Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper MTG Card

Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper - Champions of Kamigawa

Rarity	Rare
Type	Legendary Land
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Number	285
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Avon

Key Takeaways

Enables early play of weighty legendary creatures and planeswalkers, shifting game momentum in your favor.
Demands legendary cards and life payment, which can limit deck building and strain life totals.
Outshines similar cards by hastening gameplay, offering a competitive edge in the right deck configurations.

Text of card

Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper comes into play tapped. , Pay 2 life: Add to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to play legendary spells.

Untaidake is the needle that weaves the fabric of creation.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Within the intricate dance of Magic the Gathering, the essence of triumph often rests on the shoulders of card advantage. Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper, may not dish out extra cards directly, but it equips you with the resourceful edge to deploy formidable legendary creatures and planeswalkers earlier than expected. The acceleration can translate into a significant lead, cascading into a decisive upper hand filled with more actions and threats for your adversary to tackle.

Resource Acceleration: This land strides forth offering an immediate mana boost. Unlike standard lands that provide a single mana per turn, Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper promises a sweep of two colorless mana in a singular burst. This rapid infusion of resources is key for summoning heavy hitters onto the battlefield at a pace that can disrupt the rhythm of any rival’s strategy. It’s a powerful accelerant that can be the cornerstone for a game-winning gambit.

Instant Speed: While Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper is not a spell played at instant speed, its mana production capabilities enable the casting of legendary spells at critical times, including instants. In a game where timing can pivot the tides, having access to a surplus of mana at a moment’s notice is akin to wielding a strategic wildcard, ready to surprise an opponent with instant-speed prowess that can overthrow their meticulously laid plans.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper demands a hefty toll in the form of discarding a legendary card. This prerequisite not only depletes your hand but also narrows down synergy options, restricting its compatibility to decks already overflowing with legendary creatures or planeswalkers.

Specific Mana Cost: The land provides colorless mana specifically dedicated to casting legendary spells. While this may seem fitting for a theme-centric deck, its utility is significantly hampered in multicolored decks craving a more flexible mana base to execute their strategy effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Furthermore, the necessity to pay 2 life each time you tap Untaidake for mana presents a steep price, especially in fast-paced games where life totals are under constant threat. Given the card’s restrictive nature, players might find alternative lands or mana artifacts that offer a more cost-effective solution to their mana needs without the same health penalty.

Reasons to Include Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper offers a unique advantage for decks that run legendary spells or creatures. Its ability to tap for two colors of mana dedicated to casting legendary spells makes it a specialized yet potentially powerful inclusion in the right build, adding flexibility to your mana base.

Combo Potential: The land ensures that combo pieces that are legendary can hit the board sooner. Whether you’re accelerating to deploy a game-changing legendary sorcery or a crucial creature, Untaidake could be the key to unlocking your deck’s full potential.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where legendary creatures and planeswalkers are prolific, the inclusion of Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper can give you an important speed boost. Keeping up with the pace of efficient mana generation allows for quicker and more impactful plays, often tipping the scales in your favor.

How to beat Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper

Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper presents MTG players with a unique challenge. This legendary land is capable of providing a hefty mana boost, specifically focused on casting Legendary spells. The versatility it offers in quickly deploying formidable legendary creatures or powerful planeswalkers gives its controller a tempo advantage. However, like all formidable cards, there are strategies to overcome its benefits.

Land destruction or denial is a straightforward solution to counter Untaidake’s influence. Cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin disrupt a player’s mana base, while Blood Moon can neutralize the powerful boost that Untaidake provides. Control strategies utilizing counterspells also play a critical role; by preventing the casting of crucial legendary spells, the value of Untaidake significantly diminishes.

Additionally, having an aggressive strategy to pressure life points can force a player relying on Untaidake to reevaluate their plays, since activating this land also comes with a 2-life cost. In such cases, the race against time becomes their adversary. Thus, while Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper may initially appear daunting, an adaptive and proactive game plan can successfully negate its impact on the battlefield.

Cards like Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper

Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper offers MTG players a powerful yet balanced resource for casting legendary spells. Standing in comparison is Eiganjo Castle, which also provides a unique effect for legendary cards by offering protection to legendary creatures. Still, it doesn’t facilitate mana acceleration like Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper does.

Surveying other options, we come across Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers, which shares the theme of boosting legendary creatures, allowing them to grow stronger in battle. However, Okina does not directly assist in playing these cards more quickly. Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper offers a distinct advantage by actually making high-impact cards playable sooner despite arriving tapped and dealing damage in exchange for its benefits.

In comparing these similar lands, Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper is singular in its ability to ramp up your gameplay by essentially reducing the cost of legendary spells. This unique feature sets it apart and makes it a valuable asset for decks that can accommodate its life cost and capable of maximizing the efficiency of legendary cards.

Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper and other MTG cards: