Alrighty Homestar..he's how it works:
Astral Slide Reads:
Whenever a player cycles a card, you may remove target creature from the game. If you do, return that creature to play under its owner's control at end of turn.
That means when people attack us, or declare blockers we can respond by sliding their creature temporarily out of play...not bad. A perk is that if another player cycles we have the option of targeting a creature using slide. Remember..Astral Slide says "may"..sometimes people try and force you into sliding your own creature
Tainted Aether says:
Whenever a creature comes into play, its controller sacrifices a creature or land.
That's pretty awesome. Forcing people to sac resources to play creatures is great! The important part of this card is "Whenever a creature comes in play"..because remember with Astral Slide we're actually removing the creature from play, then bringing them back into play...thus kicking off Tainted Aether's abilities again!
Here's an example:
Let's say we have in play:
1 Astral Slide
2 Tainted Aether
3 Plains
4 Swamps
In our hand we've got:
1 Rune Protection Blue
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Swat
Our Opponent Joe Bag of Donuts has:
2 Craw Wurm
2 Llanowar Elves
5 Forest
We don't know what he's holding..
Now let's say Bag of Donuts gets froggie and declares his attack using his two 6/4 Craw Wurms..big mistake. We'd respond to his declaration of attack by cycling the Secluded Steppe AND Rune Protection Blue targeting both his Craw Wurms.
*POOF*
His Craw Wurms are gone until end of turn. Since the Craw Wurms are gone they can't attack
At end of turn the Craw Wurms come back into play. This coming into play kicks off both of the Tainted Aethers we've got. Forcing Joe Bag of Donuts to:
Sacrifice either
2 lands or 2 creatures PER Craw Wurm!
Lets say Joe decides to sac 4 forest..that leaves him with
2 Craw Wurms
2 Llanowar Elves
1 Forest
That's dirty! He won't be casting anything big his next turn that's for sure. The next time we start cycling we'll start killing off his creatures! The best part about this is your deck should be packed full of cycling cards, thus increasing tenfold you chances of drawing ANOTHER cycling card when you cycle.
I've destroyed all my opponents creatures and lands before using this trick...here's the deck I use.
Main Cards: 11
4 Tainted Aether
4 Astral Slide
3 Opalesence
Support: 9
3 Disenchants
4 Sword to Plowshare
2 Replenish
Cycling Cards: 14
4 Renewed Faith
4 Expunge
1 Rune of Protection Black
1 Run of Protection Green
2 Run of Protection Red
1 Swat
1 Radiant’s Judgment
Lands: 29
4 Scrubland
1 Serra’s Sanctum
2 Kor Haven
4 Barren Moor
4 Secluded Steppe
6 Swamps
8 Plains
As long as you keep the main cards in the deck you can pretty much mix and match as you please while keeping the sliding trick alive.
Captian Ca-A-a-A-a-AvMAAAN!
Thanks, it's one of my favorites. The first time I played it, I played an Astral Slide followed next round by a Tainted Aether. One of my buddies instantly recognized what I was going to do..his response.
"Ooh..thats Duuuuuurty"
Yes, yes it is
