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Magic: The Gathering Launches Adrenaline-Fueled ‘Aetherdrift’ Collection With High-Octane Mechanics

The multiversal world of fantasy tabletop card game Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has brought about the likes of Transformers, My Little Pony, Fortnite, Stranger Things, Street Fighter, and even Hatsune Miku into the mix, but what happens when you combine the best of high-speed racing, revving some Speed Racer into Death Race, as you take pole position against Need For Speed, by way of Fast and the Furious, and with a ton of magic in tow? 

Well, that sound you’re hearing is Aetherdrift roaring to life, as MTG’s first-ever racing-themed set puts the pedal to the metal with the Ghirapur Grand Prix at its thrilling core, showcasing a high-stakes multiversal race like no other,  where speed, strategy, and story collide. From new mechanics to stunning artwork, Aetherdrift promises to push the boundaries of what Magic players expect.

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Though the set is built upon the race to the finish, the focus is entirely about the racers, of the worlds they come from and the deeply personal stakes that propel them forward, with none more so than Planeswalker Chandra Nalaar, who joins the Cloud Spire Racing Team on a mission close to her heart. Following the events of March of the Machine in 2023, Chandra’s companion, Nissa Revane, lost her Planeswalking powers which means that this race isn’t just about victory for Chandra, but a chance to restore what was lost and reignite the bond they once shared.

The 10 teams participating in Ghirapur Grand Prix are vying for the coveted Aether Spark, described as “a Planeswalker spark secured in a super-cooled aether solution”, explained Miguel Lopez, the Worldbuilding Design Lead for Aetherdrift, noting that “the ability to planeswalk remains a fascinating and exotic prize worth competing for.”

Set against the backdrop of three distinct planes – Avishkar, Amonkhet, and Muraganda – the story explores various characters, motivations, and environments. Avishkar, formerly known as Kaladesh, serves as the primary host of the Grand Prix, embodying a spirit of revolutionary hope and post-conflict reconstruction. Once ruled by a corrupt consulate, the plane is now governed by a People’s Assembly, seeking to assert itself as a major multiversal power. 

Amonkhet, scarred by past oppression and recent invasions, is represented by a team aiming to restore hope and unity among its people, while Muraganda, a primordial and untamed world, adds a wildcard element to the event, hosting stages fraught with natural dangers such as erupting volcanoes and massive dinosaurs.

The set introduces Start Your Engines, a new mechanic encouraging dynamic, tempo-based strategies that tie directly into the racing theme. Players can increase their speed once per turn through gameplay actions like causing opponents to lose life, with bonuses unlocked at maximum speed of four, which makes it sounds like Saga enchantments with extra aggression steps. Another notable mechanic, Exhaust, offers one-time, high-impact abilities, echoing the burst of acceleration seen in a race’s critical moments once you’ve paid the additional mana costs.

Players will encounter ten racing teams, each with unique motives and aesthetics:

  • The Guidelight Voyagers: An accidental team of interplanar explorers hoping to trigger a lucky anomaly that will return them home.
  • The Speed Demons: A team of possessed creatures from the plane of Duskmourne, led by the Valgovoth’s Chaperone Winter, who seek to win the Aether Spark for their master.
  • The Endriders: Survivors from the apocalyptic plane of Gastal, racing to find water for their dying home.
  • The Goblin Rocketeers: A team of goblin test pilots from a plane with a velocity limit, hoping to win the Aether Spark to prove their people can break through it.
  • The Alacrian Quickbeasts: A team representing the united districts of Alacria, led by a young and talented charioteer named Caradora.
  • The Speedbrood: A team of humanoid insects from the plane of Muraganda, who seek to become speed itself by sacrificing their bodies to become living vehicles.
  • The Aether Rangers: Avishkar’s flagship team, led by Sita Varma, a masked racer known for her aggression and daring.
  • The Keelhaulers: A team of shark pirates from the multiverse, led by Kari Zev, who joined the race to plunder and breathe aether.
  • The Cloud Spire Racing Team: The winners of the previous Grand Prix, led by Kolodin and Chandra, who are racing to re-spark Chandra’s girlfriend Nyssa.
  • The Champions of Amonkhet: A team of living and undead charioteers from Amonkhet, led by Zahur and Basri Ket, who are racing to rebuild their home plane.

Visual designs amplify these distinctions, with borderless cards and specialised treatments reflecting the personality and culture of each team.

Aetherdrift also includes two Commander decks:

  • Eternal Might: This deck focuses on white, blue, and black colours and uses the power of artifacts and vehicles to overwhelm opponents.
  • Living Energy: This deck utilises blue, red, and green colours to create a fast-paced, aggressive strategy that uses energy and creatures to deal damage.

Each deck includes two Legendary Creatures who can be used as commanders:

  • Temet, Naktamun’s Will: This zombie commander in the Eternal Might deck leads a horde of undead creatures, using their ability to discard themselves for value to create a powerful board state.
  • Hashatan, Scarab’s Fist: Another zombie commander in the Eternal Might deck, Hashatan focuses on discarding creatures to generate value, allowing you to play big creatures for cheap or even bring them back from the graveyard.
  • Saheeli, Radiant Creator: This blue and red artifact-focused commander in the Living Energy deck uses energy to create powerful effects, copying creatures, artifacts, and spells to overwhelm opponents.
  • Pia Nalaar, Chief Mechanic: This commander in the Living Energy deck works with energy and vehicles, allowing you to create a fast and efficient deck that can quickly attack and overwhelm opponents.

Collectors and players can also look forward to stunning new card treatments such as the Rev It Up art style, designed to highlight the swagger and personality of the racers. Gold foil box toppers and full-art driver’s seat lands are exclusive to this set as well. 

Senior Art Director at Wizards of the Coast Lisa Hansen, who oversees these features, remarked, “We really wanted something that resonated with the theme of racing and the spirit of competition.”

Previews and pre-orders for Aetherdrift have already begun. The set arrives on MTG Arena on 11 February and in tabletop stores on 14 February, making it a thrilling Valentine’s Day gift for Magic fans. Whether racing for glory, unraveling the lore, or collecting stunning cards, Aetherdrift launches as an exhilarating addition to the Magic universe, leaving the slow ones to suck on its exhaust.