Soul of the Rapids MTG Card


Efficient flying capability for sustained damage and board control in a blue mana deck. Hexproof ability grants robust defense against targeted spells and removal strategies. Despite its higher mana cost, its versatility makes it a worthy collection addition.
Soul of the Rapids - Rivals of Ixalan
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Flying,Hexproof
Released2018-01-19
Set symbol
Set nameRivals of Ixalan
Set codeRIX
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number56
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAnthony Palumbo

Text of card

Flying Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

With Kumena in control of the Immortal Sun, the rapids rose from their riverbeds and the waterfalls took flight.


Cards like Soul of the Rapids

When looking at Soul of the Rapids in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, its attributes place it in a specific niche within the blue creature card pool. Soul of the Rapids stands out with its combination of flying and hexproof abilities, a pairing that is somewhat less common in cards with a comparable mana cost. Cards like Mist-Cloaked Herald may be cheaper to cast and also possess an unblockable trait, but they don’t provide the same level of protection against targeted spells or abilities due to the lack of hexproof.

Another creature to consider is Slippery Scoundrel, which upon obtaining the city’s blessing, gains both hexproof and the inability to be blocked, much like an upgraded version of Soul of the Rapids once certain conditions are met. However, it requires a build-up of ten permanents on the battlefield, which isn’t always achievable depending on the pace and style of your deck.

Thus, Soul of the Rapids occupies a healthy spot within blue’s defensive airborne units in MTG. With its built-in defenses, it can be especially useful in strategies that look to protect key creatures while steadily chipping away at the opponent’s life total.

Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Slippery Scoundrel - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Slippery Scoundrel - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soul of the Rapids enhances your board presence with its ability to provide a flying creature, which can be a key component in maintaining dominance in the aerial combat zone. Flying creatures in MTG are often difficult to block, making them valuable for consistent damage delivery and for evading your opponent’s defenses.

Resource Acceleration: The inclusion of Soul of the Rapids in your deck doesn’t directly translate to traditional resource acceleration like ramp or treasure tokens. However, its low mana cost for a 3/2 flying creature can be looked at as an efficient resource investment, offering a formidable presence in the air for a relatively minimal cost.

Instant Speed: Although Soul of the Rapids is not an instant, its hexproof ability gives it a quasi-instant speed advantage. Hexproof protects it from your opponent’s targeted spells and abilities, which means you can deploy the card without fear of it being immediately removed. This enables you to set up your defenses or attacks with more assurance that your creature will survive until your next turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Soul of the Rapids presents no discard demands, thus this common downside isn’t an issue. Instead, it offers an enchantment-based ability that can bolster your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card necessitates both blue mana and generic mana, making it most suited for decks that can reliably produce blue mana, potentially limiting its adaptability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana including two blue, Soul of the Rapids might be considered costly given its base stats and abilities. Players may find more impactful creatures or spells at a similar mana investment.


Reasons to Include Soul of the Rapids in Your Collection

Versatility: Soul of the Rapids can be a versatile addition to decks that benefit from flying creatures. Its ability to evade many common blockers can make it a persistent threat on the board.

Combo Potential: This card plays well with auras and equipment that enhance flying creatures, as well as with blue-based strategies focusing on controlling the skies. Its hexproof ability also provides resilience against targeted removal, giving it staying power that’s excellent in combo setups.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks are prevalent, Soul of the Rapids can serve as a reliable win condition that dodges many of the common removal spells. Its presence in a deck forces opponents to adjust their strategies, dedicating more resources to manage the aerial threat it poses.


How to beat

Soul of the Rapids stands out in MTG as a creature that offers both flying and hexproof abilities. These features make it a relatively formidable card to encounter, providing it with a level of evasion and protection from targetable spells. Despite this, facing Soul of the Rapids on the battlefield is not without counterplay strategies. The key is to employ board wipes or spells that deal damage to all creatures, as these bypass hexproof due to not targeting individual creatures directly. Cards like Sweltering Suns and Ritual of Soot can clear the board without needing to target the elusive Soul of the Rapids.

Additionally, controlling the pace of the game is vital. Implementing cards that alter the combat dynamics can neutralize the threat posed by this enchanting creature. A deck that can outpace the opponent by applying early pressure or managing creature threats efficiently will reduce the impact of Soul of the Rapids in the match. Thus, a blend of board control, strategic removal, and tempo can ensure that Soul of the Rapids does not become an insurmountable obstacle in your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soul of the Rapids MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan, 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 Soul of the Rapids and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soul of the Rapids has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal