Wizards of the Coast today launched prerelease events for Aetherdrift, the latest set for the world-renowned trading card game, Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Buckle up for a death race across the multiverse full of high-octane action and adrenaline-fueled Magic gameplay! Aetherdrift will be released for MTG Arena on 11 February and for tabletop on 14 February.
Aetherdrift: Too fast and dangerous for just one plane…
Get behind the wheel and strap into the driver’s seat, as the stakes are high in the multi-plane Ghirapur Grand Prix! The ultimate prize is an artificial Planeswalker Spark named the Aetherspark. None other than the legendary Planeswalker Chandra herself will be competing for first place as she seeks to claim the Aetherspark for her beloved Nissa, who lost her Spark during the events of March of the Machine. Can you handle the heat as you accelerate to Maximum Speed across Avishkar, Amonkhet, and Muraganda? Go for gold or go out in a ball of flames. But most importantly…go very, very fast.
Local WPN Stores Go Turbo with Aetherdrift New Play Season
Australian and New Zealand Wizards Play Network (WPN) stores are revving their engines to prepare for the Ghirapur Grand Prix Play Season! Running from now until 28 March, eligible events at participating WPN retailers will feature exclusive physical rewards. By playing multiple events throughout the season, players will build speed and receive better and better rewards. Players can search for their local WPN store and eligible events here.
By participating in eligible Aetherdrift in-store Prerelease events, Limited Draft and Sealed events, Standard events, and Friday Night Magic events, players can earn progressive rewards such as a peeking window sticker set of Chandra and Loot, racing patches, themed dice, a themed dice bag, and a license plate keychain to fit out your race-ready vehicle! Players must earn each reward in order by participating in four separate events throughout the Play Season.
You’re in the Driver’s Seat with new and returning Mechanics
Aetherdrift racers are encouraged to utilise all tools at their disposal to achieve glory. Soup up your ride and chances at victory with the brand new Max Speed mechanic! When a card instructs the player to “Start Your Engines” the player will begin tracking their speed level. On each of that player’s turns, when an opponent loses life, they gain one level of speed until reaching ‘Max Speed’. Various cards will interact with the player’s speed level, generally ramping in power as speed increases.
Generating speed leads to high-octane gameplay moments, but sometimes a once-off quick effect is needed to put a spanner in the opponent’s plans! Exhaust is a new mechanic in Aetherdrift and represents a one-shot effect that can only be activated once each game. Kick into high gear at a precise moment to chase down an opponent or solidify your lead in the race!
Not many racers can claim victory without a valiant Mount or sturdy Vehicle, so both are key returning mechanics in Aetherdrift. Racers will select between various high-tech or rudimentary vehicles and many-legged or no-legged mounts, all in the hope of achieving glory. What style of racer will you be when you take to the track?
Go for Gold in Aetherdrift!
Go fast, but look good doing it with Aetherdrift’s lineup of new card treatments and collectible cards that will have the crowds of the multiverse cheering for more.
The ultimate prize, the Aetherspark, will be available in an exclusive Serialised Full-Art, Borderless Foil treatment, with only 500 to be printed across all regions. Each card will display an X/500 denominator, only available in Magic: The Gathering Collector Boosters.
Show off your champion trophy with First-Place Box Toppers! Every Aetherdrift Play Booster Display and Collector Booster Display contains a First-Place Box Topper which contains one rare or mythic rare card in a new gold foil treatment, and one full-art Basic Land.
Giant artworks of Gods have been spotted along the race track. Don’t get distracted as you drive by these breathtaking Borderless Graffiti Giant cards, available in Magic: The Gathering Play and Collector Boosters.
Japan Showcase cards return with race-themed Japanese artwork drawn by Japanese artists, available in Foil and Fracture Foil treatments. Japan Showcase cards are exclusive to Magic: The Gathering Collector Boosters.
Take in the scenery as you cruise through multiple planes with new and returning land card varieties including the new Full-Art Panorama Basics (top row) and Full-Art Driver’s Seat Basic Lands (bottom right), and the returning Borderless Dual Lands (bottom left).
Magic: The Gathering: Aetherdrift includes Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, 2 Commander Decks, Prerelease Packs, Bundles, and Finish Line Bundles. For more information, visit: https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/aetherdrift.
You can attend Magic: The Gathering pre-release events at your local Wizards Play Network store from February 7th to 13th. To find your local WPN store, you can click on this link: https://locator.wizards.com/
