Stormcloud Spirit MTG Card

Stormcloud Spirit - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Treasure Chest (PZ2)
2016-11-16 - Number 70825

Stormcloud Spirit - Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling (GS1)

Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling (GS1)
2018-06-22 - Number 11

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Spirit
Abilities	Flying
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Stormcloud Spirit provides card advantage and dynamic play with its flash ability.
Its mana cost and discard requirement can complicate its inclusion in decks.
Controls the skies in MTG, yet removable by targeted or mass removal spells.

Text of card

Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)

The spirits of all the rivers and oceans came together as an unstoppable force, unleashing their fury as lightning and thunder.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Stormcloud Spirit MTG card can provide players with a notable benefit when it comes to maintaining card presence on the board. Its ability to potentially draw you a card when it enters or leaves the battlefield makes it a good pick for sustaining your hand throughout the duel.

Resource Acceleration: While Stormcloud Spirit itself may not directly accelerate resources, its potential to draw a card helps dig through your deck to access important lands or spells faster, thereby indirectly contributing to your resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Stormcloud Spirit’s Flash ability allows for dynamic gameplay, giving you the flexibility to summon it at instant speed. This can be pivotal in surprising opponents, enabling you to react to threats immediately or deploy it end-of-turn, making it a versatile choice in any match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Stormcloud Spirit requires the player to discard a card upon casting. This can present a challenge when your hand is already running on empty, effectively limiting your strategic options and potentially costing you valuable resources at a critical moment.

Specific Mana Cost: With a blue color identity, this creature demands a dedicated mana base. For players running multicolored decks, meeting the mana requirements can be tricky, especially in the early game when mana resources are still being established.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Trading in five mana for its abilities might not always equate to the best value, especially when you consider other creatures in the same mana range. Seasoned players will weigh the cost-benefit ratio of including such a card in their decks, especially in formats where tempo and efficiency are key.

Reasons to Include Stormcloud Spirit in Your Collection

Versatility: Stormcloud Spirit is a card that can slide easily into different types of blue-centric decks, thanks to its flying ability which provides a reliable form of evasion, and its flash ability that allows for surprise blocks or end-of-turn plays, giving you a tactical edge regardless of the match-up.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or leaving it. Given that Stormcloud Spirit can be played at instant speed, it synergizes with cards that profit from this timing, such as those with prowess or that trigger whenever a spirit enters or a creature with flying is summoned.

Meta-Relevance: With the current emphasis on tempo plays and evasive creatures, Stormcloud Spirit holds its ground by being a flexible response and a threat. It fits snugly into decks that seek to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm while developing their own board presence, especially in matchups where controlling the skies is crucial.

How to beat

Stormcloud Spirit is a card that can command the skies in Magic: The Gathering matches. Its flying ability lets it glide over ground-based creatures, potentially hitting opponents turn after turn. To counter this aerial menace, consider using spells that can target and destroy or neutralize flying creatures. Cards such as Plummet are tailor-made for this, efficiently eliminating threats like Stormcloud Spirit from the game. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more versatile solution, removal spells that don’t discriminate by creature type, such as Murder or Doom Blade, can effectively deal with this threat while offering flexibility against a broader range of adversaries.

Using board control strategies can also undermine Stormcloud Spirit’s impact. Sweepers like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can clear the entire board, including any Spirits lurking above. Ensuring you have a well-rounded removal package in your deck can keep flying creatures within manageable levels. And don’t overlook the power of instant speed interaction. Being able to remove Stormcloud Spirit before it can capitalize on its flying advantage during combat can be pivotal in maintaining the upper hand.

Ultimately, by preparing for the aerial assaults that cards like Stormcloud Spirit present, you’ll bolster your defenses and keep your MTG matches grounded in your favor.

Cards like Stormcloud Spirit

When evaluating Stormcloud Spirit within the broader realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, there’s a treasure trove of analogs to consider. A close relative is Cloudkin Seer—a card that also grants you a card draw upon entering the battlefield. What sets Stormcloud Spirit apart is its flash ability, allowing you to play it on your opponent’s turn, which can be crucial in disrupting their strategies.

Wind Drake is another creature sporting similar stats, yet it lacks both the flash ability and card draw, highlighting Stormcloud Spirit’s extra versatility. Nimbus Naiad offers an enchantment creature alternative, providing a flying stat boost and bestow cost for added flexibility, though it misses out on the immediate card draw that Stormcloud Spirit can provide.

Comparing these cards shows Stormcloud Spirit as a versatile choice for deckbuilders seeking to capitalize on instant speed plays and card advantage, making it a worthy consideration for those crafting new aerial threats in their MTG decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stormcloud Spirit MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling, 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 Stormcloud Spirit and other MTG cards: