Sea Gate Stormcaller MTG Card
2020-09-25 - Number 77
2020-09-25 - Number 334
2020-09-25 - Number 77p
2020-09-25 - Number 77s
2002-06-24 - Number 83790
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage by duplicating spells, creating opportunities for powerful and versatile plays.
- Instant spell copy enhances reactive capabilities, allowing for dual responses and game control.
- Sea Gate Stormcaller’s effect requires precise setup, aligning spells in hand for optimal value.
Text of card
Kicker When Sea Gate Stormcaller enters the battlefield, copy the next instant or sorcery spell with mana value 2 or less you cast this turn when you cast it. If Sea Gate Stormcaller was kicked, copy that spell twice instead. You may choose new targets for the copies.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Sea Gate Stormcaller is cast, it offers a chance to copy your next instant or sorcery spell with converted mana cost 2 or less. This essentially can generate two spells for the price of one, ensuring a valuable gain in card efficiency and better versatile plays within your turn.
Resource Acceleration: By duplicating your low-cost spells, Sea Gate Stormcaller accelerates your resource usage effectively. This can lead to quicker set-up of your board, enabling you to execute your strategic plays earlier than expected and potentially outpacing your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to copy an instant spell means that Sea Gate Stormcaller enhances your reactive capabilities. You can respond to your opponent’s actions with not one, but two potential answers, significantly increasing your chances to control the flow of the game, all the while maintaining a high-tempo playstyle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sea Gate Stormcaller necessitates a precise sequence of spells to maximize value, which could lead to subpar performance if the card components don’t align in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of this card is narrowly split between blue and generic mana, restricting its fluid inclusion in multicolored decks that may strain to meet the specific mana requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of two, which is not insignificant for its initial effect, players might find other spells that serve a similar function but at a lower mana investment and with potentially fewer restrictions.
Reasons to Include Sea Gate Stormcaller in Your Collection
Versatility: Sea Gate Stormcaller is adaptable to various deck builds that prize spell copying. This card has the ability to magnify the impact of instant and sorcery spells, making it a flexible inclusion in spell-focused strategies.
Combo Potential: Its ability to copy the next instant or sorcery spell with mana value two or less amplifies combo decks; whether it’s for doubling up on value spells or creating explosive turns that can swing the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where low-cost, high-impact spells are prevalent, Sea Gate Stormcaller gains significant traction, matching well against fast-paced aggressive decks or out-value opponents in slower control matchups.
How to beat
Sea Gate Stormcaller is a versatile card that adds strategic depth to spell-based MTG decks. To counteract its ability to copy spells, it’s vital to limit the number of available targets. Tactical use of instant-speed removals or counterspells can disrupt the timing of your opponent’s spell sequence, ultimately weakening the impact of the Stormcaller’s effect. Additionally, keeping the battlefield clear of creatures before Sea Gate Stormcaller hits the board ensures there are fewer opportunities for your opponent to capitalize on its copying ability.
Having a detailed understanding of your opponent’s mana availability is also key. Since Sea Gate Stormcaller’s kicker cost requires a substantial mana investment for an optimal effect, pressuring your opponent’s mana sources can reduce the potential value they get from the card. Consider your choice of spells carefully as well, since not all spells provide equal value when copied. Prioritize resources that can swiftly neutralize Sea Gate Stormcaller or prevent it from triggering its ability to ensure your opponent can’t fully utilize this potent card in their strategy.
By carefully managing the battlefield and remaining vigilant about when to use your instant-speed interactions, you can mitigate the advantages Sea Gate Stormcaller brings to your opponent’s MTG gameplay and maintain control of the match.
Exploring the Potential of Sea Gate Stormcaller
Sea Gate Stormcaller peers through the veil of MTG’s spell-slinging tradition to stand amid the most innovative wizards. It serves a role similar to cards like Naru Meha, Master Wizard, which also amplifies the power of instants and sorceries. However, Sea Gate Stormcaller is distinct with its ability to copy the next sorcery or instant spell with a mana value of two or less. It does this without requiring an additional mana expenditure, which Naru Meha demands for her copying effect.
Cards like Sea Gate Stormcaller
Sea Gate Stormcaller slots into decks focusing on maximizing spell value, akin to Snapcaster Mage. While Snapcaster offers versatility by giving flashback to spells in the graveyard, Sea Gate Stormcaller shines when it doubles the initial cast of low-cost spells. Its synergy with cantrips and cheap removal makes it a game-changer in the right setup. Dualcaster Mage can also be likened to Sea Gate Stormcaller in terms of copying spells, yet it does so at instant speed. Nevertheless, Sea Gate Stormcaller’s lower mana cost and the prerequisite kick-start it needs might tip the balance in its favor in designed strategies.
Evaluating it amidst its counterparts, Sea Gate Stormcaller emerges as a strategic choice for decks that aim to harness the early game and convert spells into doubled value, carving its unique niche in MTG gameplay.
Cards similar to Sea Gate Stormcaller by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sea Gate Stormcaller MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Zendikar Rising, 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 Sea Gate Stormcaller and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Sea Gate Stormcaller Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Anna Steinbauer.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 83790 | 2015 | normal | black | Anna Steinbauer | ||
| 2 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 77 | 2015 | normal | black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 3 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising | ZNR | 334 | 2015 | normal | black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 4 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 77p | 2015 | normal | black | Anna Steinbauer | |
| 5 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Promos | PZNR | 77s | 2015 | normal | black | Anna Steinbauer |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sea Gate Stormcaller has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sea Gate Stormcaller card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-09-25 | A copy is created even if Sea Gate Stormcaller leaves the battlefield before its delayed triggered ability is created. |
| 2020-09-25 | A copy is created even if the spell that caused Sea Gate Stormcaller’s delayed triggered ability to trigger has been countered by the time that ability resolves. The copy resolves before the original spell. |
| 2020-09-25 | An ability that triggers when a player casts a kicked spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger, but after targets have been chosen for that spell. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2020-09-25 | For spells with in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine the spell’s converted mana cost. If it’s copied, the copy has the same value of X. |
| 2020-09-25 | If the spell that’s copied is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can’t choose different ones. |
| 2020-09-25 | If you copy a kicked spell, the copy is also kicked. If a card or token enters the battlefield as a copy of a permanent that’s already on the battlefield, the new permanent isn’t kicked, even if the original was. |
| 2020-09-25 | If you put a permanent with a kicker ability onto the battlefield without casting it, you can’t kick it. |
| 2020-09-25 | Kicker represents an optional additional cost that you may choose to pay as you cast the spell. A spell cast with that additional cost paid is “kicked.” |
| 2020-09-25 | Sea Gate Stormcaller’s delayed triggered ability will copy any instant or sorcery spell, not just one with targets. |
| 2020-09-25 | Some instant or sorcery spells require alternative or additional targets if they’re kicked. You ignore these targeting requirements if those spells aren’t kicked, and you can’t kick those spells unless you can choose the appropriate targets. On the other hand, you can kick a permanent spell even if you won’t be able to choose targets for an enters-the-battlefield ability of that permanent once the spell resolves. |
| 2020-09-25 | The copy is created on the stack, so it’s not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won’t trigger. |
| 2020-09-25 | The copy will have the same targets as the spell it’s copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal. |
| 2020-09-25 | To determine a spell’s total cost, start with the mana cost (or an alternative cost if another card’s effect allows you to pay one instead), add any cost increases (such as kicker), then apply any cost reductions. The converted mana cost of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was. |
| 2020-09-25 | You can’t choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too. Notably, if the spell you copy was kicked, the copy or copies will also be kicked. |
| 2020-09-25 | You can’t pay a kicker cost more than once. |
