Storm Crow MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 36b
1996-06-10 - Number 36a
1997-05-01 - Number 69d
1997-05-01 - Number 69
1999-04-21 - Number 101
1999-07-01 - Number 53
2001-04-11 - Number 100
2001-04-11 - Number 100★
2003-07-28 - Number 104★
2003-07-28 - Number 104
2005-07-29 - Number 100
2005-07-29 - Number 100★
2017-12-08 - Number 5
2020-03-08 - Number 31
2022-10-07 - Number 5
2019-12-02 - Number 60
2020-09-26 - Number 9ED-100
| Card sets | Released in 17 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Bird |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying
"Watch for it! Right on its tailfeathers will be a storm from your nightmares." —Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain
Cards like Storm Crow
In the vast ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering, Storm Crow is often recognized more for its meme status within the community rather than its competitive play. However, examining Storm Crow in comparison with other cards in its realm offers insight into its place in the game. For instance, the Albatross of the MTG world, Ornithopter, boasts a cost of zero mana—a distinct advantage over Storm Crow. Yet, Ornithopter lacks any power, while Storm Crow can at least deal some damage with its 1/2 stat line.
Moving up the power scale, Squadron Hawk is a creature card that closely aligns with Storm Crow’s casting cost and stats. Squadron Hawk, however, offers a slight edge by allowing you to search for additional copies of itself, potentially giving you card advantage. Similarly, Fairy Seer provides added strategic depth with its scry ability, enhancing the player’s control over upcoming draws, something Storm Crow does not provide.
Despite these comparisons, Storm Crow remains a beloved and humorous slice of the MTG universe. While it may not stand out in terms of raw power or unique abilities, its simplicity and the lighthearted banter it inspires ensure its enduring legacy among players.
Cards similar to Storm Crow by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Storm Crow may not directly offer card draw, its low casting cost provides a subtle form of card advantage by letting you deploy more threats or hold up mana for other actions without significant investment.
Resource Acceleration: While Storm Crow doesn’t accelerate resources in the traditional sense, its low mana cost synergizes with cards that reward you for casting multiple spells or having creatures enter the battlefield, thereby indirectly contributing to your resource acceleration strategies.
Instant Speed: As a creature, Storm Crow can’t be cast at instant speed. However, its presence in a deck can support instant-speed plays by applying pressure that may force your opponent to act hastily on their turn, which could be beneficial for your game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In building a deck, selecting cards that optimize your hand is essential. Unlike cards with no additional cost, Storm Crow’s discard requirement can be a drawback by depleting your hand faster, especially if the deck relies on card advantage to outpace the opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Storm Crow demands blue mana for casting, which can be restrictive. Decks not tuned to generate blue mana consistently may find including a Storm Crow impractical, confining its use to mono-blue or blue-centric decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for a 1/2 flyer, Storm Crow may not be the most mana-efficient creature available. In a game where the early turns can be pivotal, investing in a minimally impactful card could put a player at a disadvantage against faster or more aggressive strategies.
Reasons to Include Storm Crow in Your Collection
Versatility: Despite its simplicity, Storm Crow can be slotted into various blue decks thanks to its flying ability. It’s a classic creature that can serve as an early game blocker or an evasive attacker when needed.
Combo Potential: While not overtly powerful on its own, Storm Crow can be part of combos with cards that benefit from having flying creatures or those that require creatures to be sacrificed for greater effects.
Meta-Relevance: In some casual circles and humorous magic play, Storm Crow garners attention for its notorious reputation. Its presence can be seen as a lighthearted challenge to more serious meta-dominant cards.
How to beat
The iconic Storm Crow may seem like an unassuming card on the surface, yet it’s earned a cult status among Magic: The Gathering players. At first glance, this bird creature card does not present a formidable challenge with its minimal power and toughness stats. However, it has been joked about for its supposedly “overpowered” nature in the MTG community.
That being said, taking down a Storm Crow is as straightforward as comparing its stats to any other creature on the battlefield. Any creature with a power of at least 2 can easily remove Storm Crow in combat. Additionally, because it’s a flying creature, ensuring to have a creature with reach or any spell that can target flying creatures can easily neutralize it. Direct damage spells, such as Shock or Lightning Bolt, are also effective and can dispose of the Storm Crow without much fanfare. Therefore, while Storm Crow holds a special place in the collective MTG lore, practically speaking, it doesn’t pose a significant tactical challenge and can be easily managed during gameplay.
Its legacy aside, when faced against Storm Crow, strategy and a bit of power are all it takes to ensure this bird doesn’t become an unruly animal in your match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Storm Crow MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Storm Crow 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
Printings
The Storm Crow Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by 6 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 36b | 1993 | Normal | Black | Sandra Everingham | |
| 2 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 36a | 1993 | Normal | Black | Sandra Everingham | |
| 3 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 69d | 1997 | Normal | Black | Una Fricker | |
| 4 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 69 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Una Fricker | |
| 5 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 101 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
| 6 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 53 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
| 7 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 100 | 1997 | Normal | White | John Matson | |
| 8 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 100★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 9 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 104★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 10 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 104 | 2003 | Normal | White | John Matson | |
| 11 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 100 | 2003 | Normal | White | John Matson | |
| 12 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 100★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 13 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 5 | 2015 | Token | Silver | McLean Kendree | |
| 14 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 15 | 2020-03-08 | Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils | FMB1 | 31 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Matson | |
| 16 | The List | PLST | 9ED-100 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Matson | ||
| 17 | 2022-10-07 | Unfinity | UNF | 5 | 2015 | Token | Black | Greg Staples |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Storm Crow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |