Thornado MTG Card

Thornado efficiently cycles for card advantage and disrupts opponents with its instant speed flexibility. While it’s a specific green mana spell, it can be less versatile and compete with cheaper removals. Strategically guarding against Thornado involves using hexproof, diversification, and instant-speed buffs.

Modern Horizons (MH1)
2019-06-14 - Number 184

Breaking News (OTP)
2024-04-19 - Number 33

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Cycling

Text of card

Destroy target creature with flying. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Every bough, branch, and bramble lashed out in defense of the forest.

Cards like Thornado

Thornado is a unique spell in the realm of MTG that offers players an intriguing blend of creature control and combat mechanics. It stands shoulder to shoulder with cards like Plummet, as both Twister and Plummet allow for the targeted removal of flying creatures. Nevertheless, Thornado introduces a different angle; it not only brings down flyers but also cycles to possibly replace itself in your hand, providing a distinct card advantage.

Compared to Wing Snare, Thornado has a more flexible mana cost and the upside of cycling. Wing Snare, while effective, doesn’t offer the same potential card replacement benefit. Another parallel can be drawn with Crushing Canopy. This card shares the ability to destroy creatures with flying, yet it also extends its reach to deal with enchantments. However, it lacks the fluid cycle ability of Thornado, which can be crucial in games where card flow and options are key.

After evaluating the role of Thornado among its counterparts, it’s clear that the card carves out its niche with its dual utility. It caters well to a dynamic gameplan, giving players a valuable tool against aerial threats while maintaining card economy.

Cards similar to Thornado by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thornado offers the ability to cycle, replacing itself in your hand which can be crucial in finding key pieces for your strategy or simply maintaining card flow in a tight match.

Resource Acceleration: While Thornado itself does not directly accelerate resources, its low mana cost allows players to keep up the pace in the early game and remain efficient with their mana usage throughout the game.

Instant Speed: Thornado can be cast at instant speed, giving players the flexibility to disrupt an opponent’s plays during their turn or to simply wait and see if a more pressing threat emerges before deciding on the best use of their mana each round.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Thornado demands players to discard another card to access its cycling ability. While cycling can provide card advantage, losing a potentially useful card from your hand can be a setback, especially in games where hand size and options are critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Thornado’s casting cost requires one green mana, which can constrict it to decks that run green or have a reliable mana base capable of producing multiple colors consistently. This makes it less versatile in decks that don’t feature green prominently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one green, Thornado’s ability to destroy target creature with flying might be in direct competition with other removal spells that are either more cost-effective or offer broader removal options. Players might find other removal cards that fit better into their strategy for a similar or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thornado offers broad utility, being a great fit in decks that need to disrupt flying strategies or require efficient sideboard cards.

Combo Potential: This spell is a natural companion for decks focusing on storm count increments or those seeking to recur instant spells from the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: With flying creatures often dominating the skies in various formats, Thornado can serve as a key piece to gain an upper hand against such aerial threats.

How to beat

Thornado is a unique MTG card that brings versatile utility to a player’s deck. It can be a game-changer with its ability to counteract flying creatures, which are often difficult to deal with, especially for decks that lack reach or flying blocker options. However, to turn the tables against Thornado, consider incorporating cards that offer hexproof to your creatures, making them untargetable by such spells. If your deck runs heavy on flying creatures, diversify your threats. Include cards that can still operate effectively even if your aerial forces are grounded.

Another strategy is to employ instant-speed buffs that can increase a creature’s toughness beyond Thornado’s damage threshold or to use counterspells that can intercept and neutralize Thornado before it hits its mark. Additionally, since Thornado can target artifacts as well, it’s wise to rely less on artifact creatures or have a way to quickly recur them from the graveyard. To fortify your position further, cards that allow you to draw or search your library can help you find the specific answers you need to navigate around Thornado’s disruptive potential efficiently.

Ultimately, an adaptable game plan and foresight in deck building are crucial in facing down targeted removal like Thornado. With the right preparations and responses, you can ensure that your strategies remain unfazed by such hindrances, maintaining control and momentum in your matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thornado MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Breaking News, 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 Thornado and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thornado Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2019-06-14	Modern Horizons	MH1		184	2015	Normal	Black	Volkan Baǵa
2	2024-04-19	Breaking News	OTP		33	2015	Normal	Borderless	Yohann Schepacz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thornado has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal