Lifted by Clouds MTG Card


Lifted by Clouds - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant — Arcane
Abilities Splice
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Number73
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDarrell Riche

Key Takeaways

  1. Draw a card for card advantage, maintaining pressure with ample options in hand.
  2. Escalate resources to cast spells quicker and gain an early game tempo.
  3. Flexibility to adapt and react instantaneously to the changing game state.

Text of card

Target creature gains flying until end of turn. Splice onto Arcane (As you play an Arcane spell, you may reveal this card from your hand and pay its splice cost. If you do, add this card's effects to that spell.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lifted by Clouds provides a substantial edge in card economy by offering the opportunity to draw a card. This mechanic is a keystone for decks that capitalize on maintaining a healthy hand size, thus keeping the pressure on the opponent and making sure options are always available.

Resource Acceleration: This card efficiently helps escalate resources by enabling you to cast spells more quickly than the usual land-per-turn rule permits. This can be particularly impactful in the early to mid-game where speed and tempo can dictate the pace and direction of the match.

Instant Speed: One of the defining attributes of Lifted by Clouds is its capability to be played at instant speed. This flexibility allows players to adapt to the evolving game state, use their mana efficiently, and react to opponents’ actions on the fly — a tactical advantage in any duel.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Piloting a deck with Lifted by Clouds could put you at a potential drawback as you’re asked to discard another card each time you cast it. This trade-off means you’ll have one less option in hand, which may become critical when resources thin out during the late game.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes blue mana, Lifted by Clouds is tailored for blue-inclusive decks. This restricts its versatility, as it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks without a solid blue mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering Lifted by Clouds comes with a mana value that’s on the higher end for its effects, players might find themselves weighing its benefits against other cards in the same mana range. These alternatives may provide a more impactful presence on the board or offer additional utility without the need to discard.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lifted by Clouds offers flexibility in deck building due to its enchant creature mechanic. This can fit seamlessly into decks centered around enhancing creatures or utilizing them as key strategy elements.

Combo Potential: With its ability to give creatures flying until end of turn, this card can be an integral part of combos that capitalize on evasion or need to unlock aerial paths for direct attack strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based decks regularly make appearances in competitive play, Lifted by Clouds can provide a strategic advantage by temporarily thwarting ground blockades, making it relevant in a constantly evolving metagame.


How to beat

Lifted by Clouds is a unique enchantment card that can be both a boon to its user and a thorn in the side of opponents. This card allows a creature to take to the skies, granting it flying until end of turn and thus creating an aerial threat that can be hard to block. However, overcoming the advantage Lifted by Clouds provides is not impossible.

One strategy to counter this card is to employ creature removal or counterspells. By keeping instant speed removal in hand, players can respond to the enchantment casting or to the declared attackers, effectively nullifying the threat Lifted by Clouds presents. Counterspells are equally effective, as they can prevent the enchantment from ever taking effect.

In addition, it’s beneficial to incorporate creatures with reach or flying into your deck, ensuring you have defenders capable of intercepting Lifted by Clouds’ targets. Another tactic is to focus on control and board clearance, wiping the slate clean before Lifted by Clouds can make an impact. In summary, dealing with Lifted by Clouds requires preparedness and the right mix of responsive cards in your collection.


Cards like Lifted by Clouds

Lifted by Clouds showcases its unique charm within the realm of evasion-enhancing spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Leap, which grants a creature flying until end of turn, but Leap lacks the secondary kick that Lifted by Clouds offers. This kicker mechanic in Lifted by Clouds allows for the spell to not only give flying but also to potentially untap all lands you control, a feature not to be underestimated.

When looking at comparable spells, one might consider Flight of Fancy. It also confers the gift of flight to a creature and draws cards in the process, although it does so via an enchantment rather than an instant and without the added flexibility of a kicker effect. Another spell to consider is View from Above, which permits multiple uses if targeting a white creature, yet again lacks the kicker land-untapping potential of Lifted by Clouds.

Assessing these abilities side by side, Lifted by Clouds emerges as a potentially powerful inclusion for players looking to maintain tempo and potentially swing the game with an unexpected burst of mana availability. Its versatility allows for strategic plays that go beyond simply granting flying to a creature.

Leap - MTG Card versions
Flight of Fancy - MTG Card versions
View from Above - MTG Card versions
Leap - Stronghold (STH)
Flight of Fancy - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
View from Above - Conflux (CON)

Cards similar to Lifted by Clouds by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Psionic Blast - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Crystal Spray - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Ixidor's Will - Onslaught (ONS)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Dream Fracture - Eventide (EVE)
Oona's Grace - Eventide (EVE)
Cancel - Ixalan (XLN)
Deluge - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lifted by Clouds MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, 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 Lifted by Clouds and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lifted by Clouds has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lifted by Clouds card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-06-07 A card with a splice ability can’t be spliced onto itself because the spell is on the stack (and not in your hand) when you reveal the cards you want to splice onto it.
2013-06-07 If all of the spell’s targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen.
2013-06-07 You choose all targets for the spell after revealing cards you want to splice, including any targets required by the text of any of those cards. You may choose a different target for each instance of the word “target” on the resulting spell.
2013-06-07 You reveal all cards you intend to splice at the same time. Each individual card can be spliced only once onto any one spell.

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