Tsunami MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 221
1993-10-04 - Number 222
1993-12-01 - Number 222
1993-12-10 - Number 222
1993-12-10 - Number 222
1994-04-01 - Number 222
1994-04-01 - Number 222
1994-06-21 - Number 222
1995-04-01 - Number 278
1995-04-01 - Number 278
1997-03-24 - Number 334
2011-01-10 - Number 171
2022-11-28 - Number 217
2022-11-28 - Number 514
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
All islands in play are destroyed.
Cards like Tsunami
Tsunami is an intriguing card that brings a specific and potent effect to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, selectively targeting players with Islands and destroying them. Comparable to cards such as Boil or Choke, Tsunami specifically hones in on blue mana producers, which can be devastating in a game dominated by blue strategies. Boil offers a similar immediate and sweeping impact by destroying all Islands when played, though it is an instant, allowing for more flexibility and surprise.
Analogous in purpose, Choke has a less dire but more sustained effect, slowly strangling the utility of Island-based mana by preventing them from untapping. While Tsunami completely wipes out the target lands at once, Choke gradually diminishes an opponent’s resources, potentially providing a longer-term advantage.
Assessing Tsunami alongside its peers reveals its niche role in land destruction within Magic: The Gathering. Favored in certain formats and matchups, its power to overwhelm strategies reliant on Islands with a single spell makes it a respected choice for any player looking to counter blue-centric decks.
Cards similar to Tsunami by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tsunami’s ability to dismantle an opponent’s land-based resources can indirectly lead to card advantage. By destroying all Islands on the field, it significantly reduces the chances of opponents being able to counter or respond, ensuring your subsequent plays are safer and more effective.
Resource Acceleration: While Tsunami itself does not accelerate your resources directly, it can slow down opponents, especially in multi-player games, tipping the balance in your favor. Removing a mono-blue player’s mana base can give you several turns of uncontested board development.
Instant Speed: Tsunami operates at sorcery speed, demanding strategic play to maximize its impact. Timing the card correctly, such as before an opponent’s big turn or after they’ve tapped out for a significant spell, can act like a time walk, providing you with a golden opportunity to surge ahead in resource development.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Tsunami demands a strategic setup prior to casting due to its strict color commitment which might lead to a predictable play pattern. Holding onto it early in the game may force you to discard other important cards when faced with hand size limits.
Specific Mana Cost: Tsunami’s high-impact ability is gated behind an exclusively green mana cost. This specificity can be restrictive, potentially making it less attractive for multi-colored decks that might struggle to meet the intense green mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The four green mana expense to unleash Tsunami can stress your mana resources. This cost is significant, especially when considering that it takes up your entire turn in the early to mid-game phases, delaying the development of your board presence.
Reasons to Include Tsunami in Your Collection
Versatility: Tsunami is not your everyday spell, it is a powerful card particularly useful in decks tailored to counter strategies reliant on specific land types. Its ability to destroy all Islands can be a game-changer, especially when facing blue-heavy decks.
Combo Potential: Though not a traditional combo card, Tsunami can work as a potent disruption tool in a land-targeted strategy, coupling with cards that punish or capitalize on your opponent’s land destruction.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where blue decks and Island-based mana strategies prevail, Tsunami offers a strong sideboard option, potentially tilting the game in your favor by impeding your opponent’s core resources.
How to beat
Tsunami is a card that has been part of Magic: The Gathering’s history, known for its ability to disrupt opponents by destroying all Islands. While this can be a devastating setback for players relying on blue mana, there are methods to mitigate the impact Tsunami can have on your game. Deck construction plays a crucial role. Including a diverse mana base with lands that aren’t singularly Islands or having ways to produce different types of mana can buffer against the Tsunami’s effect.
Furthermore, having spells that can counteract noncreature spells or land destruction strategies helps keep your lands safe. Cards such as Counterspell or Heroic Intervention can be key to protecting your crucial mana sources. Alternatively, running cards that can quickly recover your land count like Rampant Growth or Cultivate ensure that even if a Tsunami hits, you will not be left stranded for long.
Ultimately, the key to beating Tsunami lies in preparation and constructing your decks with cards that insure against land disruption or quickly rebuild your mana base to maintain the flow of your strategy through the game’s waves.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tsunami MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Tsunami and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Tsunami Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Richard Thomas.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 221 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 222 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 222 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 222 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 222 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 222 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 222 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 222 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 278 | 1993 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 278 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 334 | 1997 | Normal | White | Richard Thomas | |
| 12 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 171 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 217 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas | |
| 14 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 514 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Thomas |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tsunami has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |