once aetherling hits he's a clock. One that is VERY hard to deal with. in about 90% of the situations where he hits the board, your opponent's only option is to race it, which can be tough since aetherling himself can both attack and block very well.
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I got one in my main, and another on sideboard. You know, 2 when it comes about control decks and 0 against aggro. Definitely, the guy is awesome, and a nice way to say GG against control and midrange decks
It is mana intensive, yes, but as a control player, you shall evaluate how much mana to spend on your creature to attack, block and exile, so you still have free mana for responses, or even bluffing (I usually let 2 free U in case they wanted to kill it after the returning-to-battlefield from-exile ability resolves.
I really don't get the debate. Aetherling is an amazing control deck finisher. This is a decent breakdown:
1. Aetherling does not require protection in the form of cards spent. He only requires mana spent, so you keep your other cards for future answers.
2. Aetherling is unblockable. This makes him an amazing clock. He can also kill Planeswalkers with up to 8 loyalty already in one combat step.
3. He can pump offense/defense. Ok, so combat doesn't use the stack anymore (which sucks) but whatevs. Pumping for a possible of 8 attack power that is unblockable each turn can kill most non Sphinx/Thragtusk players in 3 short attack steps. Can definitely snipe Planswalkers (see above).
4. His exile effect can give him vigilance. Attack, untap for blocks (and possible pump to kill etc) kind of silliness. Need to sweep the board again? Sure, Aetherling exiles himself and saves himself from the sweep then comes back at your end step (to block haste guys if needed).
5. Aetherling can't be killed (unless your asleep). I'm pretty sure immune to removal is powerful.
Doesn't impact the board right NOW counterarguement. Fair enough, for all the drones spouting it. I get it, he's not Angel of Serenity. But for 7 mana you get an unkillable, unblockable, opponent killing, Planeswalker sniping Neo-Superman with synergy with sweepers and pseudo-vigilance.
I mean, what exactly do you want in a Blue Control finisher? Oh yeah..........Flash duuuuuuuuh.
Why do you have a problem with that?
If its easily killed, and does nothing to impact the board, why the hell would I play it?
I put Aetherling as a single side board card this weekend in my Esper control deck and man he was incredible. He came in almost every round. I run a Ben Stark list that really goes all-in on mill. So when you win purely on mill, people bring in Pithing Needles/Elixir of Immortality/Psychic Spiral to stop your Drownyards/Jace. Just swap your 1 Jace with your 1 AEtherling and you throw them a curve ball. It fits well with esper as a sideboard option because just like Drownyard, AEtherling has great inevitability. When cast late in the game, he is quite literally an unstoppable creature. Sure you can slow him down...but he will eventually win as long as you're smart with your mana.
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Turn 4 Aetherling with U open for protection? yes please. 10 lands to your opponent at 6? Yup. Rev for 7 on turn 7? sure. Build this deck and try it. Its pretty good. Rangers path speeds up the deck to the point that most other decks are just over powered by the Powah of Bant!
I put Aetherling as a single side board card this weekend in my Esper control deck and man he was incredible. He came in almost every round. I run a Ben Stark list that really goes all-in on mill. So when you win purely on mill, people bring in Pithing Needles/Elixir of Immortality/Psychic Spiral to stop your Drownyards/Jace. Just swap your 1 Jace with your 1 AEtherling and you throw them a curve ball. It fits well with esper as a sideboard option because just like Drownyard, AEtherling has great inevitability. When cast late in the game, he is quite literally an unstoppable creature. Sure you can slow him down...but he will eventually win as long as you're smart with your mana.
Well yes, see, Aetherling meets one of the requirements - he isn't easy to kill at all. In fact, if you play it right your opponent would need a ton of removal spells at instant speed to get rid of him. So that wasn't a point against Aetherling so much as it was for evaluating cards by impact on board + resilience.
People who say he sucks aren't playing control decks, and in many cases have never seen a good control deck in the hands of a good control player.
I'm talking REAL control. A draw-go deck consisting almost entirely of counters, sweepers, removal, draw, and 2-4 win-cons. Aetherling is a card that wants you to go to 15+ turns and then win at your leisure whenever you happen to draw him.
Back in the day, there were a lot of decks that played that way, but right now with creatures having such a low CC, so many great abilities, so much haste, and many uncounterable creatures and spells, it's very hard to play true control. Instead, people are mostly playing ramp decks that aim to survive the first 4-5 turns, and then drop a couple of game-ending bombs. Aetherling isn't very good in those decks, because by the time you can play him, the game is over. At best, he's win-more.
As a control player at heart, I'm honestly ok with this. Control being so uncommon means people aren't usually prepared for it and some of the most fun and important cards, like aetherling, are a few bucks instead of $25. Also, as much as I love control, the mirror is a nightmare and goes to time too often, so I kind of want to be the only control guy in the room. As long as it's reasonably competitive (as in, I can go 3-1 or better more often than not with it), I'm happy. Winning lots is fun, but for me it's way more fun to irritate good players by beating them with something that should be unplayable, like door to nothingness.
Card is fine, not amazing, and honestly is complete trash in current standard, but that is really just a product of the environment. He's doing work in block, though, so there is hope.
EDIT: And this is coming from a control player at heart. Psychatog was my jam. I just don't see this being good until the format slows way down.
Isn't that the only argument people can use though?
If they can't use the old "Dies to removal" Then they use "Well it doesn't impact the board."
Well, it's just that everyone's getting used to spells being stapled onto creatures now. If it doesn't have an ETB trigger, it's not "good".
I think Aetherling is awesome. The only problem is that his home is being shunned by R&D. Control decks that want him are nowhere near tier 1. Aggro decks don't want him because he's too mana intensive. I think they did this in an attempt to mitigate the frustration they've caused to blue players with power creep, but to no avail because control isn't a thing right now. So much for control actually being the most interactive archetype of all.
I hope that this list isn't ranking each card in a vacuum. Morphling saw play in an era where damage stacked, that alone should make it the best.
ah, yes. i wasn't playing during morphling's tenure in standard and i wan't sure how good it was during its time, although i've heard it dominated. so i essentially ranked aetherling in the 1 slot due to its ability to dodge any removal.
People are actually finishing highly in events with Craw Wurms. The power level of other creatures in this format...well, it's not as high as it looks.
He doesn't help stabilize, control is having trouble controlling atm.
He's the best finisher arguably ever printed though. He's basically impossible to deal with 3 turn clock for 7. Normally you have to jump through loop holes and get a prog or emrakul in play for that type of clock. Oh except aetherling is actually harder to kill than those two.
Aetherling is the best homage to original morphling yet, they made him harder to kill and took away the need to recast him in exchange for the fact that combat damage does indeed no longer use the stack.
I'm starting to doubt that Aetherling *is* a control creature. I think Wizards intended him to fit into a U/G ramp deck. He is awesome with evolve creatures -- he *does* affect the board when he hits and all your creatures get bigger, then he bounces to do it again. And it's easy to cast him with protection mana open if you cast him off of a Plasm Capture.
This guy is the intended finisher for Simic ramp and aggro. Which means he could fit right into Bant also.
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I wonder if / when Aetherling takes it's place in standard, if it will make a fringe card like blind obedience into a real player. It would keep an attacking Aetherling from from being able to block as well. It would shut off flash blockers like advent of the wurm and a voice of resurgence token, not to mention obzedat not being able to return from exile and attack. Its a stretch but it seems like it could be in the running along side pithing needle to combat aetherling just taking over a game.
With the number of quite aggressive decks around that can easily kill you before turn 7 (because you aren't tapping out on turn 6 for 'Ling).
If you watched the Block PT coverage, you saw AEtherling do some stuff, so quite possibly he will be much better in 5 months.
If you sit for 6 turns Vs any Aggro deck with no interaction, it's a builder or pilot error and has nothing to do with the CC on Aetherling. Beating Aggro is about interacting on turns 2,3,4 successfully. Part of using any card properly is actually building a deck that .. u know .. does something useful.
If you charm, block, unsummon, lifegain, wrath THEN cast Aetherling on turn 6/7, chances are you just BEAT aggro.
With the number of quite aggressive decks around that can easily kill you before turn 7 (because you aren't tapping out on turn 6 for 'Ling).
If you watched the Block PT coverage, you saw AEtherling do some stuff, so quite possibly he will be much better in 5 months.
You can't compare block to Standard. It never really pans out. If that was the case they would have banned Intangible Virtue + lingering souls like they did in Innistrad block constructed because it was insanely OP. Syncopate and counterspells can actually be effective due to the format being slower and the lack of caverns.
As for Aetherling... he is the control creature that Standard deserves but not the one it needs right now.
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To the people that say that a card needs to be a higher rarity because of Limited... I hate you guys so much. I present to you with this.
Love this guy so far. I'm sure they will print some kind of safe hold as blind obedience doesn't seem like quite enough, albeit a good tech to think about, maybe even for this weekend. Obedience will do double duty against aristocrats and blitz, and randomly hurt maybe an all in aetherling esper deck or bant mirror. It's in my SB currently, but could be better than Sigarda right now.
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It is mana intensive, yes, but as a control player, you shall evaluate how much mana to spend on your creature to attack, block and exile, so you still have free mana for responses, or even bluffing (I usually let 2 free U in case they wanted to kill it after the returning-to-battlefield from-exile ability resolves.
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1. Aetherling does not require protection in the form of cards spent. He only requires mana spent, so you keep your other cards for future answers.
2. Aetherling is unblockable. This makes him an amazing clock. He can also kill Planeswalkers with up to 8 loyalty already in one combat step.
3. He can pump offense/defense. Ok, so combat doesn't use the stack anymore (which sucks) but whatevs. Pumping for a possible of 8 attack power that is unblockable each turn can kill most non Sphinx/Thragtusk players in 3 short attack steps. Can definitely snipe Planswalkers (see above).
4. His exile effect can give him vigilance. Attack, untap for blocks (and possible pump to kill etc) kind of silliness. Need to sweep the board again? Sure, Aetherling exiles himself and saves himself from the sweep then comes back at your end step (to block haste guys if needed).
5. Aetherling can't be killed (unless your asleep). I'm pretty sure immune to removal is powerful.
Doesn't impact the board right NOW counterarguement. Fair enough, for all the drones spouting it. I get it, he's not Angel of Serenity. But for 7 mana you get an unkillable, unblockable, opponent killing, Planeswalker sniping Neo-Superman with synergy with sweepers and pseudo-vigilance.
I mean, what exactly do you want in a Blue Control finisher? Oh yeah..........Flash duuuuuuuuh.
If its easily killed, and does nothing to impact the board, why the hell would I play it?
I put Aetherling as a single side board card this weekend in my Esper control deck and man he was incredible. He came in almost every round. I run a Ben Stark list that really goes all-in on mill. So when you win purely on mill, people bring in Pithing Needles/Elixir of Immortality/Psychic Spiral to stop your Drownyards/Jace. Just swap your 1 Jace with your 1 AEtherling and you throw them a curve ball. It fits well with esper as a sideboard option because just like Drownyard, AEtherling has great inevitability. When cast late in the game, he is quite literally an unstoppable creature. Sure you can slow him down...but he will eventually win as long as you're smart with your mana.
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2 Detention Sphere
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Turn 4 Aetherling with U open for protection? yes please. 10 lands to your opponent at 6? Yup. Rev for 7 on turn 7? sure. Build this deck and try it. Its pretty good. Rangers path speeds up the deck to the point that most other decks are just over powered by the Powah of Bant!
Well yes, see, Aetherling meets one of the requirements - he isn't easy to kill at all. In fact, if you play it right your opponent would need a ton of removal spells at instant speed to get rid of him. So that wasn't a point against Aetherling so much as it was for evaluating cards by impact on board + resilience.
I'm talking REAL control. A draw-go deck consisting almost entirely of counters, sweepers, removal, draw, and 2-4 win-cons. Aetherling is a card that wants you to go to 15+ turns and then win at your leisure whenever you happen to draw him.
Back in the day, there were a lot of decks that played that way, but right now with creatures having such a low CC, so many great abilities, so much haste, and many uncounterable creatures and spells, it's very hard to play true control. Instead, people are mostly playing ramp decks that aim to survive the first 4-5 turns, and then drop a couple of game-ending bombs. Aetherling isn't very good in those decks, because by the time you can play him, the game is over. At best, he's win-more.
As a control player at heart, I'm honestly ok with this. Control being so uncommon means people aren't usually prepared for it and some of the most fun and important cards, like aetherling, are a few bucks instead of $25. Also, as much as I love control, the mirror is a nightmare and goes to time too often, so I kind of want to be the only control guy in the room. As long as it's reasonably competitive (as in, I can go 3-1 or better more often than not with it), I'm happy. Winning lots is fun, but for me it's way more fun to irritate good players by beating them with something that should be unplayable, like door to nothingness.
Because aetherling is AMAZING.
1. aetherling
2. morphling
3. thornling
4. torchling
now if we only had a white and a black version. i love this cycle of creatures:p
Well, see, check the criteria.
Aetherling is not easy to kill, so he fits.
EDIT: And this is coming from a control player at heart. Psychatog was my jam. I just don't see this being good until the format slows way down.
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I hope that this list isn't ranking each card in a vacuum. Morphling saw play in an era where damage stacked, that alone should make it the best.
There's also Windreaver, it's not a "ling" but it's in the same family of creatures.
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Well, it's just that everyone's getting used to spells being stapled onto creatures now. If it doesn't have an ETB trigger, it's not "good".
I think Aetherling is awesome. The only problem is that his home is being shunned by R&D. Control decks that want him are nowhere near tier 1. Aggro decks don't want him because he's too mana intensive. I think they did this in an attempt to mitigate the frustration they've caused to blue players with power creep, but to no avail because control isn't a thing right now. So much for control actually being the most interactive archetype of all.
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ah, yes. i wasn't playing during morphling's tenure in standard and i wan't sure how good it was during its time, although i've heard it dominated. so i essentially ranked aetherling in the 1 slot due to its ability to dodge any removal.
He's the best finisher arguably ever printed though. He's basically impossible to deal with 3 turn clock for 7. Normally you have to jump through loop holes and get a prog or emrakul in play for that type of clock. Oh except aetherling is actually harder to kill than those two.
Aetherling is the best homage to original morphling yet, they made him harder to kill and took away the need to recast him in exchange for the fact that combat damage does indeed no longer use the stack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-R7BPPvCSUc
This guy is the intended finisher for Simic ramp and aggro. Which means he could fit right into Bant also.
Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass slaughter can be hilarious.
If you watched the Block PT coverage, you saw AEtherling do some stuff, so quite possibly he will be much better in 5 months.
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If you sit for 6 turns Vs any Aggro deck with no interaction, it's a builder or pilot error and has nothing to do with the CC on Aetherling. Beating Aggro is about interacting on turns 2,3,4 successfully. Part of using any card properly is actually building a deck that .. u know .. does something useful.
If you charm, block, unsummon, lifegain, wrath THEN cast Aetherling on turn 6/7, chances are you just BEAT aggro.
You can't compare block to Standard. It never really pans out. If that was the case they would have banned Intangible Virtue + lingering souls like they did in Innistrad block constructed because it was insanely OP. Syncopate and counterspells can actually be effective due to the format being slower and the lack of caverns.
As for Aetherling... he is the control creature that Standard deserves but not the one it needs right now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8h2vp5Xis