Cloudshift MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Cloudshift provides tactical advantages by reusing creatures’ abilities and saving them from threats.
  2. Its exclusive white mana cost can limit its use in multicolored decks that lack sufficient white mana.
  3. Vital in control strategies, it can be vulnerable to instant-speed removals and countermagic.

Text of card

Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.

"Even storm clouds bow to worship Avacyn." —Elder Rimheit


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cloudshift not only saves a creature from peril but can also exploit enter-the-battlefield effects of your creatures, effectively doubling their impact and giving you more value from your cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although Cloudshift itself doesn’t directly generate mana, it can act as a pseudo accelerator by reusing your creatures with mana-generating abilities, maximizing your resource potential.

Instant Speed: Cloudshift’s ability to be cast at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s actions or to surprise them by re-triggering a creature’s ability during a critical moment in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cloudshift does not inherently require a card to be discarded, using it effectively in game scenarios might involuntarily lead to discarding valuable cards to make space for Cloudshift’s potential tactical advantages.

Specific Mana Cost: Cloudshift’s cost is exclusively white mana, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that are heavy in white mana sources, potentially limiting its versatility across varied deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Cloudshift’s mana cost is low, some players may consider it high in specific game situations where mana economy is critical. Other cards at the same cost could provide broader utility or more significant impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cloudshift is a valuable addition to collections as it can serve multiple roles. Not only is it a tool for saving creatures from removal, but it can also be used tactically to refresh enter-the-battlefield effects or to reposition blockers and attackers during combat.

Combo Potential: With Cloudshift, the ability to repeatedly activate enter-the-battlefield triggers creates numerous combo possibilities. It pairs well with creatures that provide card draw, life gain, or creature control, enabling a wide range of powerful interactions on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, control and tempo decks often find a place in the meta where Cloudshift can excel. Its low mana cost and instant speed make it a responsive tool for any deck looking to utilize flicker effects or protect key creatures against spot removal.


How to Beat

Cloudshift is a unique instant spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering, boasting an ability to exile a creature you control and then return it to the battlefield under your control. Its primary strength lies in its versatility, enabling defense against removal spells, refreshing of enter-the-battlefield effects, or dodging unfavorable combat scenarios.

To effectively counter Cloudshift, understanding its timing is crucial. As an instant, it can disrupt your offensive strategies if not anticipated. Players should consider holding onto instant-speed removal spells until after Cloudshift resolves. This way, you’ll be able to target the creature as it re-enters play, negating the potential advantage your opponent might gain. Board wipes that don’t target individual creatures can also bypass Cloudshift’s protective capability by removing the creature no matter when it’s played. Additionally, countermagic can be an essential asset in your strategy against decks utilizing this spell. Negating Cloudshift as it’s cast prevents your opponent from exploiting its benefits and can preserve your tempo on the battlefield.

In sum, while Cloudshift can provide tactical advantages, players can outmaneuver this card with proper timing and the right mix of removal or counterspell strategies.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricacies of MTG is a continuous challenge that rewards the cunning and the prepared. With Cloudshift, a world of tactical nuances unfolds, where every creature’s potential is maximized and every turn could be the pivot to victory. Understand that Cloudshift is not just a card, but a pathway to intricate plays that can turn the tides in your favor. Embrace its defensive prowess and offensive reactivity as you refine your deck and gameplay. Ready for deeper strategy and deck optimization insights? Dive into our full realm of content to sharpen your skills and become a deft navigator in the ever-evolving game of MTG.


Cards like Cloudshift

Cloudshift enjoys a special status among Magic: The Gathering’s flicker effects, providing temporary exile and immediate return to battlefield for just a single white mana. This card draws evident parallels to other flicker spells like Momentary Blink which offers not just an initial flicker but also a flashback ability, granting a second use for a slightly higher cost. However, Cloudshift’s immediate utility and low cost provide an edge in surprise defenses or in reaping enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects swiftly.

Another card worth comparing is Ephemerate, which echoes Cloudshift’s one-white mana cost. The difference though, lies in Ephemerate’s rebound ability that ensures a repeated flicker in the following turn, playing well with prolonged strategies and ETB effect accumulation. Yet, for those seeking the most cost-effective option to trigger an ETB effect instantly or dodge a removal, Cloudshift shines with its simplicity and efficiency.

Examining Cloudshift amidst this context, it’s clear that it holds a strong position in MTG as an inexpensive, agile flicker option. Its capacity to instantaneously interact with the board sets a high bar for cards of similar nature.

Momentary Blink - MTG Card versions
Ephemerate - MTG Card versions
Momentary Blink - Time Spiral (TSP)
Ephemerate - Modern Horizons (MH1)

Cards similar to Cloudshift by color, type and mana cost

Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Blaze of Glory - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Healing Salve - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Purelace - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Swords to Plowshares - Fallout (PIP)
Guardian Angel - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Righteousness - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Indestructible Aura - Chronicles (CHR)
Glyph of Life - Legends (LEG)
Warning - Ice Age (ICE)
Heal - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Anoint - Tempest (TMP)
Reaping the Rewards - Exodus (EXO)
Rally the Troops - Portal Second Age (P02)
Enlightened Tutor - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Orim's Touch - Invasion (INV)
Pollen Remedy - Planeshift (PLS)
Sacred Rites - The List (PLST)
Pay No Heed - Torment (TOR)
Path to Exile - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cloudshift MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Masters 25, 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 Cloudshift and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cloudshift Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Howard Lyon.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 122003normalblackHoward Lyon
22018-03-16Masters 25A25 72015normalblackHoward Lyon
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 572015normalblackHoward Lyon
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 972015normalblackHoward Lyon
52020-09-26The ListPLST A25-72015normalblackHoward Lyon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cloudshift has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cloudshift card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2018-03-16 If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield.
2018-03-16 Once the exiled permanent returns, it’s considered a new object with no relation to the object that it was. Auras attached to the exiled permanent will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled permanent will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled permanent will cease to exist.
2018-03-16 The returned card won’t be the target of any spells or abilities that targeted it before. Any spells that don’t target, such as Akroma’s Vengeance, will still affect it.
2018-03-16 When an effect returns the exiled card “under your control,” you control it indefinitely after that. In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any creatures you control from Cloudshift’s effect are exiled.

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