Winds of Rath MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage through selective board reset, benefiting aura-laden creatures.
  2. Indirectly hampers opponents’ resource acceleration by eliminating mana-producing creatures.
  3. Controls the pace of the game despite its sorcery speed limitation.

Text of card

Destroy all creatures with no enchantments on them. Those creatures cannot be regenerated this turn.

"There shall be a vast shout and then a vaster silence." —Oracle *en*-Vec


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Winds of Rath presents a significant shift in board presence by allowing you to reset the board. This can equate to card advantage by dealing with multiple threats at once while potentially leaving your key creatures untouched, especially those with auras.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it can indirectly do so by removing mana dorks or other creatures that ramp your opponent’s resources, leveling the playing field and letting you catch up or pull ahead in the resource game.

Instant Speed: Although Winds of Rath operates at sorcery speed, its power can dictate the pace of the game. It forces opponents to play cautiously, preserving mana for their instants or countermagic instead of committing more to the board, which they risk losing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Winds of Rath is that it does not require a player to discard a card, but instead it might force a player to make tough decisions about what creatures to keep on the board due to its creature-specific board wipe effect.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Winds of Rath includes both generic and white mana, which means it fits best in a deck with a strong white mana base. This can potentially limit the card’s utility in multicolored decks that cannot reliably produce the necessary white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes five total to cast, including two white, Winds of Rath can be seen as a costly endeavor, especially when compared to other board clearing options in the game that may cost less and thus allow for quicker or more versatile play strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Winds of Rath offers a powerful board clear option that can be strategically used in a variety of white decks. Its ability to preserve creatures that are enchanted adds a unique dimension to gameplay, allowing you to tailor your strategy and maintain key threats on the board while resetting your opponents’ side.

Combo Potential: This card is exceptional for decks that focus on auras. You can protect your own creatures with enchantments, then deploy Winds of Rath to remove adversaries’ threats. It aligns smoothly with enchantment synergies and can serve as a game-changer in the right combo-enriched environment.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that leans towards creature-heavy decks or ones that rapidly develop board presence, Winds of Rath serves as an equalizer. It is particularly effective against decks that do not heavily rely on enchantments, giving it a situational yet impactful role based on the current trends in gameplay.


How to beat

Winds of Rath is a notable card for its ability to reset the board, offering a tactical advantage in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s ability to destroy all creatures that aren’t enchanted can be a double-edged sword, hinting at a strategic deck building around aura-enchantments. Playing smart by investing in indestructible creatures, creatures with hexproof, or utilizing counterspells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can effectively undermine the impact of Winds of Rath.

Flexibility in response is key. Cards like Selfless Spirit can safeguard your key creatures from mass removal, while having a strong after-board plan with resilient threats or planeswalkers ensures continued pressure even after Winds of Rath clears the board. Understanding when to extend into the battlefield and when to hold back resources becomes crucial, as the threat of this potent reset changes the pace and potential of any match.

To effectively counteract Winds of Rath, attention to the pacing of creature deployment, combined with the inclusion of resilient non-creature threats, provides a strategic edge. Knowing this, players can craft their game plan and deck construction to weather the storm brought by this powerful reset.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re aiming to equip your MTG arsenal with a card that alters the battlefield to your favor, Winds of Rath demands your attention. This versatile board wipe can swing the game, particularly if your deck is speckled with enchantments. Its ability to selectively clear threats while maintaining your own armored creatures can be a decider in tight matches. But before you shuffle it into your deck, take a moment to consider your mana base and the pace of your game plan. As the meta evolves, so should your strategy. Keen to refine your deck with enchantment synergies and secure a commanding presence at your next duel? Dive deeper with us and master the Winds of Rath in your collection.


Cards like Winds of Rath

Winds of Rath offers a dynamic twist on board-clearing mechanics within Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative might be the classic Day of Judgment, which also destroys all creatures on the battlefield. However, Winds of Rath differentiates itself with a selective advantage—it spares creatures enchanted with Auras. This makes it a strategic choice for decks that synergize with enchantments.

Another parallel is found in Rout. This spell has the same destructive outcome, leveling the playing field by eliminating all creatures, but it carries the flexibility of being cast as an instant if you have the mana. Despite this, it lacks the discriminative ability to preserve enchanted creatures that Winds of Rath possesses. Then there’s Terminus, which rather than destroying creatures, tucks them back into players’ libraries. Though this might seem advantageous, as it dodges indestructibility and regeneration, it misses the enchantment-guarding feature that makes Winds of Rath such a tactical card.

To wrap it up, while there are several board wipes in Magic: The Gathering, each with their particular nuances, Winds of Rath claims its own territory. It stands out for being conditionally merciful, safeguarding those creatures bolstered by Auras while sweeping away all others, introducing unique strategic considerations for enchantment-focused decks.

Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
Terminus - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - Zendikar (ZEN)
Rout - Invasion (INV)
Terminus - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Cards similar to Winds of Rath by color, type and mana cost

Global Ruin - MTG Card versions
Rout - MTG Card versions
March of Souls - MTG Card versions
Purify - MTG Card versions
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need - MTG Card versions
Slash the Ranks - MTG Card versions
Saltblast - MTG Card versions
Three Dreams - MTG Card versions
Evangelize - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Burial - MTG Card versions
Iona's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Increasing Devotion - MTG Card versions
Defy Death - MTG Card versions
Angelic Edict - MTG Card versions
End Hostilities - MTG Card versions
Fell the Mighty - MTG Card versions
Planar Outburst - MTG Card versions
Righteous Confluence - MTG Card versions
Wave of Reckoning - MTG Card versions
Fortunate Few - MTG Card versions
Global Ruin - Invasion (INV)
Rout - Commander 2021 (C21)
March of Souls - Planeshift (PLS)
Purify - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lonesome Unicorn // Rider in Need - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Slash the Ranks - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Saltblast - Planar Chaos (PLC)
Three Dreams - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Evangelize - Time Spiral (TSP)
Hallowed Burial - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
Iona's Judgment - Commander Legends (CMR)
Increasing Devotion - Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander (ONC)
Defy Death - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Angelic Edict - Jumpstart (JMP)
End Hostilities - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Fell the Mighty - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
Planar Outburst - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
Righteous Confluence - Legendary Cube Prize Pack (PZ1)
Wave of Reckoning - Commander 2016 (C16)
Fortunate Few - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Winds of Rath MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters, 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 Winds of Rath and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Winds of Rath Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 521997normalblackDrew Tucker
22013-09-06Duel Decks: Heroes vs. MonstersDDL 312003normalblackDrew Tucker
32014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 532015normalblackDrew Tucker
42015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 402015normalblackDrew Tucker
52018-08-09Commander 2018C18 792015normalblackDrew Tucker
62020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3922015normalblackDrew Tucker
72021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 782015normalblackDrew Tucker
82023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 832015normalblackDrew Tucker
92024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 932015normalblackDrew Tucker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Winds of Rath has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2005-08-01 A creature is "enchanted" if it has any Auras attached to it.

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