Aetherborn

Aetherborn Outside Kaladesh

How could the aetherborn exist on a place besides Kaladesh?

Aether is not unique to Kaladesh.

Aetherborn Kaladesh

Aetherborn's Black Nature Explained

What makes Aetherborn Black rather than Red?

They have a vampiric nature, draining others to live longer. I do think we could make red Aetherborn on a different world.

Aetherborn Black Red

Aetherborn Origins

Hi Mark! It's my birthday today so I thought I'd ask about my favorite newer creature type, any fun stories or facts about Aetherborn?

The Aetherborn came about because the world didn’t want Zombies, so we were looking for what are main black creature type could be. We started examining how each color interacted with aether in the story (what was energy mechanically) and came up with the idea of creatures that got created out of the aether. Happy Birthday!

Aetherborn Birthday Black Colors Creatures Story / Lore Zombie

Creature Type Love

I just wanted to voice how much I love both Azra and Aetherborn as creature types. I just saw how Kylem was rates as an 8 on the Rabiah scale, I hope that doesn't mean we won't be getting more Azra named characters in the future. Luckily due to Omenpaths there's a little more flexibility, as we can have one-offs show up on different planes.

I think we’ll see other Aetherborn and Azra.

Aetherborn Azra Creatures Omenpaths Planes Rabiah Scale

Pronouns on Cards

Heya Mark! I was wondering if design has considered including preferred pronouns on the cards of legendary creatures and planeswalkers? As a trans gal myself, it can be a little frustrating hearing people (usually accidentally) misgender nonbinary characters or even just characters who don't dress traditionally masculine or feminine (some examples I hear it often with are Ashiok, Niko, aetherborn in general, and Jaxis). Heck, when playing with new cards, it'd be really nice to not have to dig through story articles and wiki pages to find put how to refer to the new characters. I can understand wanting to limit the amount of non-gameplay information on cards, but it'd be a nice touch!

We use gendered pronouns on planeswalkers. Using them on legendary creatures is a topic that comes up frequently.

Aetherborn Creatures Legendary Creatures Planeswalkers Story / Lore

Interest in Aetherborn

For what it's worth, I'd also like to advocate for more aetherborn. I understand they're a difficult race to put in a set, but I think they are very interesting and cool.

I think we’ll include more if we find a place where they make sense.

Aetherborn

Aetherborn Popularity

We're aetherborn unpopular? You never did them again after kaladesh and I thought their flavor was cool and interesting especially for black. Yahenni was a cool character too.

The Aetherborn were popular. They’re just not an easy race to put on other planes.

Aetherborn Black Flavor Kaladesh Planes

Creature Type Poll

Mark,

I wanted to double back with the results of the ask you put out regarding which creature types are in need of some love for our decks. Just like in previous years, I only counted the first 3 creature types if people put multiple types in (I don't have ALL day to do this...) and I only counted creature types that have cards for them in Magic - requesting new creature types is for another ask. With all that in mind...

Dwarves came in first this year with 6 votes!There was then a 5-way tie for second at 4 between Aetherborn, Druids, Myr, Skeleton, and Treefolk. Werewolves and Constructs each got 3 votes.

The people have spoken!

Thanks for doing this.

Aetherborn Construct Creatures Druid Dwarf Myr Skeleton Treefolk

Set Diversity Possibility

With Omenpaths existing, is it possible to have a set with Satyrs, Aetherborn, Myr, Inkling, Demigod, Moonfolk, etc?

It makes such a thing possible.

Aetherborn Demigod Inkling Moonfolk Myr Omenpaths Satyr

Innovative creature types

Some of the coolest creature types in Magic may be the ones that are invented by Magic — atogs, llhurgoyfs, etc. WotC occasionally adds new novel creature types, but not terribly often. Aetherborn are the only example that sticks out to me from recent years. Does creative actively look for opportunities to invent new creature types? Do they carry much more risk than existing types?

We like a mix. Existing things are resonant, but new things are novel. Obviously, we lean towards the resonant side.

Aetherborn Atog Creatures Wizards of the Coast

Aetherborn Mechanic Fit

Do you think in a return to Kaladesh we might see Aetherborn with the fading/vanishing mechanic? To me it feels like a nice place flavour-wise for both the mechanic and the creature type. Also some synergy with proliferating and maybe gaining counters when killing or damaging units

It’s a great flavor fit in a vacuum.

Aetherborn Creatures Fading Flavor Kaladesh Mechanics Vanishing

Race Adaptability

One of my favourite things in MTG is seeing new takes on old favourites. So my question is : What are the odds of a plane-specific race appearing in other planes in a completely different flavour? Aetherborn off of Kaladesh, Myr off of Mirrodin, Moonfolk off Kamigawa, or something similar?

When making new worlds, we look for opportunities to use Magic creature types known for one world.

Aetherborn Creatures Flavor Kaladesh Mirrodin Moonfolk Myr Planes

Creature Types and Planes

Are plane-specific creatures (ex. Satyr - Theros, Myr - Mirrodin, Aetherborn - Kaladesh, etc.) a 10 outside their home planes in the Beeble Scale?

Not necessarily. Some creatures originally unique to one plane have shown up on other planes.

Aetherborn Beeble Scale Creatures Kaladesh Mirrodin Myr Planes Satyr Theros

Aetherborn Alignment

Would it make sense for aetherborn to be in red, since they have such short lives they try and act on impulse and emotion and not waste the little time they have?

I think on another world with a slightly different take, the Aetherborn could have been red.

Act on Impulse Aetherborn Red

Potential Vedalken Appearance Soon

Can we see vedalken on a new plane in an upcoming set? They're easier to justify than aetherborn, and they haven't had a set be a good fit for them in a while. Here's hoping for New Capenna, maybe?

There might be a Vedalken in 2022. : )

Aetherborn Humor Vedalken

Kaladesh's Current Place on Rabiah scale

With all this talk of aetherborn, I am wondering where Kaladesh is on the Rabiah scale. It went from 3 to 5 to 6 between 2016 and 2020. Any change?

I’d say it’s still a 6.

Aetherborn Kaladesh Rabiah Scale

Affection for Aetherborn

I personally LOVED the aetherborn. Their concept, aesthetic, the lore behind them, all comes together for something that beautifully fits Kaladesh and is such a cool take on monoblack

I loved them too. It’s just hard to do them off of Kaladesh.

Aetherborn Kaladesh Story / Lore

Aetherborn Popularity

Hey Mark, how popular would you say the aetherborn were? And do you think there's a good chance of seeing them again?

They were relatively popular, especially among enfranchised players, but they are creatively pretty tied to Kaladesh.

Aetherborn Experienced / Enfranchised Players Kaladesh

Card Names and Reprinting Limitations

Do you guys pay attention to how card names and types might limit how and when those cards could be reprinted? (Ex. You couldn’t reprint an aetherborn in a Tarkir set, even if it’s an otherwise perfect fit.)

We do try to give more general effects more repeatable names.

Aetherborn Card Names Reprints

EDH Creature Type Request Results

Mark,

I thought you might be interested in the results of the Great EDH Creature Type Request of 2021! I compiled all the votes from the comments of that ask and tallied them up for you! If people voted for more than one tribe, I took their first THREE tribes they listed and did not include any tribes that don't have cards in Magic as I feel that is a different discussion. So.. without further ado... your top tribes that need help in EDH according to the Scientific Fact of your Readers' Opinion are:

1. Myrs (14)T-2. Angels (12)T-2. Dwarves (12)T-4. Beasts (11)T-4. Werewolves (11)6. Minotaurs (9)7. Skeletons (8)T-8. Insects (7)T-8. Oozes (7)T-10. Horrors, Ninjas, Orcs, Thallids, and Sphinx (6)Satyrs and Spiders received 5 votes apiece, Aetherborn, Faeries, and Fungus each got 4 votes. There were a slew after that at 3 and 2.

According to EDHRec, Angels are the most popular tribe in need of help ranking 13th in tribal decks. Dwarves were second most popular at 28th and Sphinx was third at 30th! So I guess... bring on the Myr decks! I will try to do this again next October.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

FYIThanks so much for compiling this.

Aetherborn Angel Beast Commander Creatures Dwarf Faerie Fungus Horror Insect Kindred / Typal Minotaur Myr Ninjas Ooze Orc Satyr Skeleton Sphinx Spider