2024 might be almost over, but Wizards of the Coast hasn’t been slowing down recently. Last week MTG players were wowed by Innistrad Remastered, and this week Aetherdrift has taken over. As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s even a brand new ban announcement next week for us all to be excited about.
While Wizards has been revealing a lot of information over the past few weeks, they have kept some cards close to their chests. During the most recent WeeklyMTG livestream, this was very much the case, as not a single new Aetherdrift spoiler was unveiled yesterday. Instead, Wizards took some time to dive deep into the set’s lore.
Debuting a new name for Kaladesh, the ten teams going racing, and stunning new art, there was a lot to take in. This is especially true for the art, which gives us another early look into the three planes of Aetherdrift. It also shows us a surprisingly familiar face we didn’t expect to see again.
Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?
There’s a lot to admire in the untitled piece of MTG art above from the Planeswalker’s Guide to Aetherdrift. Clearly depicting the starting line of the Ghirapur Grand Prix, this is the very start of the set’s death race. We can see a fair few of the team’s vehicles, which is undeniably interesting, although this doesn’t tell us too much.
Thankfully, there is some new information that we can glean from this art, and he’s standing off to the left. At first glance, this Homunculus character appears distinctly similar to the ones we’ve seen on Valor’s Reach, in Battlebond. Looking at Jubilant Mascot and Referee Squad, there’s no denying the similarities.
Beyond just appearing to be similar to a species variant we’ve seen before, this character may be very familiar to some. As several players were quick to note on Reddit, this announcer appears to be Vin, from Magic Spellslingers. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, we can’t blame you at all, since Spellslingers was short-lived and under-loved, to say the least.
Officially released in 2022, Magic Spellslingers was a unique twist on a mobile-friendly MTG variant. Looking more similar to Hearthstone than MTG Arena, the game was pretty fun, but it was no Magic: The Gathering. Thanks to this, the game didn’t exactly have a long lifespan, as it was eventually shut down in 2024.
While Magic Spellslingers might not have had a lot of players, it did have Vin. Guiding players through the game’s tutorial, Vin was efficiently the game’s commentator. Within the game’s lore they’re apparently a 14-time champion of Valor’s Reach, which should make them a pretty big deal. Vin also looks exactly like the character seen in the art above.
Vin’s Back, Tell a Friend
Given they have the same big purple eye, or rather head, the same coat, and even microphone, it seems clear this is Vin. That being said, some MTG players are convinced this could be Zndrsplt instead. Similarly hailing from Valor’s Reach/Battlebond, Zndrsplt undeniably has the same trademark look.
For better or worse, having a big eye for a head is where the similarities end. Not only is Zndrsplt blue, but they’re also not really an announcer. Last we saw Zndrsplt they were still fighting alongside Okaun, although that was before the Phyrexian Invasion. Ideally, we’ll see Zndrsplt again in Aetherdrift, but I wouldn’t count on it.
At the very least, it seems certain that Vin will be appearing in some manner in Aetherdrift. Given MTG’s love for legendary creatures, it seems practically guaranteed that Vin will be getting their very own card too. Sadly, there’s no telling what mechanics they might have, or even what colors they will be.
Typically, Homunculus’ has tended to be blue creatures, however, this isn’t always guaranteed. Similarly, while a lot of Homunculi have mill or draw based abilities, there’s no fixed template. Ultimately, we’re not going to know more about Vin until they appear in earnest during Aetherdrift’s spoiler season.
Thankfully, we shouldn’t have to wait too too long for that time to roll around, at least. Following up the WeeklyMTG livestream, Wizards revealed the key dates for Aetherdrift that players can look forward to. Currently, the spoiler season for Aetherdrift is set to begin on January 21st, following the Debut Livestream.
