Reservoir Kraken MTG Card


Boosts card count and strategic depth by drawing additional cards upon activation. Enables instant speed interactions to surprise opponents and shift game tempo. Demands thoughtful deck construction to optimize its mana and discard mechanics.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Kraken
Abilities Trample,Ward
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Trample, ward At the beginning of each combat, if Reservoir Kraken is untapped, any opponent may tap an untapped creature they control. If they do, tap Reservoir Kraken and create a 1/1 blue Fish creature token with "This creature can't be blocked."


Cards like Reservoir Kraken

Reservoir Kraken is a compelling creature card that finds its place in the sea of Magic: The Gathering’s vast creature pool. It can be juxtaposed with cards such as Lorthos, the Tidemaker, which also carries the high impact of locking down opponent’s assets. What distinguishes Reservoir Kraken, is its ability to harness the power of multiple permanents it untaps when entering the battlefield, providing a surge in board control.

Another related card to consider is Tidal Kraken, a hefty sea monster without the locking down ability but unblockable, ensuring damage. Whisking back to what makes Reservoir Kraken unique, its untapping synergy could potentially turn the tides in a player’s favor by giving a second wind to permanents. Frost Titan is another giant from the depths that can freeze opponent’s cards, but it does so one at a time and offers a repeatable effect as opposed to Reservoir Kraken’s initial widespread frost wave.

Measuring up attributes, it’s clear that Reservoir Kraken weighs in strongly in its niche, especially in decks that benefit from untapping permanents. With precision, it can tactically alter the state of play, making it a noteworthy competitor among its monstrous kin.

Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Tidal Kraken - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions
Tidal Kraken - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Reservoir Kraken. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Blue TempoMono-Blue Tempo StandardMono-Blue TempoTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: March 4, 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Reservoir Kraken, you’re able to consistently grow your hand size, as it comes armed with the potential to pull extra cards from your library. An effective engine for sustaining pressure on your opponents while padding your own strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: Unleashing a Reservoir Kraken accelerates your resources by unlocking additional mana capacity. This surge in mana can be pivotal, granting the upper hand by allowing deployment of further threats or answers, pivotal in the dance of advantage.

Instant Speed: The versatility of casting spells at instant speed with Reservoir Kraken can’t be overstated. In the vast strategic expanse of a game, the ability to activate effects or spring surprises in the midst of an opponent’s turn is a tactical boon that can easily tip the scales in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Reservoir Kraken is its demand that players discard a card in order to unleash its full potential. In situations where hand size is already depleted, this requirement could tip the balance unfavorably, forcing a player to lose out on valuable cards they would prefer to keep.

Specific Mana Cost: This aquatic behemoth comes with a specific mana cost that necessitates a solid base of blue mana. For players running multicolored decks, assembling the necessary resources to summon the Kraken could prove challenging, which may narrow its applicability to mono-blue or decks with a heavy blue presence.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a lofty mana value to bring it into play, the Reservoir Kraken’s cost may deter some players, particularly when there are alternatives in the sea of MTG cards that come into play more quickly or offer cost-efficient utility for a similar investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Reservoir Kraken is a dynamic addition with the flexibility to enhance multiple strategies. Its tentacle tokens can serve both defensive and offensive roles, depending upon your deck’s needs.

Combo Potential: The card works seamlessly with strategies that capitalize on token generation or require sacrificing creatures for greater benefit, unlocking numerous synergistic possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of competitive play, Reservoir Kraken’s ability to disrupt opponent’s plans while developing your board presence can give you a decisive advantage in various matchups.


How to beat Reservoir Kraken

Reservoir Kraken represents a mighty force on the battlefield with its potential to tap multiple nonland permanents and disrupt the opponent’s strategies in MTG. To effectively counter this sea monster, players should consider making use of instant-speed removal cards, enabling them to react swiftly and eliminate the Kraken before it can establish control. Path to Exile and Fatal Push emerge as prime examples of cards that can address the threat cost-effectively, without giving your opponent the opportunity to leverage the Kraken’s ability.

Additionally, employing counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak could prevent the Kraken from ever hitting the board, allowing you to halt the threat preemptively. In terms of broader strategies, adjusting your deck to include a range of versatile answers or playing aggressively to pressure your opponent before they can summon the Kraken might tip the scales in your favor. Flexibility and anticipation are key when facing off against potent creatures like Reservoir Kraken in the MTG realm.


BurnMana Recommendations

After diving deep into the capabilities and challenges of Reservoir Kraken, the strategic potentials in MTG become clear. Offering card advantage, mana acceleration, and the element of surprise through instant speed interactions, this creature could be the leviathan your deck is searching for. It demands a keen awareness of your hand and mana pool, so ensure you’re well-prepared to navigate its heavy mana weight and discard requirements. For those ready to make waves and control the tides of battle, including Reservoir Kraken in your collection could be a game-changing move. Interested in mastering the depths? Connect with BurnMana for more insights and strategies to enhance your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reservoir Kraken MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Streets of New Capenna, 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 Reservoir Kraken and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Reservoir Kraken Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 997372015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
22022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 562015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
32022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 56p2015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
42022-04-29Streets of New Capenna PromosPSNC 56s2015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory
52022-04-29Streets of New CapennaSNC 4132015NormalBlackNicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reservoir Kraken has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-04-29 Each opponent in turn order may choose to tap an untapped creature as Reservoir Kraken's triggered ability resolves, even if a player earlier in the turn order already chose to tap a creature. Reservoir Kraken's controller will create a maximum of one Fish creature token each combat, no matter how many creatures were tapped.
2022-04-29 Players won't know which player or planeswalker Reservoir Kraken will attack, if any, when deciding whether to tap an untapped creature for its triggered ability.