Thundercloud ElementalHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Skies Control

This Elemental features two distinct activated abilities that serve different tactical purposes. The first ability targets small creatures by tapping anything with a toughness of 2 or less, effectively neutralizing swarms. The second ability strips flying from all other creatures on the battlefield, ensuring your Thundercloud Elemental remains the only master of the air.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When you activate the first ability, the game checks the current toughness of all creatures as the ability resolves; any creature with 2 or less toughness is tapped. For the second ability, all creatures other than Thundercloud Elemental lose the flying keyword until the end of the current turn. If a creature gains flying after this ability has resolved, it will keep flying because the effect only applies to creatures on the battlefield at the moment of resolution.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that the 'lose flying' ability affects your own creatures as well as your opponents', as it specifies 'all other creatures.' Additionally, remember that these abilities are activated at instant speed; you can use the tapping ability during an opponent's beginning of combat step to prevent small creatures from being declared as attackers.

When to Play It

Thundercloud Elemental is most effective when you have established a mana base that can support its high activation costs. Use it to stall aggressive 'weenie' decks or to remove the evasion from powerful flyers, allowing you to block them or simply fly over them for the win.

Interaction examples

Grounding the Sphinx

Consecrated Sphinx

If your opponent controls a Consecrated Sphinx, you can activate the second ability of Thundercloud Elemental for {3}{U}. The Sphinx loses flying until end of turn, allowing you to attack through the air without fear of it blocking your Elemental.

Bypassing Great Horrors

Hullbreaker Horror

While Hullbreaker Horror is a massive threat, it does not naturally have flying. If your opponent finds a way to give it flying, you can use Thundercloud Elemental's ability to remove that keyword. Furthermore, because Hullbreaker Horror has a toughness higher than 2, it is unaffected by the tapping ability, focusing your control strictly on its ability to block your aerial assault.