events of March of the Machine have largely desparked all Planeswalkers in the Magic Multiverse. This has brought great sorrow to many of them, including Nissa and Chandra. Chandra is still capable of planeswalking, but Nissa has lost this ability.

Chandra, Spark Hunter, a new card from Aetherdrift. — Chandra, Spark Hunter, a new card from *Aetherdrift*.

While the above is true, the events also ripped portals within the Multiverse, allowing anyone to traverse planes. These portals are known as Omenpaths. Certain groups (including Ravnica's Izzet League guild) have begun to harness them into a network to connect the planes as much as possible.
Jace and Vraska, both deeply in love and soon thereafter compleated by the Phyrexians, somehow survived their compleation post-March. They stormed a vault in Thunder Junction, a Wild-West-inspired plane, and found a young Fomori who they named Loot. They adopted the babe to unknown yet likely ulterior ends.
Loot was soon abducted by Valgavoth, a demon who rules over Duskmourn, a plane that is fully encompassed by a now-haunted house. Loot has unimaginably strong navigational skills, and is seen as a living map of sorts. Valgavoth has his sights set on conquering even more of the Multiverse, and Loot might just be the key to this.
After the Phyrexians were defeated, there was another revolution in the plane once called Kaladesh. In its wake, the plane was renamed to Avishkar. This follows the real-world trend of major revolutions often ultimately renaming significant places.

Aetherdrift's Premise

Before the Omenpaths formed, the plane now known as Avishkar conducted a major speed-racing event. This event is the Ghirapur Grand Prix. In the time since the Omenpaths opened, the officiators of the Ghirapur Grand Prix decided to expand the race beyond just the bounds of Avishkar.
As such, the Second Ghirapur Grand Prix is open to most any plane's competitors. Furthermore, its raceway is an expanse spanning three planes: Avishkar, Amonkhet, and Muraganda.

Avishkar Raceway, a new card from Aetherdrift. — Avishkar Raceway, a new card from *Aetherdrift*.

Muraganda Raceway, a new card from Aetherdrift. — Muraganda Raceway, a new card from *Aetherdrift*.

Avishkari artificers created a device that they now consider too dangerous to reverse-engineer. They destroyed the blueprints for it, but they decided that The Aetherspark, a device allowing its wielder to planeswalk, would be novel enough to present as a prize for the Ghirapur Grand Prix. As such, racing teams from across the Blind Eternities have congregated to compete for it.

The Aetherspark, a new card from Aetherdrift. — The Aetherspark, a new card from *Aetherdrift*.

Ten Teams, One Goal

The ten teams of the Second Ghirapur Grand Prix are as follows:

Guidelight Voyagers (White/Blue): A group of robotic racers from another plane yet-unknown to us as players. They're racing in order to attempt to emulate the conditions that brought them to Avishkar against their will or understanding.

Mendicant, Core Guidelight, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Mendicant, Core Guidelight, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Champions of Amonkhet (White/Black): As one of the representatives of the Ghirapur Grand Prix, the Champions of Amonkhet are taking part as honored invitees. With their home ravaged by Nicol and later the Invasion, their rebuilding is crucial. In essence, they also believe the positive press is paramount to their rebuilding process.

Zahur, Glory's Past, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Zahur, Glory's Past, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Cloudspire Racing Team (White/Red): The winners of the First Ghirapur Grand Prix, the Cloudspire Racing Team is a confident team returning by invitation. Chandra is one of this team's leaders, which drew some controversy. Chandra was a shoe-in to join the official Avishkari representative team, the Aether Rangers, but declined. The rest of this team is a group of Kylem immigrants who became Avishkari citizens after the Omenpaths opened up.

Kolodin, Triumph Caster, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Kolodin, Triumph Caster, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Alacrian Quickbeasts (White/Green): The Quickbeasts are a team from Alacria, a plane connected to Avishkar via an Omenpath. The Alacrians have a bond to their beast mounts. However, following a tragedy in Alacria, the Quickbeasts' team leader, Caradora, had to leave Alacria with the mount Lagorin without a natural bond.

Caradora, Heart of Alacria, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Caradora, Heart of Alacria, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Speed Demons (Blue/Black): The Speed Demons are a haunted team of Duskmourn's fiercest competitors. Led by Winter, Cursed Rider, who made a deal with Valgavoth for his freedom, the Speed Demons would, no doubt, spell catastrophe for the Multiverse.

Winter, Cursed Rider, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Winter, Cursed Rider, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Keelhaulers (Blue/Red): A team of Chordatans (shark-folk) and other amphibious fish-folk. The Chordatans arrived on Avishkar via Omenpath as well and found themselves as apex predators of the seas and shorelines of the plane. The Avishkari air pirate Kari enlisted the Keelhaulers team for reasons yet unknown to us.

Captain Howler, Sea Scourge, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Captain Howler, Sea Scourge, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Aether Rangers (Blue/Green): The Aether Rangers are a team of freedom-loving Avishkari citizens and are the plane's main representative team for the Second Ghirapur Grand Prix. Led by Pia Nalaar, Chandra's mother, the Aether Rangers employ vehicles that can also soar through the skies.

Sita Varma, Masked Racer, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Sita Varma, Masked Racer, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Endriders (Black/Red): Hailing from Gastal, a plane that has gone through a post-apocalyptic water-war (Mad Max-style), the Endriders wish to attain glory in this race and find a way to bring peace and hydration to their home plane. Far Fortune, their leader, is fervent in this, her primary objective.

Far Fortune, End Boss, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Far Fortune, End Boss, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Speedbrood (Black/Green): Coming from a plane nobody can pronounce the name of, the Speedbrood are racing in the Ghirapur Grand Prix for similarly unknown reasons. Their team captain, Aatchik, is an insectoid Radian creature. The Speedbrood pilot symbiotic living vehicles also of an insectoid nature.
Goblin Rocketeers (Red/Green): The Goblin Rocketeers are led by two Goblins in service of the BOOSTGOD (all-caps): Redshift, who is new to the story, and Daretti,, a de-sparked Planeswalker who serves as co-captain and benefactor alike. They ultimately wish to free the BOOSTGOD from its dimensional trappings by breaking the physical velocity limit.

Redshift, Rocketeer Chief, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Redshift, Rocketeer Chief, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Mechanics of Aetherdrift

Aetherdrift provides players with two new mechanics: Exhaust and "Start your engines!".

Exhaust is an ability word that simply means you can only activate the ability in question once per game. However, blink effects like Conjurer's Closet or Cloudshift can mitigate this, because it's once per game per object.

"Start your engines!" is a linked ability that sets your "speed" to 1. Many cards in this set care about achieving max speed, which is 4, and have payoffs for this. To raise your speed by 1 after starting your engines, your opponents must lose 1 or more life in one of your given turns.

It doesn't matter how much life they lose; when it happens you raise your speed by 1. This will also only happen once per turn.

Additionally, cycling is a returning mechanic, which only makes sense. Cycling is an activated ability that lets you draw a card by discarding the cycling card and paying a cost besides that discard. Occasionally, cycling cards have a payoff as well.

Basri, Tomorrow's Champion, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Basri, Tomorrow's Champion, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Other New Cards

Here is a list of the other cards previewed during Magic's WeeklyMTG stream!

Apocalypse Runner, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Apocalypse Runner, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Boommobile, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Boommobile, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Boosted Sloop, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Boosted Sloop, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Bulwark Ox, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Bulwark Ox, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Cloudspire Skycycle, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Cloudspire Skycycle, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Cryptcaller Chariot, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Cryptcaller Chariot, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Guidelight Pathmaker, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Guidelight Pathmaker, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Lagorin, Soul of Alacria, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Lagorin, Soul of Alacria, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Loot, the Pathfinder, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Loot, the Pathfinder, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Night Market, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Night Market, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Rangers' Aetherhive, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Rangers' Aetherhive, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Rocketeer Boostbuggy, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Rocketeer Boostbuggy, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

The Last Ride, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — The Last Ride, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Thunderous Velocipede, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Thunderous Velocipede, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

Vnwxt, Verbose Host, one of the new cards from MTGDFT. — Vnwxt, Verbose Host, one of the new cards from *MTGDFT*.

New Land Cycles

An incredible new set of rare dual lands has appeared! Conditionally active when in control of certain basics, as well as "vehicle lands" that become crewable/saddleable creatures with an additional cost.

New Booster Fun Treatments

As we are in the era of Booster Fun in Magic: The Gathering, it's only natural that Aetherdrift get in on the action! Here are a couple of examples of Booster Fun treatments you can find in the set:

Special Guests

Special Guests make a welcome return with the reveal of Chrome Mox in borderless and First Place Treatment. Get your piggy bank ready for action!

First Place

Boxes of Aetherdrift will contain a Box Topper wherein you can find cards with the First Place treatment. These are metallic, gold-treated cards and look far better in person than in the renders below. There are also more than just basic lands with this treatment, but those remain to be seen:

An Island in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of Aetherdrift. — An Island in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of *Aetherdrift*.

A Swamp in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of Aetherdrift. — A Swamp in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of *Aetherdrift*.

A Mountain in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of Aetherdrift. — A Mountain in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of *Aetherdrift*.

A Forest in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of Aetherdrift. — A Forest in the First Place treatment, found in Box Toppers of *Aetherdrift*.

New dual lands with First Place treatment.

Rude Riders

This treatment hearkens back to the crunchy hot-rod art of Ed Roth and his Rat Fink series. Many cards will have this treatment, though at the time of writing we've only seen this one:

You can find the Rude Riders treatment interspersed in Aetherdrift packs!

Borderless Art

As per the usual, you can also find borderless cards in Aetherdrift!

Aatchik, Emerald Radian, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Aatchik, Emerald Radian, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Captain Howler, Sea Scourge, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Captain Howler, Sea Scourge, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Zahur, Glory's Past, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Zahur, Glory's Past, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Winter, Cursed Rider, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Winter, Cursed Rider, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Vnwxt, Verbose Host, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Vnwxt, Verbose Host, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Thunderous Velocipede, an Aetherdrift borderless card. — Thunderous Velocipede, an *Aetherdrift* borderless card.

Aetherdrift Face Commanders

Finally, let's talk Commander for a moment. There are two Commander precons this time around, one a white-blue-black Zombie deck and the other a blue-red-green Energy build. Here are the commanders of the Zombie deck:

Temmet, Naktamun's Will, a new card from the Aetherdrift Commander precon "Eternal Might". — Temmet, Naktamun's Will, a new card from the *Aetherdrift* Commander precon "Eternal Might".

Hashaton, Scarab's Fist, a new card from the Aetherdrift Commander precon "Eternal Might". — Hashaton, Scarab's Fist, a new card from the *Aetherdrift* Commander precon "Eternal Might".

Finally, here are the cards from the Energy deck:

Saheeli, Radiant Creator, a card from the Aetherdrift Commander precon "Living Energy". — Saheeli, Radiant Creator, a card from the *Aetherdrift* Commander precon "Living Energy".

Pia Nalaar, Chief Engineer, a card from the Aetherdrift Commander precon "Living Energy". — Pia Nalaar, Chief Engineer, a card from the *Aetherdrift* Commander precon "Living Energy".

Vroom Vroom, Photo Finish

The new set releases on February 14th, just in time for Valentine's Day! Are you excited for Aetherdrift? Do any of these new cards catch your attention as a deck builder? How do you feel about the storyline for the new set? Sound off below!