Aether Adept
Creature — Human Wizard
When this creature enters, return target creature to its owner's hand.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Magic 2012
- Price
- $0.17
- EDHREC rank
- #12262
Aether Adept enters the battlefield and bounces a creature — that's the whole card, and in most contexts a 2/2 body stapled to a Unsummon for three mana is a fair but unremarkable rate. The ceiling jumps sharply when Aluren or Inalla, Archmage Ritualist turns repeated enters-the-battlefield triggers into an engine, but outside those shells it's a role-player, not a staple.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist triggers off every Wizard that enters the battlefield, which means Aether Adept nets a free hasted copy on arrival — two bounce triggers for the price of one, and with enough mana or cost-reduction effects that loop becomes a full board clear before opponents can rebuild.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Aether Adept earns its slot exactly once: in Inalla, Archmage Ritualist lists where the Wizard type and enters-the-battlefield trigger combine into a repeatable bounce engine. Outside of dedicated Wizard or Aluren combo shells, the three-mana ask for a single bounce is too expensive at a table where the average threat costs four or more. In Pauper, Aether Adept sees fringe play in tempo and flicker strategies where common-card restrictions make the rate more acceptable. Legacy and Vintage have Snapcaster Mage, Man-o'-War, and bounce spells that cost one — Aether Adept doesn't compete. The card is format-legal in both but effectively invisible there.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
AlurenMolten EchoesAether Adept
Infinite creature tokens with haste; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Dream HallsConspiracy TheoristPetals of InsightAether Adept
Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite magecraft triggers; Infinite self-discard triggers; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.17 bulk tier
At $0.17, Aether Adept is deep bulk — you'll find copies in any common box at any game store. Price stability is essentially guaranteed since the card sees no meaningful competitive demand, so there's no reason to buy in quantity or trade around it.
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Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.