Riven Turnbull MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Advisor
Power 5
Toughness 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Untapping lands, Riven Turnbull provides more mana, boosting spell casting flexibility and resource management.
  2. Demanding discard for activation can be a double-edged sword, pressuring your hand and strategy.
  3. Despite a higher mana cost, Riven Turnbull’s mana-fixing and ramp abilities make him a versatile asset.

Text of card

oc T: Add o B to your mana pool. This ability is played as an interrupt.

"Political violence is a perfectly legitimate answer to the persecution handed down by dignitaries of the state."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Riven Turnbull excels at providing substantial card advantage due to his ability to untap two lands. This ability ensures that you have access to more mana to cast additional spells or use activated abilities, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: His resource acceleration is quite evident, as Riven Turnbull offers effective mana generation. By untapping lands, you essentially gain additional mana without the need to play extra land cards, hence speeding up your gameplay and allowing you to cast more impactful spells sooner.

Instant Speed: While Riven Turnbull himself may not be an instant, his ability can synergize well with instant-speed spells and abilities. This allows you to maximize your mana efficiency by utilizing it during your turn and still being able to respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn, keeping you one step ahead.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Riven Turnbull demands a player to discard a card in order to unleash its abilities. This requirement might strain your hand, especially if you’re running out of cards or if you’re up against an opponent who is already putting pressure on your resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Riven Turnbull’s mana cost is quite particular, requiring not just a significant amount of mana but also a specific combination that includes blue and black mana. This can limit the flexibility of including it in multi-colored decks that may not have a consistent access to these mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the power level of Riven Turnbull, one must consider that its converted mana cost is on the pricey side. There are other cards within the same mana range that may provide more immediate impact or versatility in play, making Riven Turnbull a less attractive option for some strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Riven Turnbull offers a unique flexibility to commander and multicolor decks that require mana fixing and ramping capabilities. His ability to add multiple types of mana to your pool helps cast a variety of spells, making him a reliable asset across various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: As a legendary creature, Riven Turnbull can serve as a cornerstone for combos in your deck, providing the necessary resources to execute powerful plays. He synergizes particularly well with strategies that benefit from large mana reserves or the use of legendary creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a game meta that favors long-term play and sophisticated strategy, Riven Turnbull’s mana-generation ability becomes increasingly valuable. He enhances the staying power of control and combo decks that require time to set up their winning conditions, ensuring you stay competitive in evolving play environments.


How to Beat Riven Turnbull

Riven Turnbull is an intriguing character on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering, exemplifying the resourcefulness and power blue and black mana can unleash. Commanding a powerful presence on the board, Riven Turnbull demands strategic thinking to overcome.

To combat Riven Turnbull effectively, focus on removal spells or abilities that can bypass its robust defenses. Utilize spells like Swords to Plowshares for a swift exile, or for a wider effect, consider board wipes like Wrath of God to reset the playing field. It’s crucial to hold removal in reserve for critical threats like Riven Turnbull rather than expend them on lesser creatures.

Additionally, countering Riven Turnbull before it ever hits the battlefield is a sound approach. Efficient counterspells like Counterspell itself or Mana Leak can save you from the potential card advantage and mana acceleration Riven Turnbull represents. Keeping a close eye on opponent’s mana and potential threats allows for timely responses, neutralizing the threat before it takes hold.

Remember, timing is everything. Monitor the game state and strike with precision to ensure Riven Turnbull’s downfall and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Riven Turnbull

Riven Turnbull takes his rightful place in the pantheon of powerful mana-generating wizards within Magic: The Gathering. Mirroring cards like King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, Turnbull excels in functionalities beyond mere mana acceleration. While King Macar requires tapping to potentially remove a creature and create a Gold token, Riven Turnbull provides a steadfast supply of blue or black mana, crucial for control strategies.

Tapping into a similar resource theme, Dreamscape Artist offers another perspective, trading lands from your hand for fresh ones on the battlefield. It’s not just land retrieval; it’s a reshaping of your playing field. Unlike Riven Turnbull, whose might is in the steady generation of mana, Dreamscape Artist is about adaptation and land manipulation. Additionally, we see Gilded Lotus, a non-creature veteran that forges mana of any color. Though lacking sentient strategy, its raw power to energize diverse spells aligns with Riven Turnbull’s mana versatility.

Appraising these options, Riven Turnbull stands out for consistent mana fluidity, easing the casting of formidable spells that shape the tides of a match, earning it a revered slot in decks seeking reliability and strategic depth in Magic: The Gathering.

King Macar, the Gold-Cursed - MTG Card versions
Dreamscape Artist - MTG Card versions
Gilded Lotus - MTG Card versions
King Macar, the Gold-Cursed - MTG Card versions
Dreamscape Artist - MTG Card versions
Gilded Lotus - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Riven Turnbull MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition III, 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 Riven Turnbull and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Riven Turnbull Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Richard Kane Ferguson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 2541993NormalBlackRichard Kane Ferguson
22009-09-07Masters Edition IIIME3 1711997NormalBlackRichard Kane Ferguson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Riven Turnbull has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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