CycloneHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Storm Grows

Cyclone functions through a single triggered ability that occurs at the beginning of your upkeep. Each turn it remains on the battlefield, it gains a wind counter. This counter serves a dual purpose: it determines the mana you must pay to keep the enchantment alive and scales the amount of damage dealt to all creatures and players.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When your upkeep begins, the Cyclone trigger goes on the stack. First, you place a wind counter on Cyclone. Second, you are given a choice: pay {G} for every wind counter currently on the card, or sacrifice it. If you choose to pay the total cost, the damage phase occurs immediately after payment. If you cannot or choose not to pay, Cyclone is put into your graveyard and no damage is dealt.

Common Mistakes

One common error is forgetting that the damage is dealt to you as well as your opponents and creatures. Because the damage scales quadratically in terms of mana (1 mana for 1 damage, then 2 mana for 2 damage), it can quickly become lethal to the controller. Additionally, keep in mind that if Cyclone leaves the battlefield before the trigger resolves, you cannot pay the cost to deal damage.

Strategic Timing

Cyclone is best used in decks that can generate large amounts of green mana or those that benefit from creatures dying. Since the damage happens during your upkeep, it can clear the way for a lethal attack during your combat phase. However, be prepared to sacrifice it once the cost exceeds your mana production or your own life total becomes too low.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Storm

Doubling Season

If you control Doubling Season when your upkeep begins, Cyclone's ability will place two wind counters on it instead of one. This causes the damage and the mana cost to ramp up twice as fast, allowing you to deal massive damage much earlier in the game.

Surviving the Blast

Garruk's Uprising

With Garruk's Uprising on the battlefield, your large creatures gain trample, but they aren't protected from Cyclone's damage. If Cyclone deals enough damage to destroy your creatures with power 4 or greater, you will lose your trample enabler's primary benefit. You must balance the wind counters to ensure your high-power creatures survive the storm while the opponent's smaller blockers are cleared away.