Tidal Courier MTG Card


Offers significant card advantage by potentially drawing multiple Merfolk cards from your library. Instant speed retreat ensures tactical flexibility and the reuse of card advantage. Demands careful play due to its impact on board presence and rigid blue mana cost.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk
Power 1
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Tidal Courier comes into play, reveal the top four cards of your library. Put all Merfolk cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. o3o U: Tidal Courier gains flying until end of turn.


Cards like Tidal Courier

Tidal Courier is a versatile blue creature card often compared to other creature-based card draw options in Magic: The Gathering. It can be likened to cards like Sea Gate Oracle, which also enables a peek at the top cards of your library, offering the option to put one into your hand. However, Sea Gate Oracle allows you to look at only the top two cards, whereas Tidal Courier provides access to the top four, giving it a potentially greater reach for finding the right card.

Sifting through the card pool further, we find Merfolk Looter, another card that facilitates drawing. While Tidal Courier lets you reveal the top four cards and add all revealed Merfolk cards to your hand, Merfolk Looter requires tapping but offers a steady card draw mechanism throughout the game. Tidal Courier’s advantage lies in its ability to provide a significant one-time card advantage, especially in a deck with a high concentration of Merfolk synergy.

Within the scope of blue creature cards that impact the hand, Tidal Courier stands out for its potential card advantage and thematic consistency in Merfolk tribal decks. The comparison showcases that its unique card draw capability tailored for creature-based strategies is what sets it apart in the blue card draw ensemble.

Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Sea Gate Oracle - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions

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Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Screeching Drake - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Extravagant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Archmage Emeritus - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tidal Courier offers the potential to draw multiple cards upon entering the battlefield. By revealing cards from the top of your library until you reveal four Merfolk cards, it allows you to put all Merfolk found into your hand, thereby increasing your options and giving you an edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tidal Courier itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can effectively sift through your library to find key Merfolk that may offer mana ramp or other acceleration benefits. Thus, it indirectly contributes to your resource development.

Instant Speed: The ability to return Tidal Courier to its owner’s hand at instant speed provides tactical flexibility. You can respond to removal spells or unfavorable blocks by saving the Courier and potentially reusing its card drawing ability later in the match, ensuring you don’t lose out on card economy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players often face a dilemma when Tidal Courier requires them to return a blue creature they control back to their hand. This can set back your board presence, especially when you need to maintain creatures on the battlefield for defensive or offensive strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Tidal Courier comes with a blue-centric mana cost, meaning it necessitates a solid blue mana base. This can potentially limit deck-building options, as it is less flexible for inclusion in multicolor decks not heavily invested in blue resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana investment to bring Tidal Courier into play, it faces stiff competition from other cards within the same cost bracket. Considering the card’s effect relative to its cost, players might find other creatures or spells that provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same mana expenditure.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tidal Courier offers adaptability as it can blend into various blue-centric archetypes. Whether you’re building a control deck needing more draw or an aggro deck that could use some utility creatures, Tidal Courier’s ability to reveal and potentially snatch a handful of creatures is a handy tool for multiple strategies.

Combo Potential: With the option to return a handful of creatures from the revealed cards to your hand, Tidal Courier holds the potential to set up powerful combinations, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature-based synergies or those that aim to assemble specific creature combos to secure a win.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the current game dynamics, Tidal Courier’s utility can shine through against slower-paced control or combo decks, allowing you to maintain card advantage while developing your board state. Even in a faster meta, it remains a flexible pick that can offer unexpected benefits.


How to beat

Tidal Courier is a unique creature card that delves into the depths of Magic: The Gathering’s vast sea of spells. Known for its ability to reveal the top four cards of a player’s library and potentially put valuable Merfolk cards into their hand, it’s a card that can quickly sway the tide of the game in favor of those who wield it effectively. Its secondary ability to return a Merfolk to its owner’s hand adds to its strategic depth, potentially saving key creatures from removal or simply reutilizing enter-the-battlefield effects.

To counter this aquatic menace, maintaining removal spells that can target Tidal Courier before its abilities trigger is essential. Counterspells are also highly effective, as they prevent the Courier from ever entering the battlefield. Graveyard disruption can hinder any attempts to recycle the Courier’s abilities, and efficient creature control can neutralize the Merfolk advantage it aims to secure. Additionally, keeping an eye on the board and being prepared to disrupt your opponent’s strategies when they rely on the Courier’s card advantage can be crucial in sealing your victory over the tides.

To sum up, Tidal Courier’s advantages in card selection and tribal synergy make it a noteworthy card. However, with the right control and disruption tactics, its potential impact can be dampened, allowing you to keep the upper hand in your matches.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tidal Courier MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Treasure Chest, 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 Tidal Courier and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tidal Courier Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2017-10-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-06-04ApocalypseAPC 311997NormalBlackWayne England
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 658612015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
32017-10-24Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. GoblinsDDT 192015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tidal Courier has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal