Thundercloud Elemental MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Flying
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	54
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Key Takeaways

Thundercloud Elemental enriches your hand and accelerates resources, offering a commanding presence.
Its instant-speed ability adds a layer of unpredictability and strategic depth to your gameplay.
Despite its high impact, the card’s mana cost and discard requirement may challenge deck flexibility.

Text of card

Flying : Tap all creatures with toughness 2 or less. : All other creatures lose flying until end of turn.

Some days it's better to stay inside.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thundercloud Elemental offers a powerful dynamic on the battlefield that can completely turn the tide of a game. With its ability to let players draw a card upon dealing damage, it enables a consistent flow of resources, keeping your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially untapping all lands you control when it attacks, Thundercloud Elemental can serve as a significant form of resource acceleration. This allows for overwhelming plays and the opportunity to cast more spells in a single turn, pushing the momentum drastically in your favor.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of this card is further amplified through its activated ability that can be used at instant speed. This gives you the upper hand by allowing for strategic plays during the combat phase or as a response to your opponent’s actions, keeping them guessing and on the defensive.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The ability to harness Thundercloud Elemental’s full potential comes at the cost of discarding a card. This could present a challenge when your hand holds crucial pieces or if you are attempting to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Decks must cater to Thundercloud Elemental’s specific mana requirements, which can sometimes restrict deck-building options. Ensuring the right mana balance to cast it consistently can be particularly tricky in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Thundercloud Elemental brings impressive attributes to the table, its relatively steep mana cost demands a significant investment. This can hinder your game tempo, especially when considering other cards with similar or better abilities that are more cost-efficient.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thundercloud Elemental shines in a variety of deck builds, adeptly fitting into both aggressive and control strategies with its scalable impact on the game board.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to give other creatures flying until end of turn opens up powerful combo opportunities, pairing well with mechanics that capitalize on creatures with flying or that trigger upon attacking.

Meta-Relevance: With its capability to both clear the battlefield of smaller threats and swing games in your favor with its offensive abilities, Thundercloud Elemental can hold its own in a meta that values multifunctional cards.

How to beat

Thundercloud Elemental introduces a powerful dynamic to the battlefield in MTG, providing players with formidable flying capabilities along with a stormy surprise for opponents. Gaining an edge against this formidable foe requires a strategic approach. A common tactic is to counter it upon casting, a method that’s both direct and efficient. Cards like Negate or Essence Scatter can be pivotal in stopping this Elemental in its tracks.

Removal spells are also effective against Thundercloud Elemental once it hits the board. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Murder can be cast in response to its triggered ability, leaving your opponent’s strategies up in the air. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God ensure that no matter how many creatures your opponent summons, they can be cleared out, including the Thundercloud Elemental.

Finally, including cards that grant hexproof to your creatures ensures that the damage-dealing effect of the Elemental’s ability is mitigated, safeguarding your side of the field. By incorporating these methods, Thundercloud Elemental’s impact can be significantly lessened, and your path to victory becomes clearer. Strategy and swift actions are key to mastering encounters with such a powerful card.

Cards like Thundercloud Elemental

Thundercloud Elemental finds its place in the realm of creatures with substantial impact across the MTG battlefield. Among creatures with similar prowess, Stormbreath Dragon emerges as a worthy comparison. The Dragon’s protection from white and potential for monstrous growth make it a formidable opponent, though at a higher mana cost compared to the Elemental’s straightforward destruction capability.

Akin to Thundercloud Elemental’s ability to disrupt the opponent’s board, Sulfur Elemental offers similar strategic advantages. It provides an immediate effect upon entering the battlefield, although it targets white creatures specifically and lacks the Thundercloud’s sweep. On the other hand, we have Flamebreak, a non-creature spell which also deals damage to creatures and players alike. While Flamebreak is a one-time event, Thundercloud Elemental has the potential to consistently threaten the board each turn it remains in play.

Ultimately, the utility of the Thundercloud Elemental in MTG shines through its versatile area damage and defensive buff, setting it apart from creatures and spells alike, and offering dynamic playstyles for enthusiasts of blue-red decks. Its comparison with similar cards underscores the value it can bring when facing dense boards or in maintaining board control.

Cards similar to Thundercloud Elemental by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thundercloud Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Thundercloud Elemental and other MTG cards: