Rift Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Accelerates suspended cards, enabling quicker gameplay and unexpected plays.
  2. Demands red mana and strategic mana investment for optimal use.
  3. Versatile in suspension-focused strategies, adding speed and power to decks.

Text of card

, Remove a time counter from a permanent you control or suspended card you own: Rift Elemental gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

"It's difficult to heal a rift after it begins wandering about on its own." —Teferi


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rift Elemental might not directly allow you to draw cards, but it synergizes with suspend cards that can lead to indirect card advantage. By paying a single red mana and removing a time counter from a suspended card, Rift Elemental can hasten the arrival of powerful spells or creatures, which efficiently leverages the cards in your future hand.

Resource Acceleration: In decks built around the suspend mechanic, Rift Elemental serves as a form of resource acceleration. Rather than waiting for multiple upkeep phases for your suspended cards to tick down, this elemental provides a way to quicken your game plan and deploy threats ahead of schedule, thus efficiently utilising your mana reserves.

Instant Speed: The ability to remove time counters at instant speed is a significant tactical advantage. It gives you the flexibility to end the suspension of cards on your terms, potentially during an opponent’s turn or in response to actions that might disrupt your strategy. This can catch opponents off guard and offers versatile interaction based on the game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rift Elemental demands a sacrifice of Time counters which can be draining resources from other cards with suspend, potentially weakening your strategic positions.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring red mana to both summon and activate its ability, Rift Elemental needs a color-focused mana base limiting its inclusion in multicolor or generic mana decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not expensive upfront, consistently utilizing Rift Elemental’s ability requires a steady investment of mana, which may prove inefficient compared to other mana sinks or threats in the game.


Reasons to Include Rift Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Rift Elemental offers a unique flexibility in different styles of play. Its ability to accelerate the pace by removing time counters can benefit diverse strategies, whether you’re aiming to bring suspensions into play sooner or seeking a quick creature-based approach.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with suspend cards or other mechanics that manipulate time counters. Its potential to create explosive turns by synergizing with cards like “Ancestral Vision” or “Greater Gargadon” makes it a valued piece in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the dynamic MTG landscape, Rift Elemental has demonstrated utility in environments where the use of suspend cards is prevalent. By preemptively freeing suspended threats or combo pieces, it can tip the scales in otherwise evenly matched games.


How to Beat Rift Elemental

Rift Elemental may seem insignificant at first glance, but it has the potential to be a powerhouse in the right deck. It’s a creature that can repeatedly remove time counters, turning suspended cards into actual threats much faster. Knowing how to tackle this elemental can make the difference between victory and defeat on the battlefield.

One strategic approach is using removal spells before the elemental’s ability can be activated. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can efficiently deal with it, minimizing the risk of facing down whatever it’s trying to speed into play. Similarly, counter spells are effective at preventing the Rift Elemental from hitting the board in the first place, although it’s often best to save these for more significant threats.

Another tactic is to attack the strategy as a whole by disrupting the suspend mechanic. Cards like Timecrafting can remove time counters from a suspended card, which might seem counterintuitive, but when used after the Rift Elemental’s ability has been activated, can effectively strand cards in suspension. In a broader sense, instant-speed interaction is key. Keeping up mana for responses allows players to react to both the Rift Elemental and the threats it seeks to accelerate.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on the journey with Rift Elemental at your side can significantly alter the pace of your game, turning suspended spells into instant threats. Melding this elemental into your deck harnesses the raw power of time manipulation, creating unexpected advantages and heightening suspense among your opponents. Whether it’s crushing the competition with rapid deployment or enriching your arsenal for the long haul, this fiery ally is not just a piece of your deck, it’s a statement of deft strategy. Eager to explore the synergistic dance of Rift Elemental and push your deck’s limits? Dive deeper with us and unlock the elemental fury within your MTG collection.


Cards like Rift Elemental

When delving into the thematic intricacies of elemental creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Rift Elemental stands out with its unique potential in suspension decks. This creature could be likened to Thermo-Alchemist in that both cards have untap abilities which are pivotal for their respective deck strategies. Unlike Thermo-Alchemist, which untaps each time you cast an Instant or Sorcery to ping your opponent, Rift Elemental capitalizes on suspended cards, expediting the time they come into play.

Rift Elemental shares the stage with another card, Jhoira’s Timebug, which also manipulates time counters. However, Jhoira’s Timebug lacks the direct damage dealing ability and is more passive, allowing for only a single time counter adjustment per turn. In sharp contrast with the Elemental’s aggression and potential for immediate impact, the Timebug asks for a slower, more controlled game plan.

For players keen on exploiting suspension, the comparison reveals Rift Elemental’s potential for dynamic play and urgency. The card’s functionality in decreasing wait time on suspended cards gives players an unexpected speed boost, making it a notable choice for enthusiasts seeking to infuse their suspension decks with power and precision.

Thermo-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Jhoira's Timebug - MTG Card versions
Thermo-Alchemist - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Jhoira's Timebug - Time Spiral (TSP)

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

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Gorilla Shaman - Alliances (ALL)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Orcish Conscripts - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Crazed Goblin - Darksteel (DST)
Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mons's Goblin Waiters - Unhinged (UNH)
Mogg Sentry - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rift Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Modern 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 Rift Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rift Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Ron Spears.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-05-04Future SightFUT 1062003normalblackRon Spears
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1272003normalblackRon Spears
32021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1852015normalblackRon Spears

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rift Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2007-05-01 If an suspended card’s last time counter is removed this way, the suspend triggered ability is put on the stack on top of the Rift Elemental ability. The same is true for the vanishing ability of a permanent that loses its last time counter.
2007-05-01 The counter is removed as a cost, so it can’t be responded to.

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