Interesting. I would say the upped version should be allowed to learn more times rather than get +2 vs +1. May need a small cost increase to be balanced. I like the mechanic though. I've been working on a weapon version myself the last couple days (gains damage when an ability is used).
This could be a quiet, silent killer (pun overload...) Pair it with spectres or lava destroyer or some other pumpable creature, or pharaoh or firefly queen, and it will get big pretty quick. The quanta cost is quite low as well, so you could splash it in novabow/speedbow decks, too. I'm on the fence as to whether it would be overpowered or not, but it's probably fair, though perhaps a bit undercosted; it would need playtesting to be sure. It also gives aether something cheap to fractal in mono, other than suicidal ball lightnings. (well, their only other mono targets are spiders and nymphs)
Yeah, I think this is quite a bit more balanced. It's still a good card, and I'd use it in some decks for sure. If it needed a small nerf still, you could make it so that defense was the first stat increased, instead of attack, so it went +0/+1, +1/+0 instead of +1/+0, +0/+1. I don't think it really needs that, but it's an option.
Whoa! Cool art and mechanic! I like it!
did you get the artists permission to use it? it is certainly copyrighted and is not listed as creative commons.the alternating mechanic is a little bit wonky. the net effect is a limited growth based on other creatures using their abilities. 'gain +1|+1 each turn that a creature uses an ability' for the basic and 2|2 for the upped would be a cleaner mechanic with essentially the same end result, without being too powerful, basically being a vulture for aether.
