Tornado Elemental MTG Card


Tornado Elemental offers sweeping board control by obliterating multiple flying creatures upon arrival. Its considerable presence can indirectly accelerate gameplay, pressuring opponents to respond rapidly. Although powerful, its high mana cost and specific requirements can be limiting in certain decks.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

When Tornado Elemental comes into play, it deals 6 damage to each creature with flying. You may have Tornado Elemental deal its combat damage to defending player as though it weren't blocked.


Cards like Tornado Elemental

Tornado Elemental finds its place among the pantheon of creature-based removal in Magic: The Gathering. Its comparable counterparts are cards like Thorn Elemental, which also delivers powerful hits that can break through defensive lines. Meanwhile, Tornado Elemental uniquely sports the ability to deal damage to flying creatures, clearing the skies much like an evoked Windstorm. However, Thorn Elemental allows you to have its assigned damage go directly to the opponent, sidestepping potential blockers entirely.

Moving through the green creature repertoire, we encounter Cloudthresher, which not only targets flying threats but also offers an instant-speed surprise thanks to flash. Unlike Tornado Elemental, though, Cloudthresher requires the player to commit four green mana symbols, which could limit its adoption in multi-color decks. Lastly, Silklash Spider provides a repeating solution against flying armies, able to wipe them with its spiderweb of power at will, but it lacks the substance to directly engage in combat as effectively as Tornado Elemental.

Ultimately, in evaluating these green behemoths, Tornado Elemental stands out for those seeking a singular yet substantial blow to aerial adversaries within their MTG games, serving as a specialized form of airborne aggression control.

Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Cloudthresher - MTG Card versions
Silklash Spider - MTG Card versions
Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Cloudthresher - MTG Card versions
Silklash Spider - MTG Card versions

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

Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Penumbra Wurm - MTG Card versions
Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Cultivator Colossus - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Horde - MTG Card versions
Krosan Tusker - MTG Card versions
Hundroog - MTG Card versions
Enormous Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ancient Ooze - MTG Card versions
Cytospawn Shambler - MTG Card versions
Panglacial Wurm - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Duskdale Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Penumbra Wurm - MTG Card versions
Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Cultivator Colossus - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Horde - MTG Card versions
Krosan Tusker - MTG Card versions
Hundroog - MTG Card versions
Enormous Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ancient Ooze - MTG Card versions
Cytospawn Shambler - MTG Card versions
Panglacial Wurm - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Duskdale Wurm - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tornado Elemental comes into play with immense board impact. Not only does it have the potential to clear multiple flying creatures your opponent controls, but it also serves as a significant threat itself. This grants card advantage by dealing with several of your opponent’s threats with a single card and providing you with a strong presence on the field.

Resource Acceleration: Although Tornado Elemental doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, its presence can rapidly accelerate the game in your favor. Deploying this card forces your opponent to find answers quickly, potentially depleting their hand and resources – indirectly accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Despite Tornado Elemental not being an instant itself, its ability to deal with a swath of flying creatures instantaneously upon entry shifts the momentum at a crucial instant. Its combat damage prevention ability can also be a game-changer during instant-speed interactions in combat, allowing you to dictate the flow of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Tornado Elemental requires that you have a heavy green presence in your mana base, which may not always be optimal if you are running multiple colors. It can be a setback if your deck doesn’t consistently produce the required green mana.

Specific Mana Cost: Tornado Elemental comes with a specific and somewhat rigid mana cost, demanding six mana including two green. This can pose a limitation for decks that aren’t mono-green or that don’t have enough mana fixing to accommodate such a cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven total mana requirement, Tornado Elemental stands on the higher end of the mana curve. In competitive play, where speed and efficiency are crucial, the card may be too slow, especially when there are creatures with similar or better effects at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include Tornado Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Tornado Elemental is not confined to a single deck archetype. Its ability to sweep the board of flying creatures makes it an excellent choice for green decks needing a way to mitigate aerial threats.

Combo Potential: With its substantial 6/6 body, Tornado Elemental pairs well with effects that care about dealing damage or when you need a significant creature to apply pressure or block efficiently.

Meta-Relevance: In a game rich with flyers, including commanders or popular flying creatures, Tornado Elemental offers a tactical advantage. Its presence on the board could sway the outcome in matches where controlling the skies is crucial.


How to beat

Tornado Elemental is an intriguing creature card in MTG, known for its capacity to wipe out multiple flying creatures upon entering the battlefield. The key to overcoming this powerful force of nature is to focus on preventive measures. Counter spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can stop Tornado Elemental before it even hits the playfield, essentially neutralizing its devastating entrance ability.

Removal spells are another effective strategy. These can include targeted removal like Doom Blade or board clears such as Wrath of God, which can handle Tornado Elemental after it lands. Moreover, excluding your creatures from combat when Tornado Elemental attacks or utilizing abilities that grant indestructibility or protection from green, can limit the damage this colossal elemental brings to the table. Remember, the element of surprise and strategic preparation can be just as powerful as the mightiest storms in MTG. A well-timed counter or removal can turn the tide, leaving Tornado Elemental’s whirlwind of destruction nothing more than a gentle breeze.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tornado Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Fifth Dawn and Planechase, 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 Tornado Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tornado Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2004-06-04 and 2017-06-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-06-04Fifth Dawn5DN 972003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 792003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli
32014-11-07Commander 2014C14 2222015NormalBlackRichard Wright
42017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1592015NormalBlackRichard Wright
52020-09-26The ListPLST 5DN-972003NormalBlackAlex Horley-Orlandelli

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tornado Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-04-27 If blocked by a creature with banding, the defending player decides whether or not the damage is assigned “as though it weren’t blocked”.
2018-04-27 When assigning combat damage, you choose whether you want to assign all damage to blocking creatures, or if you want to assign all of it to the player or planeswalker this creature is attacking. You can’t split the damage assignment between them.
2018-04-27 You can decide to assign damage to the defending player or planeswalker even if the blocking creature has protection from green or damage preventing effects on it.