Magic: The Gathering – Aetherdrift Unboxed

Magic: The Gathering’s first major set of 2025 has arrived and Aetherdrift initially caught my eye with its blend of fantasy and cyberpunk aesthetic. The set promises a thrilling interplanar Grand Prix with some new and returning mechanics. A big thank you to Wizards of the Coast for sending out a media kit to unbox which contained a bundle kit and an Eternal Might commander deck.

The story for Aetherdrift, set two years after the Phyrexian Invasion, is once again available to read through on the official website. It revolves around the Ghirapur Grand Prix, a daring race across Avishkar, Amonkhet, and Muraganda for 10 unique teams, each with their own vehicles and riders.

The coveted prize is The Aetherspark, an artifact rumoured to ignite a Planeswalker spark. This premise offered immense potential for exploring diverse planes and character motivations. We see familiar faces like Chandra Nalaar, racing to restore Nissa’s spark, and her mother Pia, alongside newcomers like the ambitious Sita Varma and the enigmatic Winter. Even the sparkless Daretti makes an appearance, leading a band of stranded goblins.

Mechanically, Aetherdrift introduces “Start Your Engines,” a mechanic that rewards aggressive play by granting speed counters when opponents lose life. Once your speed reaches 4, you can trigger powerful “Max Speed” abilities. This, combined with the returning “Cycling” mechanic promotes fast-paced games where you have the option of trading a spell’s full potential for a card draw.

“Exhaust” abilities offer one-time boosts. If an exhaust ability of a permanent is activated, and then that permanent leaves the battlefield and returns to the battlefield, it becomes a new object so its exhaust ability can be activated again. If an ability triggers whenever you activate an exhaust ability, that ability resolves before the exhaust ability resolves. The inclusion of “Vehicles & Mounts” thematically ties into the racing them and coupled with full art lands offers some immersive glimpses into the diverse worlds of the set and the tracks the characters would be racing on.

The set’s biggest draw for me as a collector is always the artwork. The fusion of high fantasy with cyberpunk elements created a visually striking world. The vibrant cityscapes of Avishkar, the desolate beauty of Amonkhet, and the untamed wilds of Muraganda are all beautifully illustrated, showcasing the diverse styles of the participating artists. The character and vehicle designs blend traditional fantasy garb with futuristic tech and are very impressive, particularly the foil variants, and the full-art cards are always a treat to unwrap.

Once again, a big thank you to Wizards of the Coast for this Aetherdrift media kit and it’s available now in stores and within Magic: The Gathering Arena.

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