Rushing River MTG Card
2001-02-05 - Number 30
2001-08-08 - Number ab30sb
2002-08-14 - Number rl30
2002-08-14 - Number rl30sb
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Kicker |
Text of card
Kicker— Sacrifice a land. (You may sacrifice a land in addition to any other costs as you play this spell.) Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand. If you paid the kicker cost, return another target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
Cards like Rushing River
Rushing River stands out among utility spells within Magic: The Gathering, especially when considering options for tempo control. Like the classic Unsummon, Rushing River can return a creature to its owner’s hand, yet it takes this effect further by allowing you to return another permanent to its owner’s hand if you played it with its kicker cost. This potential for a two-for-one scenario elevates its tactical versatility compared to the singular effect of Unsummon.
Capsize is another somewhat related card, offering a repeatable bounce effect with its buyback mechanic, although at a higher mana investment. While Rushing River is a one-time event, Capsize can become a recurring nuisance. Additionally, Into the Roil presents itself as a competitor, capable of returning nonland permanents, with the added benefit of drawing a card if kicked. Although Into the Roil is more restricted in target selection than Rushing River, its card draw capability should not be understated.
Comparing these options shows that Rushing River claims a unique space with its potential double impact, making it an intelligent choice for players seeking to gain tempo advantage by disturbing multiple elements of their opponent’s board in a single move.
Cards similar to Rushing River by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rushing River provides a unique way to disrupt an opponent’s battlefield and simultaneously bounce one of your own permanents, possibly reusing enter-the-battlefield effects or saving a key piece from removal.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, by returning your own lands or mana-producing artifacts to hand, Rushing River can indirectly contribute to your mana pool, enabling you to replay the lands for additional landfall triggers or cast spells with Kicker costs without falling behind on board presence.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Rushing River at instant speed offers significant tactical flexibility. React during your opponent’s turn, disrupt their combat strategies, or skillfully navigate complex board states, all while keeping up the surprise element that can shift the tide of the match in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Rushing River offers flexibility in bouncing nonland permanents, it does not do this for free. The additional cost to bounce an extra permanent requires you to discard a card, which could set you back if your hand is already depleted or the resources in it are too valuable to part with.
Specific Mana Cost: Rushing River demands a specific mix of blue mana to cast. This specificity narrows the card’s compatibility, primarily fitting into blue-centric or blue-inclusive decks, which may not be ideal for every player’s strategy or mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the cost-benefit ratio, Rushing River’s mana requirement of three, including two blue, might be seen as steep for its immediate impact on the game. This is especially true when measured against other cards in the same mana bracket that could provide more strategic advantages or have a greater effect on the board state.
Reasons to Include Rushing River in Your Collection
Versatility: Rushing River stands out because of its utility in various deck strategies. It can act as a defensive mechanism to protect your key creatures or as an offensive tool to clear a path for an impending attack.
Combo Potential: The ability to return a permanent you control to your hand allows you to re-use enter-the-battlefield effects of your other cards, opening up avenues for powerful combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence can determine the victor, Rushing River can disrupt opponents’ plans and shift the momentum in your favor, making it a tactically sound choice in many metagames.
How to Beat Rushing River
Rushing River presents an inventive twist to the control elements in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. This card can be likened to other bounce spells like Unsummon, which can return a creature to its owner’s hand. However, Rushing River raises the bar with its potential to return two permanents, provided you played the kicker cost. Unlike Unsummon, the kicker mechanic gives the player flexibility based on the board state.
Considering strategies to overcome Rushing River, one might look towards cards like Miscast, which can counter a kicker spell at a mere one mana cost. Spell Pierce is another tool offering a safeguard, countering noncreature spells unless their caster pays an additional two mana. This can be pivotal when countering Rushing River’s kicker condition that demands an additional mana investment.
Understanding the nuances of Rushing River’s ability to disrupt the battlefield dynamics, players can equip their decks with cost-effective countermagic. This ensures they’re prepped to maintain the tempo and minimize the setback that such a flexible bounce spell can impose, thus securing their own position in fast-paced MTG matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rushing River MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and World Championship Decks 2001, 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 Rushing River and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Rushing River Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2002-08-14. Illustrated by Don Hazeltine.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-02-05 | Planeshift | PLS | 30 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Don Hazeltine | |
| 2 | 2001-08-08 | World Championship Decks 2001 | WC01 | ab30sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Don Hazeltine | |
| 3 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | rl30 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Don Hazeltine | |
| 4 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | rl30sb | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Don Hazeltine |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rushing River has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rushing River card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You can sacrifice a tapped land. |
| 2004-10-04 | You choose a second target only if you choose to pay the Kicker cost. |