Ground Rift MTG Card


Ground Rift - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Storm
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Number162
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

  1. Ground Rift is a versatile spell benefiting from the storm mechanic, amplifying effects with each spell cast beforehand.
  2. The card shines in red-based aggressive decks, offering potential for massive board impact at a low mana cost.
  3. Ground Rift’s strategic value increases in decks designed to cast multiple spells rapidly through combos or storm.

Text of card

Target creature without flying can't block this turn. Storm (When you play this spell, copy it for each spell played before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)

Some time rifts didn't take away the people but just the ground they stood on.


Ground Rift mtg Publishes Noteworthy Pros

Card Advantage: Ground Rift, with its multi-target capability, gives you a significant edge by hindering multiple blockers. This opens up various attack strategies, whether you’re using it offensively for clear attack paths or defensively to disjoint opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Ground Rift belongs to the famous Shadowmoor expansion set, a highly versatile Instant card type. It includes a unique ‘replicate’ feature that lets you pay its casting cost multiple times, enabling an amplification of effects that accelerates your battlefield control.

Instant Speed: As it’s an instant spell, Ground Rift takes effect immediately, allowing you to disrupt enemy plans at a moment’s notice. The unexpected speed of this card can shift the tide of the game, keeping your adversaries on edge and auxiliating significant tactical advantages.


Ground Rift Cons

Discard Requirement: Ground Rift doesn’t demand discarding a card. This might make the card seem perfect; however, it also suggests less tactical decisions for the player and less synergies with decks that interact with the graveyard.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost is red, implying that Ground Rift can primarily feature in mono-red or multi-coloured decks that contain red. It restricts the versatility of this card as it won’t fit in a deck that doesn’t run red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: A cost of one mana may not appear that high on first glance. But considering the effect — preventing target creature from blocking this turn and a shot at multi-target if you’re lucky with storm — other cards might provide more meaningful effects or influence on the battlefield for the same investment.


Reasons to Include Ground Rift in Your Collection

Versatility: Ground Rift, a spell from the Shadowmoor set, holds potential in many types of decks, particularly those capitalizing on the advantages of Red spells. Its low mana cost makes it easy to fit into a multitude of deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card truly shines in a combo-focused deck. With its Storm ability, Ground Rift can have amplified effects based on the number of spells played earlier during the same turn, potentially locking down several of the opponent’s creatures in a single play.

Meta-Relevance: For those keeping up with meta-game developments, Ground Rift can be a striking choice against creature-heavy strategies. By preventing blocking opportunities, it can swiftly change the game’s dynamic, making it an advantageous card worth consideration.


Similar Cards

Ground Rift in Magic: The Gathering shares parallels with other spells like Lightning Bolt, Integral Salvo, and Volcanic Hammer. They all belong to the category of direct damage spells but what differentiates Ground Rift is its unique ability to target creatures without flying. Its storm mechanic makes it exceptional, becoming an avalanche of bonus damage as the number of spells played in the same turn increases.

Meanwhile, Lightning Bolt demonstrates simplicity and sheer power, dealing 3 damage at the cost of only one red mana. Integral Salvo and Volcanic Hammer can deal a higher amount of damage, but they often require more mana to cast, hence timing and mana management becomes crucial.

Another equivalent in this category is Heat Shimmer, which can deliver both a direct damage spell and creature copying. However, its duplication ability can’t match up with Ground Rift’s cascading damage potential.

In summing up, Ground Rift, well-balanced between power and flexibility, falls into a unique place amongst direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering, underlining its distinctness granted by its storm ability and specific target specification.


How to Beat Ground Rift

Defeating Ground Rift requires careful play and strategizing. A red card from the Time Spiral set, Ground Rift targets creatures with flying in Magic: The Gathering. As it doesn’t affect ground-only creatures, building a deck heavy on such cards is one effective way to neutralize it.

Another approach is to focus on mana-absorbing spells that can drain Ground Rift’s potential before it’s played. With its suspend mechanic, the key is to deplete the card’s power before its four turns elapse. You can deploy counterspells, for instance, to deal a significant blow.

Relying on the versatility of artifact cards can also prove beneficial. Equipping your creatures with artifacts like Swiftfoot Boots or Lightning Greaves can help provide immune against Ground Rift’s effects. Using highly maneuverable cards also works well against Ground Rift as it targets a single creature only, redirecting Ground Riff’s effect minimizes the potential damages.

Wrapping up, formulating effective countermeasures against Ground Rift involves keen understanding of its abilities and timing. Amass a strategic mix of creatures and artifacts, supplemented by counterspells and mana-absorbing spells to triumph over this formidable MTG card.


Conclusion

In conclusion, Ground Rift offers a unique twist to your MTG gameplay, as it combines strategic thinking with unpredictability. Each match invites you to think deeply about when and how to utilize this card for optimal effect. The journey in MTG is an evolving puzzle, with each piece like Ground Rift adding depth to your strategy. Enhance your deck and prowess by incorporating this and other spells to your repertoire. Keep exploring, adapting, and learning – there’s always a new horizon to discover. Dive deeper into the MTG world with us and ensure your next duel is a testament to your growing skills and strategic genius.


Cards like Ground Rift

Ground Rift in Magic: The Gathering shares parallels with other spells like Lightning Bolt, Integral Salvo, and Volcanic Hammer. They all belong to the category of direct damage spells but what differentiates Ground Rift is its unique ability to target creatures without flying. Its storm mechanic makes it exceptional, becoming an avalanche of bonus damage as the number of spells played in the same turn increases.

Meanwhile, Lightning Bolt demonstrates simplicity and sheer power, dealing 3 damage at the cost of only one red mana. Integral Salvo and Volcanic Hammer can deal a higher amount of damage, but they often require more mana to cast, hence timing and mana management becomes crucial.

Another equivalent in this category is Heat Shimmer, which can deliver both a direct damage spell and creature copying. However, its duplication ability can’t match up with Ground Rift’s cascading damage potential.

In summing up, Ground Rift, well-balanced between power and flexibility, falls into a unique place amongst direct damage spells in Magic: The Gathering, underlining its distinctness granted by its storm ability and specific target specification.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Hammer - MTG Card versions
Heat Shimmer - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Volcanic Hammer - Portal (POR)
Heat Shimmer - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Ground Rift by color, type and mana cost

Disintegrate - MTG Card versions
Fireball - MTG Card versions
Earthquake - MTG Card versions
Mana Clash - MTG Card versions
Detonate - MTG Card versions
Winds of Change - MTG Card versions
Gamble - MTG Card versions
Meltdown - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Tremor - MTG Card versions
Ghitu Fire - MTG Card versions
Tahngarth's Glare - MTG Card versions
Lava Burst - MTG Card versions
Overmaster - MTG Card versions
Devil's Play - MTG Card versions
Firebolt - MTG Card versions
Blaze - MTG Card versions
Crack the Earth - MTG Card versions
Meteor Shower - MTG Card versions
Burning Inquiry - MTG Card versions
Disintegrate - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Fireball - The List (PLST)
Earthquake - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Mana Clash - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Detonate - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Winds of Change - Masters Edition (ME1)
Gamble - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Meltdown - Urza's Saga (USG)
Goblin Grenade - Arena New Player Experience Extras (XANA)
Tremor - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ghitu Fire - Invasion (INV)
Tahngarth's Glare - Apocalypse (APC)
Lava Burst - Deckmasters (DKM)
Overmaster - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Devil's Play - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Firebolt - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Blaze - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Crack the Earth - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Meteor Shower - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Burning Inquiry - Magic 2010 (M10)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ground Rift MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Ground Rift and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ground Rift has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ground Rift card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-06-07 A copy of a spell can be countered like any other spell, but it must be countered individually. Countering a spell with storm won’t affect the copies.
2013-06-07 Spells cast from zones other than a player’s hand and spells that were countered are counted by the storm ability.
2013-06-07 The copies are put directly onto the stack. They aren’t cast and won’t be counted by other spells with storm cast later in the turn.
2013-06-07 The triggered ability that creates the copies can itself be countered by anything that can counter a triggered ability. If it is countered, no copies will be put onto the stack.
2013-06-07 You may choose new targets for any of the copies. You can choose differently for each copy.

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