Aetherdrift (DFT) Limited Set Review: Red

If you’re looking for a Tune Up, look no further! I’ll be breaking down every Aetherdrift card to get you a head start with the new set! For those interested, J2SJosh is still in my basement, and he has been rewarded for good behavior! Keep up the good work, basement buddy!

5.0: Disgustingly powerful and basically unbeatable. Either answer it the turn it comes down or just pack up your cards. (Gruff Triplets, Virtue of Persistence, The Eternal Wanderer)

4.5: Incredible bomb that still gives your opponent a slim chance. (Virtue of Loyalty, Imodane's Recruiter, Realm-Scorcher Hellkite)

4.0: Great rare or the absolute best uncommons and removal. (Faunsbane Troll, Gumdrop Poisoner, Talion’s Messenger)

3.5: Great role filler or removal that you never cut. (Candy Grapple, Hearth Elemental, Torch the Tower)

3.0: Good playable that I’m basically never cutting. (Shrouded Shepherd, Spellscorn Coven, Sharae of Numbing Depths)

2.5: Decent playable and the bar I hope nearly every card in my deck to reach. (Evolving Wilds, Archon's Glory, Flick a Coin)

2.0: Mediocre filler that normally is your 20-23rd card(s). (Mintstrosity, Ice Out, Grabby Giant)

1.5: Replaceable, overall bad filler. Could also be decent sideboard cards. (Titanic Growth, Scarecrow Guide, Territorial Witchstalker)

1.0: Bad filler. Gets cut most of the time. (Dark Tutelage, Kindled Heroism, Impact Tremors)

0.5: Very unhappy to main deck this, but maybe it has fringe sideboard applications. Cards that “could” be situationally decent, but bad in most situations. (Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, Mana Flare)

0.0: Unplayable in every possible situation. They rarely print cards this bad these days. (Hew the Entwood, One with Nothing)

Adrenaline Jockey

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A solid 3 drop with incidental value. The 4 damage trigger works against yourself as well, so keep that in mind.

Boommobile

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

By itself, it likely will only pick off 1-2 toughness creatures most often. This pairs really nicely with other activated abilities to put the 4 mana into immediately, saving the exhaust for later in the game.

Burner Rocket

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This can work as either a combat trick, or way to push more damage. It’s easy to crew, and great for aggressive decks.

Burnout Bashtronaut

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This is one of the quickest and most reliable ways to get to max speed. It can even be a decent top deck if you have plenty of extra mana to pump him. Also, ‘Bashtronaut’ is a pretty sweet name.

Chandra, Spark Hunter

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This isn’t the most impactful Planeswalker, but it’s still a Planeswalker. It doesn’t do a great job of protecting itself, but the loyalty is high enough that you should be able to survive until the following turn.

Clamorous Ironclad

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is pretty poor for your average deck. It’s definitely a solid option for an Izzet cycling deck, though.

Count on Luck

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

I think this can be a good finisher for red aggressive decks. Triple red mana cost makes it difficult to place in just any deck, it’s easier to think of it as a 5-6 drop.

Crash and Burn

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This does feel a tad expensive to be premium removal, but it should take care of most any creature/vehicle around. It’s fine to put in most any red decks.

Daretti, Rocketeer Engineer

Rating: 1.0 // 5.0

This is mostly unplayable, outside of pairing it with a couple big artifacts that can put themselves in the graveyard like, Detention Chariot, or Valor's Flagship.

Draconautics Engineer

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

4 mana for a 4/4 flyer is still very strong. The extra exhaust is just a bonus.

Dracosaur Auxiliary

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is powerful, but it’s still pretty slow, and the saddle cost is a bit steep. It can be a good top end card, but is likely too slow for the hyper aggressive red builds.

Dynamite Diver

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I’d only be interested in playing this in a turbo aggressive deck, that needs 1 drops.

Endrider Catalyzer

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A solid aggressive 2 drop with relevant max speed bonus.

Endrider Spikespitter

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This one’s a bit awkward. It’s a defensive creature that gives a bonus if you’re aggressive. It’s playable in your average mid range builds, but it it’s not very exciting to me.

Fuel the Flames

Rating: SB // 5.0

You can main deck this in a cycling build, but it’s best out of the sideboard.

Full Throttle

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This looks so appealing, but it’s a dead card during the vast majority of games. Either you’re behind, don’t have good attacks, or can’t pay the mana for it. If you’re a dreamer, jam this and don’t look back, but I won’t be.

Gastal Blockbuster

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

If there were better sacrifice outlets, I’d be a bit more pumped on this guy. He will be a vanilla 3/2 most of the time, the other times he will likely sac himself to kill a random vehicle.

Gastal Thrillroller

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is solid in aggressive red decks, but can be pretty awkward on defense.

Gilded Ghoda

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

If you need 2 drops, this works. I wouldn’t expect this to make many treasures though.

Goblin Surveyor

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a fine filler card for speed decks.

Greasewrench Goblin

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This one is a bit stronger than you’d expect. It can get in some early hits, and won’t trade with 1 power creatures. The exhaust ability being instant speed, gives this card a lot of flexibility.

Hazoret, Godseeker

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This card is an absolute menace if you have max speed, but can be underwhelming on the back foot. The activated ability is powerful, and helps you get to max speed at least.

Howlsquad Heavy

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

The newest version of Goblin Rabblemaster, which can easily take over a game of limited. Protip for the set: If your opponent is in a position to eat your 1/1 tokens, you can always tap them to crew a vehicle, instead of them being forced to attack.

Kickoff Celebrations

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I’m normally big on Thrill of Possibility effects, but I just don’t think this is the set for this one.

Lightning Strike

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

The classic 2 mana 3 damage removal spell. It’s still good.

Magmakin Artillerist

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Even in the cycling decks, this one leaves a lot to be desired. One small bonus is that you can use this card to level up your speed.

Marauding Mako

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is definitely a build-around card, reminiscent of Flourishing Fox. The big difference being the lack of Cycling 1 cards in this set for it to get big quickly.

Outpace Oblivion

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A nice removal spell that has a couple small bonuses, despite being sorcery speed.

Pacesetter Paragon

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Paying 6 mana for a 3/4 isn’t really a market I’m interested in, even if it can attack well 1 turn.

Pedal to the Metal

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This can be a cool 1-of trick in your hyper aggressive decks, hoping to use all of your mana on an unblocked creature to end the game.

Prowcatcher Specialist

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

A mediocre 2 drop that pairs well with exhaust synergies.

Push the Limit

Rating: 0.0 // 5.0

7 mana is far too expensive for a card that has a small chance to be good in a low % of games.

Reckless Velocitaur

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

You would need to have a lot of good targets for this to saddle/crew to consider putting this in your deck. Still, I’d try to avoid playing this card, if possible.

Road Rage

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a nice, cheap piece of removal, that scales up a bit throughout the game.

Skycrash

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a pretty decent utility card, working well in the cycling decks due to the low cycle cost.

Spire Mechcycle

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I think this is unplayable in most decks, and red doesn’t really have any decent mounts/vehicles that aren’t rare. But I’m not gonna write it off entirely, there’s probably a deck where it can be alright.

Thunderhead Gunner

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A big, defensive creature, that lets you loot every turn is more powerful than it looks. During a stalemate, this feels close to drawing 2 cards a turn, and it also provides an engine for the cycle deck.

Tyrox, Saurid Tyrant

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a solid beater, but will just trade with another 1-2 drops 9/10 times. But those games that you hit your opponent for 4 feel nice.

Top 3 Red Commons:

Thunderhead Gunner Lightning Strike Crash and Burn

Red is definitely lacking in the creature department, and consists mostly of mediocre 1-3 drops. It does have some solid aggressive cards, and decent removal. Stay tuned, we’re looking at Green next!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!