Living Tempest MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Flying, Flash |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 65 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Campbell White |
Key Takeaways
- Instant speed of Living Tempest allows tactical surprises and adapts to evolving board states effectively.
- Its flying ability establishes aerial dominance, crucial in MTG’s current meta.
- Versatile in control decks, Living Tempest keeps opponents uncertain of your moves.
Text of card
Flash Flying
"If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it'll change ... probably for the worse." —Amandi, kitesail expert
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Living Tempest provides the clear benefit of being able to offer a surprise blocker or an unexpected flying threat on the board. Having this kind of flexibility can tip the scales in a tight game, providing not just a creature presence but also the potential to draw out your opponent’s resources or combat tricks before they’re ready.
Resource Acceleration: While Living Tempest itself does not directly provide mana acceleration, its cost-efficiency can play well in decks that prioritize tempo. At five mana for a 3/3 flyer, it fits smoothly into the curve of a midrange or control deck, allowing players to maintain pressure while still holding up resources for other strategies.
Instant Speed: The ability to flash in Living Tempest can be a game-changer. It grants players the power to adapt to the board state as it develops, preserving mana for countermagic or removal, then deploying a threat at the end of an opponent’s turn. This flexibility is key in both offensive postures and defensive strategies, turning Living Tempest into a tactical asset in numerous situations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Living Tempest comes with the challenge of discarding a card. This condition creates a potential setback for players by diminishing their hand size, potentially leading to a loss of important resources that may be critical later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a precise combination of mana, including at least two islands. As such, Living Tempest can be restrictive and is not a flexible fit in decks that don’t run heavily on blue mana or those with a broader color palette.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at five, including the double blue, Living Tempest enters the battlefield heavier than some other options in its class. Players might find themselves weighing its flash and flying abilities against other creatures or spells that offer similar power and utility for less mana, potentially optimizing their deck’s performance with alternatives.
Reasons to Include Living Tempest in Your Collection
Versatility: Living Tempest’s flash ability enables you to surprise your opponents by playing it at the end of their turn, keeping your mana open for other spells during your own turn. This makes it a flexible addition to control and flash-oriented decks that aim to keep the opponent guessing.
Combo Potential: As a creature with flying, Living Tempest can quickly become a key component in aerial assault combos. It also pairs well with cards that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or those that benefit from the number of creatures you control with flying.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence is crucial, Living Tempest offers a way to establish dominance in the skies and hold off aggressive strategies. With the ability to flash in as a blocker or an end-of-turn threat, it adapts well to the shifting dynamics of the game, making it a smart pick for your collection.
How to beat Living Tempest
In the strategic world of Magic: The Gathering, facing off against Living Tempest can be quite the challenge. Known for its flash ability, allowing it to join the fray at any time, this creature can catch opponents off guard, especially during their attack phase. Yet, with the right strategy, you can counter this surprise element.
Spot removal spells are particularly effective against Living Tempest; something as straightforward as Cast Down or Fatal Push can quickly negate its advantage. If your deck supports counterspells, be on the lookout to respond as your opponent casts it. Alternatively, if you’re in red or white, cards that deal damage or exile a creature work wonders. Cards like Scorching Dragonfire or Path to Exile not only eliminate Living Tempest but also can disrupt your opponent’s tempo.
Ultimately, while Living Tempest has the potential to turn the tides of combat with its sudden appearance, adapting your strategy to include instant-speed responses will ensure you maintain control of the game and emerge victorious against this unpredictable adversary.
Cards like Living Tempest
Living Tempest takes its place in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a blue creature card with an impactful enter-the-battlefield effect. It can be likened to other flash creatures that allow surprise blocks or end-of-turn threats like Cloudkin Seer. While Cloudkin Seer draws you a card on entry, Living Tempest offers the distinct advantage of flying, making it a better defensive option against creatures without flying or reach.
Another analogous creature is Nimble Obstructionist, which not only flies but can also be cycled to counter triggered or activated abilities, thereby offering versatility. Living Tempest, although lacking the cycling ability, stands out with its direct and simpler gameplay role as an airborne blocker or attacker.
Assessing cards with similar characteristics, spectral Sailor emerges as a potential comparison. This spirited pirate also has flash and flying but it stands on the lower end of the power spectrum, compensating for its reduced statline with its card draw ability. Living Tempest doesn’t offer card draw, yet its more significant power and toughness might be more advantageous in confrontations in the skies of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Living Tempest by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Living Tempest MTG card by a specific set like 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 Living Tempest 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Living Tempest has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.