Breaching Leviathan MTG Card


Forces a massive shift in board presence, granting a potential upper hand in card advantage. Its mana cost calls for a dedicated blue mana base, limiting its deck compatibility. Viably disrupts metas dominated by creature-based strategies, resetting the board.
Breaching Leviathan - Commander 2014
Mana cost
Converted mana cost9
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Leviathan
Released2014-11-07
Set symbol
Set nameCommander 2014
Set codeC14
Power 9
Toughness 9
Number12
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTomasz Jedruszek

Text of card

When Breaching Leviathan enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, tap all nonblue creatures. Those creatures don't untap during their controllers' next untap steps.

These waters remain uncharted, but not for lack of trying.


Cards like Breaching Leviathan

Breaching Leviathan, a formidable blue creature in Magic: The Gathering, joins the ranks of high-impact sea monsters in the game. When you look at similar cards, Lorthos, the Tidemaker is an oceanic beast that also commands attention on the battlefield. Lorthos has the ability to tap down a whopping eight permanents, albeit at the cost of eight mana, which could completely alter the course of a game. However, Breaching Leviathan takes disruption up a notch, ensuring that upon its entry to the fray, all nonland permanents your opponents control don’t untap during their next untap step—a broader impact that can be particularly paralyzing.

Another aquatic giant, Stormtide Leviathan, may also be seen swimming in similar waters. Though both creatures decimate opponents when on the board, Stormtide Leviathan makes lands behave like Islands and restricts attacks to creatures that can either fly or have islandwalk. This unique trait can convert the battlefield into a one-sided affair in your favor. Though not causing the immediate board tap-down effect that Breaching Leviathan offers, Stormtide presents a lasting and game-warping board state.

Evaluating these sea-dwelling giants shows that Breaching Leviathan certainly holds its own with a sweeping board impact, carving out a tidal wave of influence the moment it crashes into play.

Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Stormtide Leviathan - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Breaching Leviathan by color, type and mana cost

Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Thing from the Deep - MTG Card versions
Chromescale Drake - MTG Card versions
The Unspeakable - MTG Card versions
Grozoth - MTG Card versions
Drownyard Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Sailors' Bane - MTG Card versions
Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Thing from the Deep - MTG Card versions
Chromescale Drake - MTG Card versions
The Unspeakable - MTG Card versions
Grozoth - MTG Card versions
Drownyard Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Sailors' Bane - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Breaching Leviathan enters the battlefield, it becomes an immediate game-changer by forcing opponents to return all nonland permanents they control to their hands. This massive swing in board presence can effectively grant you card advantage, leaving opponents scrambling to rebuild while you press your advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Breaching Leviathan itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its impactful entry can scale back your opponent’s resources significantly. By setting their board state back several turns, you essentially gain a comparative boost in resources as you retain your board presence and potentially attack with fewer defenses to worry about.

Instant Speed: While Breaching Leviathan doesn’t have flash to be played at instant speed, the potent effect it has on the game can be akin to instant-speed board wipes when timed correctly. Playing this creature can serve as a preemptive measure to dismantle opponents’ plans, potentially during turns where they would commit more resources onto the board, heightening the Leviathan’s disruptive impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some cards that offer a bonus upon entrance to the battlefield, Breaching Leviathan lacks this feature which means you won’t get immediate value back if you’re forced to discard other cards to cast it.

Specific Mana Cost: At seven blue mana in its cost, Breaching Leviathan demands a heavy commitment to blue mana sources, which can restrict its inclusion to mono-blue or heavily blue-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of ten mana to summon, this creature could sit in your hand for the majority of a game, especially when faster decks aim to finish the game before you have the opportunity to cast it.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Breaching Leviathan offers utility in blue-based control or ramp decks, allowing players to take advantage of its game-swinging entrance ability. Its massive presence on the battlefield can pivot the game’s direction, providing a significant obstacle for opponents.

Combo Potential: This sea creature synergizes with cards that benefit from its cast trigger or those that amplify the effects of entering the battlefield. Utilizing flicker or bounce effects can repeatedly clear the board of non-blue creatures, edging towards victory.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with creature-based strategies, Breaching Leviathan shines by resetting opponents’ boards and giving blue mages the upper hand. Its ability to disrupt swarm tactics and other creature-dependent plays makes it a formidable card to keep on hand.


How to Beat Breaching Leviathan

Within the depths of MTG’s vast card pool, Breaching Leviathan emerges as a formidably sized sea creature that can be daunting to face off against. Its disruptive entrance ability, which taps all non-blue creatures and prevents them from untapping during the next untap step, can put opponents on the back foot. However, every Leviathan has its weaknesses.

To effectively counter this behemoth, players should consider keeping mana open for instant-speed removals or spells that can counter a creature spell. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, circumvent the Leviathan’s tapping effect by simply clearing the board. In addition, spells that exile like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can remove it before its tapping ability even triggers. For decks that don’t run such removals, relying on artifacts with activated abilities or creatures with tap abilities that don’t require them to attack, can help maintain a presence on the board. Lastly, since Breaching Leviathan requires a significant amount of mana to be cast, applying early pressure and disrupting your opponent’s mana base can prevent the Leviathan from breaching the surface altogether.

So, whether through strategic removal, careful mana management, or applying constant pressure, there are multiple strategies players can use to navigate the turbulent waters Breaching Leviathan brings to the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the ebb and flow of MTG is akin to commanding the tides themselves – and Breaching Leviathan plays into that power fantastically. Its entrance is a sea change in any match, returning opponents’ nonland permanents and changing the game’s momentum in your favor. Whether you’re a wave-crashing monoblue mage or seeking that perfect piece for your control deck, this leviathan’s splash is worth the deep dive. From optimizing your deck’s synergy to strategizing against formidable foes, Breaching Leviathan has a tidal force in the right setting. Dive deeper with us and discover how this leviathan can command your victories.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Breaching Leviathan MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Breaching Leviathan and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Breaching Leviathan has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Breaching Leviathan card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-11-07 The triggered ability affects all nonblue creatures, including those you control.
2014-11-07 The triggered ability tracks the creatures, but not their controllers. If any of the creatures changes controllers before its original controller’s next untap step has come around, that creature won’t untap during its new controller’s next untap step.