Cyclone SummonerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

When Cyclone Summoner enters the battlefield, it triggers a powerful bounce ability, but only if it was cast from your hand. This ability returns all permanents to their owners' hands with three major exceptions: Giants, Wizards, and lands. Because Cyclone Summoner is both a Giant and a Wizard, it will never bounce itself, allowing you to maintain a high-power presence while your opponents' boards are emptied.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you must cast Cyclone Summoner from your hand and have it successfully resolve. Once it enters the battlefield, the triggered ability goes on the stack. When that ability resolves, the game checks all permanents currently on the battlefield. Any permanent that is not a land and does not have the 'Giant' or 'Wizard' creature type is returned to its owner's hand simultaneously. This includes your own permanents if they don't meet the criteria.

Common Mistakes

The most frequent error is attempting to trigger the effect after returning Cyclone Summoner to the battlefield from the graveyard or library. The card explicitly states the effect only happens 'if you cast it from your hand.' Furthermore, remember that this effect hits all non-Giant, non-Wizard permanents, including artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers, unless they are also lands.

When to Play It

Cyclone Summoner is best utilized as a tempo swing in the late game to reset an opponent's aggressive board state. Since it leaves lands and specific tribal types untouched, it is exceptionally powerful in decks built around Giant or Wizard synergies, ensuring your army stays on the field while your opponents must start from scratch.

Interaction examples

Clearing the Skies

Consecrated Sphinx

If you cast Cyclone Summoner while your opponent controls a Consecrated Sphinx, the Sphinx will be returned to their hand because it is a Sphinx, not a Giant or a Wizard. Since the Sphinx is a nonland permanent without the protected types, it cannot stay on the battlefield.

The Horror Remains

Hullbreaker Horror

If you have a Hullbreaker Horror on the battlefield and cast Cyclone Summoner, the Hullbreaker Horror will be returned to your hand when the Summoner's ability resolves. Even though Hullbreaker Horror is a powerful creature, its types are Kraken and Horror, which are not protected by Cyclone Summoner's exclusion clause.

Tribal Immunity

If you control other creatures that are Wizards (like a generic Apprentice) or Giants, those creatures will remain on the battlefield alongside Cyclone Summoner. Only permanents lacking those specific subtypes (and that are not lands) will be bounced.