Breaking Wave MTG Card


Disrupts opponent strategies and untaps creatures for added utility and surprise maneuvers. Moderate casting cost and specific mana requirements affect deck integration and versatility. Instant speed allows tactical advantages in combat and unexpected play shifts.
Breaking Wave - Invasion
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeSorcery
Released2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameInvasion
Set codeINV
Number48
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCarl Critchlow

Text of card

You may play Breaking Wave any time you could play an instant if you pay more to play it. Simultaneously untap all tapped creatures and tap all untapped creatures.


Cards like Breaking Wave

Breaking Wave is an intriguing blue sorcery in Magic: The Gathering that creates a unique effect of untapping all creatures on the battlefield. A comparable card would be Turnabout, which also allows players to untap or tap assets, but with more control as it can target creatures, lands, or artifacts. Unlike Breaking Wave, Turnabout can strategically target a single type, whereas Breaking Wave affects all creatures and demands a careful game state analysis before playing.

Similarly, Sleep is another blue sorcery that alters the status of creatures by tapping all of an opponent’s creatures and doesn’t allow them to untap during the next untap step, effectively giving a player a turn of reprieve. Breaking Wave, on the other hand, can potentially benefit both players and is best utilized in a tactical scenario or a deck specifically designed to maximize this symmetrical effect.

Examining their role in gameplay, Breaking Wave can be a game-changer in decks that capitalize on untapping mechanisms or in surprising combat twists. It stands out among cards with tap/untap mechanics due to its potential to affect the entire battlefield in one swoop, offering creative strategists a powerful, albeit risky, tool in their MTG arsenal.

Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Breaking Wave by color, type and mana cost

Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Breaking Wave not only disrupts your opponent’s creature strategies but also allows you to untap all your creatures, potentially leading to additional card draws or reuse of activated abilities.

Resource Acceleration: By smoothly untapping your lands alongside creatures, Breaking Wave can unexpectedly ramp up your mana availability, setting the stage for casting higher-cost spells earlier than usual or enabling a potent follow-up within the same turn.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Breaking Wave yields a tremendous tactical edge. It can be played at the end of an opponent’s turn to catch them off guard or during combat to turn the tides, enabling surprise blocks or unforeseen combinations to shift the momentum of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Breaking Wave, the necessity to discard a card can be quite taxing, especially when your hand is already dwindling. Such a condition forces players to make difficult decisions that could potentially disrupt their overall strategy or diminish their late-game potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding a precise combination of blue mana, Breaking Wave may not seamlessly integrate into multicolored decks that rely heavily on a balanced mana base. This requirement could hinder the card’s versatility, confining it largely to mono-blue or two-color decks where blue mana is abundant.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting on the higher end of the spectrum, Breaking Wave’s efficiency is debatable. Considering the fast-paced nature of many MTG games, the opportunity cost of playing a four-mana spell that doesn’t immediately affect the board state can be a significant setback when compared to other options that offer more immediate or impactful results.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Breaking Wave is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck types, particularly those that rely on surprise tactics and timing to overpower opponents. Its ability to simultaneously untap all creatures and cause them to block if able offers a unique twist during the combat phase.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with effects that punish blocked or tapping creatures, or with abilities that trigger upon creatures becoming tapped. It enables intricate plays, making it a powerful tool for players who enjoy crafting complex board states.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame dense with creature-based strategies, Breaking Wave’s simultaneous untap-and-block mechanism can significantly disrupt your opponents’ plans. It can serve as both a surprising defensive play and an enabler for aggressive strategies, illustrating its dual utility in the current gaming environment.


How to beat

Breaking Wave is a unique card that has the potential to upend the battlefield dynamics in a game of MTG. Its simultaneous untapping and tapping of all creatures can be a double-edged sword, one that requires careful navigation to overcome. To counter its effects, strategic plays and well-timed removal spells can tip the scales back into your favor. Employing instant-speed spells can disrupt your opponent’s plans, allowing you to retain control over your creatures while theirs remain tapped and vulnerable. Further, cards with flash give you the versatility to respond to Breaking Wave, ensuring that you have active defenses or an unexpected offensive line at pivotal moments.

Considering card synergy is also vital when looking to beat Breaking Wave. Cards that benefit from being tapped or untapped can turn the tides against an opponent using this spell. Structures or creatures with tap/untap abilities can exploit the situation, providing value regardless of Breaking Wave’s effect. Finally, remember that decks built with a strong defensive posture or those that can operate efficiently with fewer untapped creatures can generally weather the storm that Breaking Wave is intended to create, minimizing the advantage it could give to your opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Breaking Wave MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Breaking Wave and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Breaking Wave has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.