Clutch of Currents MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 72
2019-11-07 - Number 325
2020-09-26 - Number BFZ-72
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Awaken |
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Awaken 3— (If you cast this spell for , also put three +1/+1 counters on target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.)
Cards like Clutch of Currents
Clutch of Currents holds an interesting place in the pantheon of bounce spells within Magic: The Gathering. A member of the family similar to Unsummon or Vapor Snag, Clutch of Currents comes with an additional advantage. It allows not just for the return of a target creature to its owner’s hand, but also includes the awaken mechanic, enabling land to rise as creatures to join the fray.
Comparing to Unsummon, which is straightforward in its approach and cost-effective at a single blue mana, Clutch of Currents offers a bit more versatility for its additional land animation ability. Thus, it can act as both a tempo play and a late-game asset. Man-o’-War is another relative, with a creature body attached to the bounce effect, providing a permanent presence on the board after its use. Clutch of Currents instead morphs the land itself into a creature, potentially surprising an opponent with an unexpected blocker or attacker.
These subtle differences highlight how Clutch of Currents can be both familiar to players but also introduce dynamic choices in deck building and gameplay, especially in formats where lands becoming creatures can create significant value-packed scenarios.
Cards similar to Clutch of Currents by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Clutch of Currents offers a strategic edge by enabling players to return a creature to its owner’s hand. This mechanic can be a way to regain control of the board and create opportunities for repeated use of powerful enter-the-battlefield abilities, leading to a potential card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Given its low mana cost, Clutch of Currents can seamlessly fit into your curve. When combined with its awaken mechanic, it not only disrupts your opponent’s play but also transforms an ordinary land into a creature, effectively accelerating your resource development and board presence without losing tempo.
Instant Speed: Although Clutch of Currents is a sorcery, the flexibility it provides impacts the game at a crucial juncture. It allows players to effectively plan their strategy for their next turn by setting up defenses or clearing the way for an unimpeded attack. This dynamic card reshapes the stage for key plays, regardless of not being an instant.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Clutch of Currents presents no discard requirement, making it a straightforward choice for use in a game without the worry of sacrificing valuable hand assets.
Specific Mana Cost: This sorcery card necessitates one blue mana to cast, which may restrict its integration into multicolored decks that are not heavily blue-centric.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Clutch of Currents offers the utility of returning a creature to its owner’s hand, the addition of four mana to awaken a land may not align with all strategy costs, making other tempo cards potentially more desirable in certain deck builds for their efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Clutch of Currents shines due to its adaptability. It serves as a low-cost bounce spell that can disrupt your opponent’s board, while also offering the option to be awakened, thereby turning your land into a formidable creature.
Combo Potential: This card slots seamlessly into decks that capitalize on casting spells with alternate costs or benefits from creatures entering the battlefield, as the awoken land is considered a creature.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where early board presence is crucial, Clutch of Currents can be an inconspicuous yet effective tool to swing tempo in your favor, delaying your opponent’s game plan while you build up your board state.
How to beat
Overcoming Clutch of Currents in Magic: The Gathering can be an exercise in strategy and foresight. This spell is a versatile option, offering both early-game board presence disruption and a potential late-game creature boost with its awaken ability. However, there are ways to mitigate its impact on the game. Utilizing instant-speed removal allows you to respond to the awaken casting, thereby preserving your board state. Moreover, cards that nullify enter-the-battlefield effects can render Clutch of Currents just a mere return-to-hand tactic without the additional benefit of creating a formidable land creature.
Counterspells are a classic and effective way to directly oppose Clutch of Currents. By keeping mana available, you can prevent not only the initial casting but also a potentially game-swinging awaken activation. Additionally, incorporating cards that allow you to quickly recover your creatures from the graveyard can soften the blow, ensuring that even if Clutch of Currents temporarily sets you back, you’ll be prepared to rebound swiftly and maintain pressure on your opponent.
Combating this card is about predicting the ebb and flow of the game. With the right mix of reactive and proactive measures, you can turn the tides and keep the currents from clutching victory from your grasp.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Clutch of Currents MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Mystery Booster, 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 Clutch of Currents and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Clutch of Currents Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 325 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | BFZ-72 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Clutch of Currents has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Clutch of Currents card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | Awaken doesn’t give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless. |
| 2015-08-25 | If a spell with awaken has multiple targets (including the land you control), and some but not all of those targets become illegal by the time the spell tries to resolve, the spell won’t affect the illegal targets in any way. |
| 2015-08-25 | If the non-awaken part of the spell doesn’t require a target and you cast the spell for its awaken cost, then the spell won’t resolve if the target land you control becomes illegal before the spell resolves (such as due to being destroyed in response to the spell being cast). |
| 2015-08-25 | If the non-awaken part of the spell requires a target, you must choose a legal target. You can’t cast the spell if you can’t choose a legal target for each instance of the word “target” (though you only need a legal target for the awaken ability if you’re casting the spell for its awaken cost). |
| 2015-08-25 | The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that’s turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for . |
| 2015-08-25 | You can cast a spell with awaken for its mana cost and get only its first effect. If you cast a spell for its awaken cost, you’ll get both effects. |