Seismic Wave MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2022-02-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty |
| Set code | NEO |
| Number | 161 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aaron J. Riley |
Text of card
Seismic Wave deals 2 damage to any target and 1 damage to each nonartifact creature target opponent controls.
"Step carefully, Imperial. Even the earth rises against you."
Cards like Seismic Wave
Seismic Wave is an intriguing entry among red sorcery spells in the world of Magic: The Gathering. When compared with cards like Tremble, which also forces each player to sacrifice a land, Seismic Wave brings its own unique angle into play. While Tremble is a more cost-efficient option, requiring less mana, Seismic Wave has the distinct feature of dealing damage to creatures based on the number of lands the caster sacrifices, potentially turning a simple land sacrifice into a creature sweep.
Analyzing it alongside Roiling Terrain, we find that both cards deal with land destruction and damage, but their approaches are different. Roiling Terrain deals damage to an opponent based on the number of land cards in their graveyard, whereas Seismic Wave’s damage potential is directly tied to the caster’s willingness to leverage their own lands. Another comparable card in concept might be Volcanic Upheaval. Although it strictly focuses on land destruction without the added creature damage, it offers instant speed, giving players tactical flexibility that Seismic Wave does not.
Ultimately, Seismic Wave occupies a niche in red sorcery spells with its dual-threat capability, making it a card to consider for decks that are not afraid to sacrifice land for significant board impact.
Cards similar to Seismic Wave by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Seismic Wave. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Temur Land Combo | Standard | Temur Land Combo | Standard Preliminary 2024-04-12 |
| 4c Land Combo | Standard | 4c Land Combo | Standard League 2024-05-12 |
| Temur Analyst | Standard | Temur Land Combo | Pro Tour Thunder Junction |
 | Mono-Red Aggro | Standard | Mono-Red Aggro | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
 | Izzet Pirates | Standard | Izzet Pirates | Standard League 2024-03-21 |
 | Rakdos Vampires | Standard | Rakdos Midrange | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Seismic Wave offers a potential card advantage by dealing damage to multiple creatures. This can lead to a favorable board state, putting you ahead in card economy.
Resource Acceleration: If Seismic Wave clears the board of smaller threats, it paves the way for your larger threats to dominate. Essentially, it accelerates your resource dominance by removing opposing blockers or utility creatures without a direct exchange of cards.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Seismic Wave allows for strategic flexibility. You can deploy it at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, which could disrupt their plans and provide you with a tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Seismic Wave demands a card to be discarded when it’s played. This can deplete your hand, especially if you’re running low on cards, making it difficult to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Seismic Wave’s mana cost is strictly red, which potentially restricts it to mono-red or two-color decks that can reliably produce red mana. This can reduce the card’s versatility and limit the types of decks that it can be effectively played in.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a higher mana cost for its effects, Seismic Wave does not compare favorably against other cards with similar effects but lower mana requirements. This may cause it to be overlooked in favor of more efficient alternatives when deck building.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Seismic Wave is a dynamically adaptable card capable of fitting into various deck archetypes. Its ability to potentially clear the board or target specific threats aligns with both aggressive and control-style strategies.
Combo Potential: With its potential to deal damage scaled to the number of lands you control, Seismic Wave pairs well with land ramp strategies, setting the stage for explosive turns that can quickly tilt the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where decks that play a lot of non-creature spells dominate, Seismic Wave can serve as an efficient tool to disrupt your opponent’s plans while simultaneously advancing your own board state.
How to Beat
Understanding how to strategically overcome Seismic Wave can be a key factor in gaining the upper hand in a game. Seismic Wave is known for its potential to deal destructive damage, disrupting your strategy. With this in mind, the best approach is to prioritize the elimination of its enablers. Taking control of the board, limiting the number of creatures your opponent can harness, and employing countermeasures against spells that enable Seismic Wave ensures that its impact is greatly reduced.
Similarly, integrating instant speed removals or counter spells in your deck composition can significantly mitigate the threat posed by Seismic Wave. Thereby, you can react promptly to its activation, interrupting your opponent’s attempts to capitalize on the card. Efficiently managing your life total and ensuring you have a solid defensive setup can also nullify the card’s effectiveness. Keep these strategies in mind and Seismic Wave will be less of a tremor and more of a manageable tremble.
By analyzing and adapting to the mechanics of Seismic Wave, you can fortify your defense and turn the tide of the game. Knowing how to neutralize this card allows you to maintain control and advance towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Seismic Wave MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Seismic Wave 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Seismic Wave has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |