Rift MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 119
2021-08-20 - Number 119
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Key Takeaways
- Rift offers card advantage by delving into your deck to access more game-changing resources.
- Can rapidly accelerate resources, enabling deployment of larger threats earlier in the game.
- Instant speed casting of Rift allows flexible responses and strategic advantage.
Text of card
Before drawing your hand, you may start the game with CARDNAME in your opening hand. If you do, draw one fewer card. (Mulligans continue as normal.) CARDNAME enters the battlefield tapped. : Add .
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rift presents a strategic edge by offering the player an option to dig deeper into their deck, leveraging the opportunity to select from more resources as the game progresses. This pivotal function of the card can tip the scales by providing the choices crucial for victory.
Resource Acceleration: In addition to its primary capabilities, Rift can be the catalyst for rapid growth on the battlefield. It equips players with a mechanism to jump ahead in resource development, granting them a chance to deploy larger threats or to outpace an opponent’s development significantly.
Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed casting is a critical strategic element of Rift. This allows players to adapt to changing game states, respond to opponents’ actions on their turn, and maximize the effectiveness of their mana without telegraphing future plays, keeping opponents guessing while maintaining a tactical upper hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rift MTG card necessitates discarding a card to unlock its potential. Especially in the late game, this prerequisite can pose a challenge if your hand is nearly depleted or if every card you hold is pivotal for maintaining control of the match.
Specific Mana Cost: Rift’s mana cost is not just specific but also somewhat inflexible, demanding both colorless and multiple units of a single color. For players running multicolored decks, fitting Rift into their mana base without causing inconsistencies can be tricky, potentially limiting its inclusion only to decks heavily skewed towards that specific color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to play Rift is often on the steeper side, given its capabilities when compared to other cards with similar effects. Players must consider if the benefits of including Rift justify the cost, particularly in a metagame that values speed and efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Rift card serves as a multi-faceted tool in various decks, adept at responding to threats on the fly, or setting up for future plays. Its ability to potentially bounce key opponent’s permanents gives it a place in a multitude of deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card can initiate advantageous interactions with other cards that capitalize on returning permanents to hand or that trigger upon casting spells. The possibilities for setting up potent combos are plentiful, making it a smart pick for players who like to think several moves ahead.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to disrupt opponents’ strategies and maintain tempo, Rift is especially relevant in metagames that favor board presence and on-curve plays. It can be a game-changer, turning the tide against decks that heavily rely on building a certain board state to win.
How to beat
The Rift card in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge due to its ability to disrupt opponent strategies by returning permanent cards to their owner’s hand. When considering combating Rift, it’s essential to highlight the importance of timing and the type of permanents you play. With Rift’s capability to selectively bounce permanents each turn, it’s often best to deploy threats that can generate immediate impact or possess enter the battlefield effects. This way, you recuperate value even if those cards are returned to your hand.
Another effective method is to maintain a diverse array of permanent types. Since Rift targets nonland permanents of a single type each turn, diversifying your board presence can minimize the impact of its selective process. Deploying an array of creature, artifact, enchantment, and planeswalker cards can make it difficult for Rift to significantly alter the state of your board.
Lastly, consider using instant-speed removal or counterspells to address Rift the moment it hits the battlefield. This preemptive approach can prevent Rift from taking over the game and ensure you maintain control. It’s important to be vigilant and keep mana open for these responses as part of a comprehensive strategy to beat Rift in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards like Rift
Diving into the plethora of instants and sorceries in MTG, Rift shares the stage with other impactful cards designed to disrupt the field. Its ability to delay an opponent’s creature mirrors that of the classic spell Unsummon, yet Rift has the unique edge of being able to target any permanent, not just creatures, and can hit multiple targets with sufficient mana invested. This flexibility allows for broader control of the game board, especially in the later stages of the game when resources are plentiful.
This adaptability is somewhat reminiscent of Cyclonic Rift, a powerhouse in the realm of blue bounce spells. While Cyclonic Rift offers a sweeping, non-discriminate effect against all opponents’ nonland permanents at its overload cost, Rift provides a more selective approach that can be critical for handling immediate threats on the board. Moreover, Rift’s scalable effect can be precisely tailored to match your current mana availability, differentiating it from the fixed, yet potent, power of Cyclonic Rift’s late-game potential.
Considering these comparisons, Rift undoubtedly holds its own among versatile disruption spells in MTG. Its situational efficiency and tactical utility make it particularly valuable to players seeking a customizable solution to on-board chaos.
Cards similar to Rift by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rift MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, 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 Rift and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Rift Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by Zach Francks.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 119 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zach Francks | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 119 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zach Francks |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rift card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | If you take a mulligan, you don’t shuffle Rift into your library. You draw six cards instead of seven, then the mulligan procedure continues as normal. |
| 2019-11-12 | You may put Rift into your hand before shuffling the other cards in your deck to become your library. If you do, you draw six cards instead of seven while drawing your opening hand and while taking mulligans. Your maximum hand size is still seven. |
