Gifted Aetherborn
Creature — Aetherborn Vampire
Deathtouch, lifelink
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Store Championships
- Price
- $0.53
- EDHREC rank
- #4597
Gifted Aetherborn puts a 2/3 deathtouch lifelink body on the board for two mana — that combination stops most early attackers cold and generates life for any payoff that cares about it. In a Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose deck, every point of lifelink damage it deals becomes a drain trigger on every opponent; the card earns its slot before you ever cast a spell.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose converts every point of lifelink into a drain trigger, so Gifted Aetherborn's deathtouch lifelink body is pulling double duty — it holds off attackers and pings the table simultaneously. Over half of all Vito decks run it, and that inclusion rate is deserved.
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor rewards getting through with combat damage, and a deathtouch creature is one of the cleanest ways to force profitable attacks — blockers either die or step aside. Gifted Aetherborn turns Gix's draw engine on reliably at a cost of two mana.
Edgar Markov
Edgar Markov generates a token every time you cast a Vampire, so Gifted Aetherborn's type line matters as much as its stats — you get a free 1/1 just for playing it. The lifelink also stabilizes the life total in a go-wide aggro shell that sometimes runs itself into damage.
Olivia Voldaren
Olivia Voldaren wants a Vampire-dense board to stay relevant, and Gifted Aetherborn is one of the most efficient two-drops the tribe offers. The deathtouch means opponents can't freely attack into it while Olivia is building toward her activated abilities.
Evelyn, the Covetous
Evelyn, the Covetous cares about casting Vampires across all colors to trigger her exile-and-steal ability, and Gifted Aetherborn contributes a creature that naturally survives trades and keeps your life total healthy while the engine assembles.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Gifted Aetherborn is a staple two-drop in any black deck that either runs Vampire synergies or cares about lifelink payoffs — deathtouch plus lifelink on a 2/3 is a combination most tables respect as a blocker. In Modern and Pioneer, it sits in the shadow of more pushed two-drops and sees only fringe play in tribal shells; the stats are good but not format-warping. Legacy and Vintage have access to faster threats and better disruption, so Gifted Aetherborn rarely competes there except as a budget option in casual lists. Pauper and Standard are off the table entirely.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.53 bulk tier
At $0.53, Gifted Aetherborn is firmly bulk — easy to pick up in trade binders or as a throw-in. It has been reprinted enough times to stay cheap, and there is no realistic scenario where demand pushes this past a dollar.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
- Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
- Edgar Markov
- Olivia Voldaren
- Evelyn, the Covetous
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.