Temporal Eddy MTG Card


Temporal Eddy - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Number85
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWayne England

Key Takeaways

  1. Disrupt opponents or reuse your own effects by returning creatures or lands to hand with Temporal Eddy.
  2. Instant speed allows reactive plays, adding surprise and flexibility to your in-game decisions.
  3. Meta-relevant; Temporal Eddy can delay crucial opponent plays, offering a tactical edge in control decks.

Text of card

Put target creature or land on top of its owner's library.

As the temporal fractures spread and time itself slowly fell apart, visitors started to appear from across the past and future, and those native to the present began to disappear.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Temporal Eddy offers the strategic benefit of putting target creature or land back into its owner’s hand. This can disrupt the opponent’s board state and give you a leg up as they will have to spend another turn redeploying that resource, effectively granting you a card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Temporal Eddy can act as a resource accelerator by resetting your own permanents with enter-the-battlefield effects or undoing an opponent’s setup, which might involve costly creatures or lands that tap for multiple mana.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Temporal Eddy at instant speed adds an element of surprise and flexibility to your gameplay. It allows you to be reactive during your opponent’s turn, potentially saving mana for other responses, or strategically waiting to see how your opponent further develops their board before choosing your target.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Temporal Eddy compels players to set aside another card from their hand when casting it. This additional discard can sometimes be a costly demand, especially in game states where hand size is critical and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and generic mana, this card necessitates a certain mana base which might not seamlessly fit into all strategy plans. Decks that aren’t precisely tailored to accommodate such mana requirements may find it challenging to cast Temporal Eddy when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its place in the mana curve, Temporal Eddy may be seen as slightly expensive for the temporary relief it offers. Decks looking for more permanent solutions to threats might pass over it in favor of cards with lasting or more impactful effects for a similar investment.


Reasons to Include Temporal Eddy in Your Collection

Versatility: Temporal Eddy can be an asset in decks that require tempo manipulation. Its ability to return a creature or land to its owner’s hand allows you to disrupt opponent strategies or reuse your own enter-the-battlefield effects.

Combo Potential: This card works well in synergistic setups, particularly those that capitalize on casting multiple spells in a single turn or employing spells with rebound or flashback to extract additional value from the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence is vital, Temporal Eddy provides a way to gain an edge by setting your opponents back and potentially delaying pivotal turns, making it a tactical choice for reactive or control decks.


How to beat

Temporal Eddy is an intriguing card that allows a player to essentially “time-walk” an opponent’s threat by putting it on top of their library. To effectively counter this blue spell, timing and strategy are key. Employing instant-speed removal or counterspells when an opponent casts Temporal Eddy can disrupt their plan, preserving your board state and maintaining tempo. Cards like Miscast can be particularly useful, providing a low-cost counteracting measure against such tempo plays. Alternatively, utilizing cards with flash allows you to play around the Eddy’s timing, avoiding the setback and maintaining pressure on your opponent.

Moreover, deck construction with diversified threats helps in mitigating the impact of Temporal Eddy. By maintaining a mix of instant-speed interactions and resilient creatures, you can reduce the chances of getting caught off-guard. Lastly, being cognizant of the mana open for blue spells and assuming the possibility of Eddy can guide you to make more informed plays, protect key pieces, and ultimately, secure your win despite your opponent’s attempt to disrupt your pace with this clever temporal manipulation card.


Cards like Temporal Eddy

In the realm of MTG, Temporal Eddy offers a unique approach to manipulating the pace of the game. It draws parallels to cards like Unsummon or Vapor Snag, both of which are single-target spells that return creatures to their owner’s hand. What sets Temporal Eddy apart is its ability to target not just creatures, but also permanents, adding a layer of flexibility to your strategic plays.

Contrasting with Boomerang or Disperse, which similarly target any nonland permanent, Temporal Eddy offers a subtle advantage. Despite being at the same mana cost as Disperse, it also peeks into your opponent’s next draw, effectively delaying their plans. Boomerang’s strict double-blue mana requirement can sometimes be more restrictive, whereas Temporal Eddy’s split mana cost aids in its casting consistency.

Temporal Eddy is a nuanced card that might not have the raw efficiency of some of its cousins but compensates with the added benefit of controlling the top of an opponent’s deck. It fits into a specific niche of control decks that aim to dictate the tempo of combat while gaining information on forthcoming threats.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Disperse - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Vapor Snag - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Disperse - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Temporal Eddy by color, type and mana cost

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Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions
Juxtapose - MTG Card versions
Baki's Curse - MTG Card versions
Touch of Brilliance - MTG Card versions
Polymorph - MTG Card versions
Diminishing Returns - MTG Card versions
Counterintelligence - MTG Card versions
Ransack - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Scrying - MTG Card versions
Wash Out - MTG Card versions
Dematerialize - MTG Card versions
Deep Analysis - MTG Card versions
Tempted by the Oriq - MTG Card versions
Inscription of Insight - MTG Card versions
Airborne Aid - MTG Card versions
Peer Pressure - MTG Card versions
Mouth to Mouth - MTG Card versions
Sift - MTG Card versions
Distant Melody - MTG Card versions
Sleep - MTG Card versions
Argivian Restoration - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Temporal Eddy 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 Temporal Eddy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Temporal Eddy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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