Cloud Elemental MTG Card
1997-02-03 - Number 29
1997-08-13 - Number pm29
2000-10-01 - Number 5
2007-07-13 - Number 74★
2007-07-13 - Number 74
2010-07-16 - Number 50
2015-05-22 - Number 42
2019-11-07 - Number 322
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-42
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Cloud Elemental can block only creatures with flying.
"You know you've angered the gods when the clouds turn against you." —Sisay, Captain of the *Weatherlight*
Cards like Cloud Elemental
Cloud Elemental holds a unique place in the skies of Magic: The Gathering. As a flying creature, it bears resemblance to cards like Welkin Tern, both mandating clear skies by only being able to block creatures with flying. Cloud Elemental, however, is more robust with a stat line of 2/3 compared to the Welkin Tern’s 2/1, granting it better survival in the aerial combat zone.
Another relative in this category is Snapping Drake, which also boasts flying and offers a sturdier form with a 3/2 distribution of power and toughness. While requiring an extra mana over Cloud Elemental, it provides a bigger punch when reaching the red zone. A lesser-known cousin, Advanced Hoverguard, shares the flying ability and has shroud, making it immune to targeted spells, often tipping the balance in close matchups.
Each of these flyers has its place among the ranks of blue creature spells in MTG, each with its own advantages. Whether preferring the deft defense of Cloud Elemental, the more aggressive approach of Snapping Drake, or the elusive nature of Advanced Hoverguard, players can tailor their airborne assault to match their strategy and elevate their game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cloud Elemental can prove particularly effective in decks that manipulate the top of the library, ensuring a more strategic draw, enhancing overall card quality in hand.
Resource Acceleration: Though the card itself doesn’t directly provide mana acceleration, its moderate casting cost enables a smooth curve in a tempo-based strategy, keeping resources open for pivotal plays.
Instant Speed: The benefit of Cloud Elemental comes not from instant speed but rather from its evasion ability, allowing it to serve as a reliable blocker or attacker against other flyers during combat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Cloud Elemental comes with its strengths, but having no discard effects means you miss out on potential strategic benefits offered by other cards with synergistic discard abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: One of the limitations of Cloud Elemental is its mana requirement, which is locked into blue. This means that it can only fit seamlessly into blue decks or those with a reliable mana base to support blue spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Cloud Elemental’s flying ability is advantageous, its mana cost might be on the higher side when compared to other three-cost creatures with comparable stats or abilities. This can affect deck efficiency and tempo.
Reasons to Include Cloud Elemental in Your Collection
Versatility: Cloud Elemental is a flexible addition to blue-based decks featuring flying creatures. Its evasion ability makes it a practical choice for strategies focusing on attacking through the air.
Combo Potential: This card works well with synergies that capitalize on flying creatures, such as granting bonuses for each flyer or using flying as a condition to unlock potent abilities or effects.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where ground creatures dominate, Cloud Elemental shines by being able to consistently deal combat damage and remain a constant airborne threat, making it a tactically sound pick.
How to beat
Cloud Elemental stands out as a flying creature in Magic: The Gathering, a character type known for its evasion abilities. What sets Cloud Elemental apart is its restriction that it can only block creatures with flying. This limitation opens up strategies to bypass its defenses. Ground creature swarms, for instance, can easily overwhelm a defending player who relies on Cloud Elemental, as it cannot interfere with non-flying creatures’ attacks.
Moreover, while Cloud Elemental’s flying trait makes it a tactical offensive asset, it’s vital to note that it has a comparatively low toughness. Therefore, it falls within reach of commonly used burn spells or direct damage spells. Cards like Lightning Bolt can handle Cloud Elemental efficiently, without necessitating a significant resource commitment. Spells that cripple flying capabilities or remove flying altogether can also nullify Cloud Elemental’s main advantage, rendering it vulnerable to various forms of removal or combat damage. Assessing the battlefield and choosing the right counteraction against Cloud Elemental is crucial to ensure it doesn’t dominate the aerial space.
In summary, defeating Cloud Elemental requires a mix of exploiting its inability to block ground attacks and understanding when to deploy targeted removal. This approach leaves the skies clear for your strategic maneuvers on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cloud Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Visions and World Championship Decks 1997, 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 Cloud Elemental and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Cloud Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-02-03 | Visions | VIS | 29 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Adam Rex | |
| 2 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | pm29 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Adam Rex | |
| 3 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 5 | 1997 | Normal | White | Adam Rex | |
| 4 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 74★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 5 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 74 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 6 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 50 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 7 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 42 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 8 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 322 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 9 | The List | PLST | MM2-42 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cloud Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |