Corrosive GaleHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Corrosive Gale deals X damage to every creature currently on the battlefield that has the flying keyword. The value of X is determined by you as you cast the spell. It uses a Phyrexian mana symbol in its cost, meaning you can pay the green portion of the cost with either one Green mana or by spending 2 life. Regardless of how you pay, the spell is always considered green.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you announce the value for X and decide how to pay the Phyrexian mana cost. Second, you pay the total cost (X plus either one Green mana or 2 life). Third, the spell is put onto the stack. When the spell resolves, it checks all creatures for the flying ability; it then deals X damage to each of those creatures simultaneously. Any creature that loses flying before the spell resolves will not be affected, and any creature that gains flying will become a target for the damage.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion is the mana value of the card. Even if you pay 2 life instead of Green mana, the Phyrexian symbol still counts as 1 toward the total mana value. Additionally, remember that you cannot pay life if your total is currently 1 or less. Finally, since this is a sorcery, you cannot use it during an opponent's turn to stop an incoming attack unless you have an effect that allows you to cast sorceries as though they had flash.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized when your opponent has established a board state of multiple small flying creatures, such as Birds or Faeries. Because it scales, it remains useful in the late game to take down larger dragons or demons. It is particularly effective in decks that ramp up their mana production, allowing X to reach lethal numbers for even the toughest fliers.

Interaction examples

Setting the Stage with Ramping

Nature's Lore

On turn two, you cast Nature's Lore to search for a Forest and put it onto the battlefield. This increases your total mana pool. On turn three, thanks to that extra Forest, you can now cast Corrosive Gale with X=3 by paying two mana and 2 life for the Phyrexian cost, allowing you to wipe out a board of 3/3 flying creatures earlier than expected.

Fixing Your Mana for a Gale

Farseek

If you are playing a multi-colored deck and lack Green mana, you can use Farseek to find a non-Forest land that provides other colors. Because Corrosive Gale allows you to pay 2 life for its Green requirement, you can still cast the spell using only generic mana generated by the lands you fetched, as long as you have the life to spare for the Phyrexian component.