Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds MTG Card
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Released | 2004-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Champions of Kamigawa |
| Set code | CHK |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 93 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Flip |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Ittoku |
Key Takeaways
- Looting with Student of Elements leads to effective deck filtering and maintaining a strong hand size.
- Tobita’s flip into a mana accelerator is key for recurring lands with valuable enter-the-battlefield effects.
- Instant speed transformation optimizes strategic play and board state adaptation.
Text of card
Creatures you control have flying.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Student of Elements, which transforms into Tobita, Master of Winds, provides you with a unique ability to loot, giving you the option to draw a card and then discard a card. This helps in filtering through your deck to find the key cards you need and maintains a healthy hand size throughout the game.
Resource Acceleration: Tobita, Master of Winds can also act as a resource accelerator by granting you access to additional mana through its ability to return a land to your hand when it flips. This can be incredibly useful for replaying lands with enter-the-battlefield effects or to ensure land drops in the subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: The flipping ability of Student of Elements to become Tobita, Master of Winds can be triggered at instant speed by playing a spirit or arcane spell on your opponent’s turn. This allows you to adapt to the board state and upgrade your creature when most advantageous for you, maximizing both surprise and strategic value.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the setbacks of Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds is the necessity to discard a card to transform it. This not only depletes your hand but may force tough decisions if your hand is already scant.
Specific Mana Cost: To get the most out of this card, your deck must carefully manage blue mana, as it requires not just any mana but a specific blue influence. This constraint may hamper the card’s inclusion in multi-colored or less-focused decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the card’s entire capability, especially its flip side, Tobita, Master of Winds, one must note that the initial investment is substantial. There are alternatives within the same mana spectrum that might provide a more immediate impact on the game without the flip condition.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds offers adaptability to various deck themes. As a creature that can flip into a powerful flying creature, this card adapts to changing board states effectively.
Combo Potential: Once transformed into Tobita, Master of Winds, this card’s ability to redirect damage serves as a key piece in combos that can protect your other creatures or even turn the tide by using spells or abilities that deal damage.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where flyers can dominate, having Tobita, Master of Winds gives you a considerable advantage, fitting seamlessly into decks that capitalize on powerful airborne threats or those that need a defensive pivot against aggressive strategies.
How to beat
Student of Elements, which transforms into Tobita, Master of Winds, is a unique card that offers tactical versatility on the battlefield. However, dealing with this flip card requires a well-timed strategy. To counter it, focus on removal spells that can target creatures at the instant speed. Direct damage spells or “destroy creature” effects applied before the card flips can effectively remove Student of Elements from the game before its abilities become a factor.
Additionally, leveraging counter magic is an effective tactic, interrupting the spell before it even hits the field, thus preventing any potential threats posed by Tobita. The key is to act swiftly and decisively – waiting too long allows your opponent to gain value from the elemental’s effects. Ensuring your removal or counter spells align with the mana cost of your opponent’s plays is pivotal. Keeping versatile replies in hand ensures that the transformation from Student to Master never occurs, safeguarding your position and maintaining control over the game flow.
Every card has its weaknesses, and in the case of Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds, preemptive control and quick answers are your best allies to ensure its potential remains untapped.
Cards like Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds
The Student of Elements card, which flips into Tobita, Master of Winds, presents unique versatility in Magic: The Gathering gameplay. This card recalls other creatures with transform abilities, such as Delver of Secrets which metamorphoses into Insectile Aberration. Similar to Student of Elements, Delver of Secrets only requires a mere investment of one blue mana and has the potential to develop into a more formidable creature.
Another akin card with the flip mechanic is Ludevic’s Test Subject, which hops into Ludevic’s Abomination. While both cards pivot on transforming to reveal their true power, the Test Subject requires mana investment to evolve, as opposed to the situational change driven by spellcasting for Student of Elements. Both, nonetheless, reflect the strategic depth and surprise element that transformations bring to the game.
Evaluating both Student of Elements and its counterparts highlight the diversity and strategic planning fostered through flip cards in the game. Each card exhibits distinct triggering conditions and outcomes, ultimately enhancing the dynamic nature of deck building and in-game tactics for players of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Student of Elements // Tobita, Master of Winds has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |