Ice Storm MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 201
1993-10-04 - Number 202
1993-12-01 - Number 202
1993-12-10 - Number 202
1993-12-10 - Number 202
2007-09-10 - Number 122
2022-11-28 - Number 494
2022-11-28 - Number 197
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Key Takeaways
- Ice Storm’s land removal offers a strategic advantage, often resulting in card superiority.
- It allows for temporal boosts by slowing the opponent’s mana development.
- Despite cons, its versatility makes it an asset in certain MTG deck strategies.
Text of card
Destroys any one land.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ice Storm enables players to disrupt opponents by removing key lands from the play. This disruption can lead to a card advantage as it forces opponents to operate with fewer resources.
Resource Acceleration: By setting back your opponent’s mana development, Ice Storm indirectly accelerates your own resources in relation to your opponent’s, effectively giving you a temporal advantage in the race of resource deployment.
Instant Speed: The power of Ice Storm is significantly enhanced by its ability to be cast at instant speed, allowing strategic players to wait until the most opportune moment to set their opponent back, such as in response to land-fetching spells or after an opponent has tapped out.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Ice Storm can set you back in card advantage, as it mandates you to part with another card from your hand. In critical turns where every card counts, this requirement could tip the scales unfavorably.
Specific Mana Cost: Ice Storm’s need for both green and generic mana makes it a less flexible option for multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency. This specificity may necessitate adjustments to your land base to ensure it can be played when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost being on the higher end for its effect, Ice Storm competes with a variety of spells that could potentially provide more value or impact the board state more significantly for the same or a lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ice Storm has a broad application in a variety of decks, particularly those aiming to disrupt land-based strategies. It can be utilized to slow down opponents by targeting key lands, making it a flexible tool for tempo and control decks alike.
Combo Potential: This card can be part of intricate combos that capitalize on denying resources to the opponent. For instance, in combination with cards that allow you to untap lands, Ice Storm can repetitively hinder an opponent’s mana development.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fast mana development is key, Ice Storm proves its worth by setting opponents back. This can be especially powerful in environments where land ramp is prevalent or against decks that rely on specific non-basic lands for their strategy.
How to beat
Ice Storm is an established disruptor in Magic: The Gathering known for its land destruction capabilities. The ability to target an opponent’s land and eliminate it from play can significantly hamper their mana curve and stall their game plan. In light of this impact, efficiently overcoming Ice Storm’s setback is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge on the battlefield.
Shielding your lands from being targeted, to begin with, is an effective strategy. Cards that grant your lands indestructible or hexproof keep your crucial mana sources safe. Additionally, diversifying the types of lands in your deck reduces the likelihood that Ice Storm will severely disrupt your resource base. Lands that can be regenerated or replaced when destroyed diminish the potential strategic loss.
In essence, preemptive measures and a resilient deck design are the keys to outmaneuvering the chilling effect of Ice Storm. A well-prepared player can ensure that their strategy advances uninterrupted, despite the disruptive force of this formidable card.
Cards like Ice Storm
Ice Storm ranks among Magic: The Gathering’s arsenal of land disruption cards. It resembles the widely known Stone Rain, which also targets lands and renders them unusable. Ice Storm stands out with its unique ability to freeze the competition by specifically targeting a non-snow land. Unlike Stone Rain, it has the additional benefit of chilling a land, which can be pivotal in games.
Molten Rain offers a different flavor of destruction. While it does destroy lands and can deal damage to an opponent, Ice Storm stands its ground with its lower casting cost. However, it’s worthwhile to note, Molten Rain can inflict direct damage upon destruction of a non-basic land, an aspect Ice Storm does not touch upon. Thermokarst is another card that has a similar effect, but interestingly, it can generate green mana if a snow land was targeted, which provides a nuanced advantage over Ice Storm in certain decks.
In summary, Ice Storm is an essential tool in the category of land disruption within MTG. Its identity as a non-snow land disruptor shapes a distinct edge in competitive plays. Assessing its similarities to other entropic spells, it’s clear that Ice Storm holds a solid position in its category for its strategic niche.
Cards similar to Ice Storm by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ice Storm MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Ice Storm 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 Magic products
Printings
The Ice Storm Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 201 | 1993 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 202 | 1993 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 202 | 1993 | normal | white | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 202 | 1993 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 202 | 1993 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 6 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 122 | 1997 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 7 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 494 | 1997 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 8 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 197 | 2015 | normal | black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ice Storm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
