Riptide Survivor MTG Card

Scourge (SCG)
2003-05-26 - Number 48

Commander 2014 (C14)
2014-11-07 - Number 121

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Morph
Power	2
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Riptide Survivor enhances hand contents, cycling out less needed cards for more advantageous draws.
Instant-speed morphing allows strategic plays and unpredictability against adversaries.
Riptide Survivor’s specific blue mana cost may limit its inclusion to certain deck types.

Text of card

Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Riptide Survivor is turned face up, discard two cards from your hand, then draw three cards.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Riptide Survivor lets you discard two cards to then draw three cards when you use its morph ability, providing an effective way to cycle through your deck and get more options on hand.

Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to shift away from less useful cards in a specific matchup and dig deeper for impactful plays, Riptide Survivor can indirectly increase the speed at which you access your deck’s resources.

Instant Speed: The versatility of flipping Riptide Survivor at instant speed means that you can wait until the optimum moment during the game to unleash its card-drawing potential, catching opponents off guard and efficiently managing your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability of Riptide Survivor to net you card advantage comes at the noticeable cost of initial card disposal. When running low on cards in hand, activating its ability might not be an option, potentially stranding it as a mere 2/1 creature on the battlefield without leverage.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding two blue mana in its cost, Riptide Survivor isn’t always the easiest to cast outside mono-blue or two-color decks that include blue. This can be restrictive and sometimes pushes players to modify their mana base to accommodate it, potentially at the expense of a deck’s overall consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, which includes two of blue, Riptide Survivor might seem steep for its baseline stats. There are alternative cards at a similar or lower mana cost that can provide both an immediate effect and not necessitate the initial card discard, offering more immediate returns on your mana investment.

Reasons to Include Riptide Survivor in Your Collection

Versatility: Riptide Survivor is not your typical creature card. Its flexibility allows it to fit seamlessly into decks that capitalize on card draw and graveyard strategies. The ability to discard and then draw gives it a multifaceted role in gameplay.

Combo Potential: Its Threshold ability couples well with various combos, particularly those that thrive on cycling cards through the graveyard. It’s a perfect fit for decks manipulating discard to gain advantage or trigger powerful effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given the evolving nature of the metagame, Riptide Survivor remains relevant in formats where card advantage is crucial. With graveyard-based strategies gaining traction, this card has the potential to outmaneuver opponents by providing a consistent card draw mechanism.

How to beat Riptide Survivor

Riptide Survivor is a unique creature card with a powerful ability to reshape a player’s hand in Magic: The Gathering. This card can be a headache if left unchecked due to its morph feature, which lets it flip for a surprise effect, discarding two cards to draw three fresh ones. To outmaneuver it, players should consider instant-speed removals, such as Shock or Fatal Push, to eliminate the Survivor before its ability triggers.

Counterspells are also an excellent strategy against Riptide Survivor, specifically when your opponent attempts to morph it. Spell Pierce or Negate can effectively stop the ability and maintain control of the game. Additionally, graveyard strategies might benefit you, such as using Scavenging Ooze to remove key cards that your opponent could be aiming to recycle with the Survivor’s ability.

One should always be cautious of the board state and anticipate when an opponent might have the mana available to morph Riptide Survivor. Keeping cards in hand that can respond to this threat any time is essential for maintaining dominance in the match. Always remember, being proactive in your approach can neutralize threats before they have the chance to tip the scales.

Cards like Riptide Survivor

Riptide Survivor is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its powerful threshold ability that allows a player to draw three cards, then discard two cards. This mechanism can be likened to the card Merfolk Looter, which also permits card filtering through its tap-ability to draw and then discard a card. Though Merfolk Looter can be used more frequently, Riptide Survivor’s burst of card advantage is undeniable when its condition is met.

Wild Mongrel is another interesting comparison. It may not draw cards directly, but it does allow the player to discard cards to augment its power, while also shifting its color to throw off opponents’ strategies. The flexibility offered by Wild Mongrel in terms of instant speed response is compelling, but it falls short in generating the card advantage that Riptide Survivor can provide under the right circumstances.

Overall, the Riptide Survivor stands out in MTG for its potential to significantly replenish a player’s hand. In comparison to similar cards that permit discarding and drawing, Riptide Survivor’s one-time but impactful ability provides a noteworthy surge in resource availability that seasoned MTG players may find particularly advantageous in longer and more strategy-intensive games.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Riptide Survivor MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Commander 2014, 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 Survivor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Riptide Survivor Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2014-11-07. Illustrated by Thomas M. Baxa.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2003-05-26	Scourge	SCG		48	1997	Normal	Black	Thomas M. Baxa
2	2014-11-07	Commander 2014	C14		121	2015	Normal	Black	Thomas M. Baxa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Riptide Survivor has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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