Aether GaleHow it works & interactions with other cards

What Aether Gale Does

Aether Gale is a sorcery that targets nonland permanents. Unlike many sweepers that hit everything, Aether Gale is surgical but demanding: you must name exactly six distinct targets to cast it. You can target your own permanents to save them from removal or re-trigger 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities, but you will most often use it to clear out an opponent's blockers or dangerous artifacts.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you cast Aether Gale and choose six legal targets that are not lands. If these permanents remain on the battlefield until the spell resolves, they are all moved to their owners' hands simultaneously. If one or more (but not all) targets become illegal—for instance, if a creature is sacrificed in response—Aether Gale will still resolve and bounce the remaining legal targets. If all six targets become illegal, the spell will fail to resolve and be put into the graveyard with no effect.

Common Pitfalls

The most common mistake is forgetting the requirement for exactly six targets. If there are only five nonland permanents on the entire battlefield, you cannot cast Aether Gale at all. Additionally, because it targets, permanents with Hexproof or Protection from Blue are ineligible. You cannot target a single permanent multiple times to satisfy the requirement; it must be six individual objects.

When to Play It

Strategic timing is key. Since it is a sorcery, you must play it during your main phase. It is most effective when your opponent has exactly six high-value threats or when you have some of your own permanents with powerful entry effects that you want to reuse. Use it right before an alpha strike to remove every possible blocker your opponent has.

Interaction examples

Sifting for Answers

Distant Melody

If your board is full of a specific creature type, you might first cast Distant Melody to draw a massive amount of cards. With your hand freshly refilled, you can then cast Aether Gale to bounce six of your opponent's creatures, ensuring they have no defense against your army on that same turn.

Selective Board Bounces

Raise the Palisade

Imagine you are playing an Elf deck. You cast Raise the Palisade, choosing 'Elf' to bounce all non-Elf creatures. If your opponent persists with annoying non-creature threats like enchantments or artifacts, follow up with Aether Gale to target those specifically. While Raise the Palisade handles the wide board of creatures, Aether Gale cleans up the specialized nonland permanents that survived the first wave.