Tidal Courier MTG Card
2001-06-04 - Number 31
2016-11-16 - Number 65861
2017-10-24 - Number 19
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Tidal Courier comes into play, reveal the top four cards of your library. Put all Merfolk cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. o3o U: Tidal Courier gains flying until end of turn.
Cards like Tidal Courier
Tidal Courier is a versatile blue creature card often compared to other creature-based card draw options in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to cards like Sea Gate Oracle, which also enables a peek at the top cards of your library, offering the option to put one into your hand. However, Sea Gate Oracle allows you to look at only the top two cards, whereas Tidal Courier provides access to the top four, giving it a potentially greater reach for finding the right card.
Sifting through the card pool further, we find Merfolk Looter, another card that facilitates drawing. While Tidal Courier lets you reveal the top four cards and add all revealed Merfolk cards to your hand, Merfolk Looter requires tapping but offers a steady card draw mechanism throughout the game. Tidal Courier’s advantage lies in its ability to provide a significant one-time card advantage, especially in a deck with a high concentration of Merfolk synergy.
Within the scope of blue creature cards that impact the hand, Tidal Courier stands out for its potential card advantage and thematic consistency in Merfolk tribal decks. The comparison showcases that its unique card draw capability tailored for creature-based strategies is what sets it apart in the blue card draw ensemble.
Cards similar to Tidal Courier by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tidal Courier offers the potential to draw multiple cards upon entering the battlefield. By revealing cards from the top of your library until you reveal four Merfolk cards, it allows you to put all Merfolk found into your hand, thereby increasing your options and giving you an edge over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Tidal Courier itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can effectively sift through your library to find key Merfolk that may offer mana ramp or other acceleration benefits. Thus, it indirectly contributes to your resource development.
Instant Speed: The ability to return Tidal Courier to its owner’s hand at instant speed provides tactical flexibility. You can respond to removal spells or unfavorable blocks by saving the Courier and potentially reusing its card drawing ability later in the match, ensuring you don’t lose out on card economy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players often face a dilemma when Tidal Courier requires them to return a blue creature they control back to their hand. This can set back your board presence, especially when you need to maintain creatures on the battlefield for defensive or offensive strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Tidal Courier comes with a blue-centric mana cost, meaning it necessitates a solid blue mana base. This can potentially limit deck-building options, as it is less flexible for inclusion in multicolor decks not heavily invested in blue resources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana investment to bring Tidal Courier into play, it faces stiff competition from other cards within the same cost bracket. Considering the card’s effect relative to its cost, players might find other creatures or spells that provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tidal Courier offers adaptability as it can blend into various blue-centric archetypes. Whether you’re building a control deck needing more draw or an aggro deck that could use some utility creatures, Tidal Courier’s ability to reveal and potentially snatch a handful of creatures is a handy tool for multiple strategies.
Combo Potential: With the option to return a handful of creatures from the revealed cards to your hand, Tidal Courier holds the potential to set up powerful combinations, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature-based synergies or those that aim to assemble specific creature combos to secure a win.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the current game dynamics, Tidal Courier’s utility can shine through against slower-paced control or combo decks, allowing you to maintain card advantage while developing your board state. Even in a faster meta, it remains a flexible pick that can offer unexpected benefits.
How to beat
Tidal Courier is a unique creature card that delves into the depths of Magic: The Gathering’s vast sea of spells. Known for its ability to reveal the top four cards of a player’s library and potentially put valuable Merfolk cards into their hand, it’s a card that can quickly sway the tide of the game in favor of those who wield it effectively. Its secondary ability to return a Merfolk to its owner’s hand adds to its strategic depth, potentially saving key creatures from removal or simply reutilizing enter-the-battlefield effects.
To counter this aquatic menace, maintaining removal spells that can target Tidal Courier before its abilities trigger is essential. Counterspells are also highly effective, as they prevent the Courier from ever entering the battlefield. Graveyard disruption can hinder any attempts to recycle the Courier’s abilities, and efficient creature control can neutralize the Merfolk advantage it aims to secure. Additionally, keeping an eye on the board and being prepared to disrupt your opponent’s strategies when they rely on the Courier’s card advantage can be crucial in sealing your victory over the tides.
To sum up, Tidal Courier’s advantages in card selection and tribal synergy make it a noteworthy card. However, with the right control and disruption tactics, its potential impact can be dampened, allowing you to keep the upper hand in your matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tidal Courier MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Treasure Chest, 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 Tidal Courier 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
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Printings
The Tidal Courier Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2017-10-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-06-04 | Apocalypse | APC | 31 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Wayne England | |
| 2 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 65861 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 3 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 19 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tidal Courier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |