Rolling Temblor MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Flashback

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card advantage by removing multiple creatures with a single spell, positively impacting game tempo.
  2. Its sorcery speed and strategic timing can set up pivotal turns to capitalize on opponent vulnerabilities.
  3. While limited by specific mana costs, its versatility in various decks makes it a worthy collection addition.

Text of card

Rolling Temblor deals 2 damage to each creature without flying. Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

When demons open a path to your front door, it's time to move.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Rolling Temblor primarily serves as a board wipe, dealing 2 damage to each creature without flying, it can impact card advantage by potentially clearing multiple creatures on the opponent’s side with just one card.

Resource Acceleration: This sorcery doesn’t inherently accelerate your resources. However, by clearing the board of smaller creatures, it can pave the way for your larger threats to dominate the battlefield, indirectly accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: Rolling Temblor is a sorcery, which means it doesn’t have the flexibility of instant-speed spells. That said, in a controlling deck or a game where timing plays a critical role, the foreknowledge of when you can sweep the board can be strategically advantageous, allowing you to set up turns where your opponents are most vulnerable. Keep in mind the flashback ability, which offers a second chance to utilize this powerful spell from the graveyard at a crucial moment in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rolling Temblor does not have a discard requirement outright, but considering its flashback feature, you need to remember that using this ability requires you to sacrifice other potential plays. This can be a tangible drawback if you’re forced to choose between vital strategies and responding to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: This sorcery comes with a specific double red mana cost in its total casting value. This can be less than ideal for multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency or for players who wish to keep their mana open for more versatile responses.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Rolling Temblor stands on the steeper end of board wipes, especially considering that its damage is capped at two to each creature without flying. When assessing the efficiency of mana investment, players might find other cards with lower mana costs or more comprehensive board-clearing capabilities to be preferable options.


Reasons to Include Rolling Temblor in Your Collection

Versatility: Rolling Temblor is a versatile card that can be a game changer in various deck types. Its ability to deal damage to all creatures on the battlefield allows players to control the pace of the game by removing small to medium-sized creatures with its initial casting or finish off larger threats with its flashback ability.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in decks that aim to capitalize on spells that affect all creatures. For instance, combining Rolling Temblor with cards that grant your creatures indestructibility can clear the board for a decisive attack while leaving your side unscathed.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggro decks are prevalent, Rolling Temblor shines as a countermeasure. It can thwart early aggression from creature-heavy decks and, with its flashback option, remains a persistent threat even from the graveyard, ensuring you get value no matter how the game progresses.


How to beat

Rolling Temblor presents a unique challenge in the Magic: The Gathering landscape thanks to its board-clearing capability. Typically, this card can catch players off-guard, dealing 2 damage to each creature without flying. It’s an efficient way to sweep through a multitude of ground-based threats. However, like all cards, it has its own weaknesses.

If you’re looking to maintain your battlefield presence against Rolling Temblor, focusing on creatures with flying can be a strategic move. Since it cannot affect airborne creatures, utilizing a deck with a significant flying roster sidesteps the tremor’s reach. Additionally, creatures with indestructible or those that can be regenerated are valuable assets, as they can withstand the damage dealt by this potent sorcery.

Another countermeasure involves the clever use of instant-speed tricks that can either increase your creatures’ toughness or provide them with flying temporarily. This could include spells that buff your creatures or grant them protection to survive the sweep. Staying adaptive and prepared for such board-wiping spells is necessary to come out on top in the dynamic environment of Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Rolling Temblor

Rolling Temblor stands out as an effective sweeper option in Magic: The Gathering, bearing resemblance to other sorcery speed spells that deal damage to each creature on the board. Among its cousins is Pyroclasm, a classic that offers a cheaper casting cost for the same damage output. However, Rolling Temblor provides an overload mechanic, giving it the potential to reach creatures with flying, a capability Pyroclasm lacks.

Another similar spell is Anger of the Gods, which deals three damage to each creature and exiles any that would die this turn, preventing death triggers and graveyard interactions. This is a powerful ability that Rolling Temblor does not share, yet the overload mechanic could still tip the scales in its favor during play against decks heavy with flying creatures.

Exploring these nuances helps players make more informed decisions during deck construction. Though each have differing particulars, Rolling Temblor holds its own, offering impactful damage and a unique reach against flying creatures when overloaded—an aspect not commonly found in red sweepers of its kind.

Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - Ice Age (ICE)
Anger of the Gods - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Rolling Temblor by color, type and mana cost

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Fiery Gambit - MTG Card versions
Flamebreak - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Game of Chaos - Ice Age (ICE)
Evaporate - Homelands (HML)
Pillage - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Steam Blast - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Goblin Offensive - Urza's Saga (USG)
Desert Sandstorm - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Arc Lightning - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Search for Survivors - Prophecy (PCY)
Searing Rays - Invasion (INV)
Rupture - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tundra Fumarole - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Browbeat - Masters 25 (A25)
Erratic Explosion - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Threaten - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sizzle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hammer of Bogardan - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Fiery Gambit - Mirrodin (MRD)
Flamebreak - Darksteel (DST)
Panic Attack - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rolling Temblor MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Ultimate Masters, 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 Rolling Temblor and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rolling Temblor Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2019-08-23. Illustrated by Cliff Childs.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1612003normalblackCliff Childs
22018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 1452015normalblackCliff Childs
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1512015normalblackCliff Childs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rolling Temblor has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

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