Riptide Chronologist MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2002-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Onslaught |
| Set code | ONS |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 107 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Roger Raupp |
Text of card
o U, Sacrifice Riptide Chronologist: Untap all creatures of the type of your choice.
The wizard consulted the Riptide Project about how to further his research. He wasn't prepared for what they told him.
Cards like Riptide Chronologist
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Riptide Chronologist shakes up the gameplay with its unique abilities. As a card that allows players to take extra turns by sacrificing it, it invites comparison with other extra turn spells. Time Warp, for instance, is a straightforward spell that simply grants an additional turn without any other requirements, making it a powerful option for players looking to extend their play. However, it doesn’t provide the creature presence that Riptide Chronologist does.
Temporal Manipulation shares similarities with Time Warp in its singular purpose to grant an extra turn, yet neither card gives the player a creature to maintain board presence. Meanwhile, cards like Part the Waterveil do provide an additional turn and can also become a formidable creature under the right circumstances, offering versatility similar to that of Riptide Chronologist. However, it requires a significant mana investment to use its awaken ability. Therefore, Riptide Chronologist stands out for its combination of taking extra turns and contributing to the player’s creature synergy on the battlefield.
In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, finding the right balance between cost, impact, and additional features makes Riptide Chronologist a notable choice for players who enjoy harnessing the power of time to their advantage.
Cards similar to Riptide Chronologist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Riptide Chronologist has the potential to generate card advantage by allowing you to potentially untap all creatures you control during each player’s upkeep, thus enabling repeated use of activated abilities or combat tricks that can draw you more cards or disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: The ability of Riptide Chronologist to untap creatures also acts as a form of resource acceleration. By refreshing your creatures, particularly those with tap abilities that produce mana or other resources, you’re effectively increasing the availability of those assets within a turn cycle.
Instant Speed: Although Riptide Chronologist itself is a creature and not an instant, its ability can be likened to instant speed interactions. Being able to untap creatures at the beginning of each upkeep means you’re always at the ready, prepared to respond to opponents’ actions or maximize your own strategies without needing to wait for your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Riptide Chronologist requires the discarding of a card as part of its activation cost, which can be a significant drawback when you are dealing with a depleted hand or when every card counts towards your strategic endgame.
Specific Mana Cost: With its specific mana cost demanding both blue and a certain amount of generic mana, this card necessitates a solid mana base tailored to meet its requirements. This can be challenging in multicolored decks or those that operate on a tight mana curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When looking into the mana investment for this card, it’s evident that it carries a relatively high cost for its effect. There are alternatives available that provide similar benefits for a lower mana investment, making them potentially more appealing choices for deck construction, especially in competitive formats.
Reasons to Include Riptide Chronologist in Your Collection
Versatility: The Riptide Chronologist serves as a flexible addition to any deck that seeks to capitalize on spell timing. Its ability to untap all creatures you control at the end of a turn, allows for repeated use of tap abilities, offering a tactical edge whether you’re defending or preparing for a decisive turn.
Combo Potential: This creature’s untap ability pairs wonderfully with cards that have powerful tap effects or with effects that trigger upon creatures untapping. The synergy within these combinations can create powerful and game-altering interactions on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where control or reactiveness is rewarded, the command over timing the Riptide Chronologist provides can pivot a match in your favor, making it an astute pick against decks that might not be able to capitalize on their creatures as efficiently each turn.
How to beat Riptide Chronologist
Riptide Chronologist can be a tricky card to face in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to manipulate turn order can disrupt typical game flow and provide a significant advantage to the player controlling it. However, there are strategies to counter this sneaky combatant. Firstly, removal spells are brutally effective against it. Due to its reliance on surviving multiple turns to extract value, immediate removal through spells like Murder or Path to Exile can neutralize it before it starts time-warping the rounds.
Besides direct removal, countering Riptide Chronologist when it’s cast can stifle your opponent’s plans. Counterspell, for instance, can be your best friend in blue matchups. But don’t fret if you’re not playing blue; take advantage of the Chronologist’s summoning sickness. Creatures with haste or flash can apply pressure or ambush it before your opponent uses its ability. Cards like Embercleave attached to a swift aggressor can also make quick work of the Chronologist.
Control the pace and remember that Riptide Chronologist must survive to utilize its effect. Be proactive, keep their side of the board clear, and you’ll negate the temporal advantage Riptide Chronologist seeks to provide.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Riptide Chronologist MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Riptide Chronologist and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Riptide Chronologist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |