Risen Reef MTG Card


Risen Reef excels in card draw and land play, enhancing deck momentum with each Elemental summoned. Demands specific mana colors, potentially challenging non-elemental or non-green/blue deck integration. Strategic play and card synergy make Risen Reef a formidable card to include in collections.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Whenever Risen Reef or another Elemental enters the battlefield under your control, look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped. If you don't put the card onto the battlefield, put it into your hand.

"No, not 'washed' ashore. It *walked* ashore." —Shafring Hulm, beachcomber


Cards like Risen Reef

Risen Reef is a unique elemental creature that shines in the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem. What sets it apart is its ability to trigger upon entry and whenever another elemental comes into play, allowing its owner to look at the top card of their library and, if it’s a land, put it onto the battlefield tapped, or otherwise put that card into their hand.

Closely aligned with its functionality is Coiling Oracle, an elemental that also facilitates the direct play of a land from the top of the library or card draw, albeit as a one-time effect when it enters the battlefield. Then we have the elemental Omnath, Locus of the Roil, which not only draws a card but also deals damage depending on the number of elementals controlling when it enters the battlefield. This infuses the game with both a card advantage and a way to affect the board state.

Assessing Risen Reef in relation to its peers, we observe its exceptional synergy potential in elemental decks, offering recursive value that may surpass many others in its class. This enduring utility makes Risen Reef a card of choice for players seeking to bolster both their hand and presence on the battlefield.

Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of the Roil - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of the Roil - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Risen Reef. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
UGUG PioneerPioneer League 2024-05-09
4c Scam4c Scam Modern4c ScamModern League 2024-05-05
Simic ElementalsSimic Elementals PioneerSimic ElementalsPioneer League 2024-05-04
WURGWURG ModernModern Challenge 64 2024-03-24
Four-Color GlimpseFour-Color Glimpse ModernModern $10K Trial - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 4:00 pm (Silver)
Four-color ElementalsFour-color Elementals Modern4/5c Omnath*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* $5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 1:00 pm
4c Omnath4c Omnath Modern4/5c OmnathModern Last Chance 2024-03-18
5c Elementals5c Elementals Pioneer5c ElementalsPioneer Challenge 32 2024-03-31
ElementalsElementals ModernElementalsModern Last Chance 2024-03-20 (1)
5c Omnath5c Omnath Modern4/5c OmnathModern Last Chance 2024-03-19 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Risen Reef shines by providing card advantage every time it or another Elemental enters the battlefield under your control. This ability lets you look at the top card of your library, and if it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped. If not, it goes into your hand, constantly refilling your resources and giving you more options each turn.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to potentially put lands onto the battlefield every time an Elemental enters under your control with Risen Reef accelerates your resource deployment. This effect smoothly ramps up your available mana, enabling you to cast more powerful spells ahead of schedule and maintain a strong board presence against your opponents.

Instant Speed: While Risen Reef itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with Elementals and other cards that can be flashed in, indirectly benefiting from instant-speed play. You can maximize this by casting Elementals on your opponent’s turn, thus triggering Risen Reef’s ability when your opponents least expect it, which can significantly tilt the momentum in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some value engines in MTG that generate advantage with no strings attached, Risen Reef can present a challenge if you are struggling with card advantage. Although there is no direct discard requirement, if the elementals aren’t available in your hand or on the battlefield to trigger Risen Reef’s ability, the card itself won’t maximize its potential value.

Specific Mana Cost: Risen Reef demands a specific mana cost of one green, one blue, and one colorless, making it largely suitable for elemental or multicolor decks that can comfortably meet this requirement. For mono-colored decks or decks that don’t run green and blue, incorporating Risen Reef can strain the mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a three-mana card with potential value through its ability to look at the top card of your library and possibly put lands into play, Risen Reef sits at a potentially awkward spot in the curve. Aggro decks may find that at three mana, this card delays their faster game plan, while control decks could opt for more immediate board impact or card advantage spells at the same cost.


Reasons to Include Risen Reef in Your Collection

Versatility: Risen Reef boasts a place in a variety of decks that play with Elementals or appreciate the extra land drop and card draw it provides. Its ability to blend seamlessly into multiple strategies makes it invaluable for deck builders seeking flexible options.

Combo Potential: With Risen Reef on the field, it only takes casting an Elemental to potentially cascade into more plays. Each Elemental not only triggers its own effect but also the Reef’s, which can lead to a chain of advantageous actions and an overwhelming board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Given its synergy with popular Elemental cards, Risen Reef aligns well with the current deck archetypes circulating in the meta. Its ability to accelerate both mana and card advantage can give players a significant edge in matchups, making it a card wise to hold onto for continually shifting game dynamics.


How to beat

Risen Reef is an elemental card that offers a significant advantage by allowing you to peek at the top card of your library whenever it or another elemental enters the battlefield. If it’s a land card, you can put it onto the battlefield tapped. Otherwise, Risen Reef permits you to add it to your hand. This card yields both card advantage and acceleration, making it quite the powerhouse in elemental decks.

To effectively disrupt the Risen Reef’s value engine, consider using instant-speed removal before the Risen Reef’s ability triggers. This approach can prevent your opponent from establishing a board presence and gaining the extra land drop or card in hand. Countering the spell as the Risen Reef enters the play with cards like Counterspell or Essence Scatter can also be an effective strategy to ensure it never activates its beneficial ability. Additionally, since this is a creature-based strategy, board wipes like Wrath of God or board control cards that restrict creature abilities can also effectively neutralize the advantage Risen Reef brings to the table.

When facing an elemental-heavy deck, the focus should be on limiting the numerous triggers that can occur, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of mitigating your opponent’s potential to pull ahead in terms of resource availability and board state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering is a pursuit of skill, deck knowledge, and strategic finesse. Whether you’re building an elemental powerhouse around Risen Reef or seeking ways to thwart it, understanding the elements of gameplay is crucial. From leveraging card advantage and resource acceleration to crafting the perfect counter-strategy, every decision shapes your path to victory. If Risen Reef captured your interest, remember that exploration and adaptability are your best allies. Dive deeper into the strategic depths of MTG, boost your deck’s performance, and outmaneuver your opponents in the ever-evolving battleground. Take your next confident step in your MTG journey with us, and elevate your gameplay to triumph with every draw.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Risen Reef MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Risen Reef and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Risen Reef Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 2172015NormalBlackJohan Grenier
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12572015NormalBorderlessYu Maeda
32020-09-26The ListPLST M20-2172015NormalBlackJohan Grenier

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Risen Reef has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-07-12 If you put the card into your hand, you don’t have to reveal it. You also don’t have to tell your opponent whether it’s a nonland card or a land card you decided not to put onto the battlefield tapped.