Exclusive MTG Aetherdrift card reveal adds… high-speed mammoths?

MTG Aetherdrift is racing into the new year with a bevvy of previews, and GamesRadar+ can exclusively reveal a pair of cards to whet your appetite for the set.

As with all things MTG Aetherdrift, they gotta go fast. Well, theoretically. Although these cards tie into the racing theme present across this set, they aren’t burning rubber. Instead, they’re distinctly prehistoric additions to one of the best card games. First up, have a high-speed mammoth – as a treat.

OK, so the ‘Autarch Mammoth’ might not be the fastest mount out there. But it packs enough of a punch to send rivals flying thanks to its 5/5 rating and ability to spawn a 3/3 green Elephant token whenever it attacks if saddled. That makes it a great late-game play.

Next, we have a Very Good Boy who’ll defend your creatures or create Pilot tokens.

Just like it says on the tin, ‘Defend the Rider’ will protect high-value cards. It allows you to either make a target permanent you control hexproof and indestructible until the end of the turn, or make a 1/1 colorless Pilot who can saddle Mounts and crew Vehicles as if its power were 2 or more. Thanks to the card’s single-mana cost, it lets players quickly and easily activate saddle or crew triggers.