Thunderscape Battlemage is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Kickerand/or
(You may pay an additional
Complete guide
Thunderscape Battlemage is a versatile Wizard from Magic's history that offers multiple effects depending on the mana you invest. By utilizing its Kicker abilities, you can turn a simple creature into a powerful tool for hand disruption or utility destruction. This card rewards players who can manage their mana colors to maximize value during the mid-game.
Understanding the Kicker Costs
Thunderscape Battlemage has two optional Kicker costs: {1}{B} and {G}. When you cast the spell, you decide whether to pay neither, one, or both of these additional costs. Paying these costs doesn't change the spell's mana value, which remains 3, but it does change the total cost you pay to put it on the stack. You cannot pay a specific Kicker cost more than once to multiply an effect; you either kick it or you don't.
How the Triggers Resolve
When Thunderscape Battlemage enters the battlefield, the game checks if the Kicker costs were paid. If you paid the {1}{B} cost, a triggered ability goes on the stack targeting a player to discard two cards. If you paid the {G} cost, a separate triggered ability goes on the stack targeting an enchantment to be destroyed. If you paid both, both triggers are placed on the stack in the order of your choice. Note that if the creature is put directly onto the battlefield without being cast, you cannot pay the Kicker costs, and neither ability will trigger.
Strategic Timing
Because Thunderscape Battlemage relies on 'enters' triggers, it is best played when your opponent has key enchantments or a full hand. If you cast it for its base cost of {2}{R}, it is simply a 2/2 creature. To get the most out of the card, wait until you have access to Black or Green mana. Remember that the discard effect is targeted; if your opponent has hexproof, you cannot choose them as the target for the {1}{B} trigger.
Interaction examples
You cast Thunderscape Battlemage and pay the additional {G}. Upon entering the battlefield, the green Kicker trigger targets and destroys an opponent's enchantment. The creature remains on the battlefield as a 2/2 Human Wizard.
Sakura-Tribe ElderEarly in the game, you sacrifice Sakura-Tribe Elder to search for a Forest. With this extra mana source, you later cast Thunderscape Battlemage paying both the {1}{B} and {G} kicker costs for a total of {3}{R}{B}{G}. You successfully force an opponent to discard two cards and destroy a problematic enchantment simultaneously.
Solemn SimulacrumYou use Solemn Simulacrum to fetch a basic Swamp, ensuring you have the Black mana required for the Battlemage's first Kicker. Next turn, you cast Thunderscape Battlemage with the {1}{B} Kicker. Your opponent is forced to discard two cards, potentially removing threats they just drew, while you maintain board presence with two creatures.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Thunderscape Battlemage
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell's kicker cost was paid, the spell is "kicked."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The kicker ability doesn't let you pay a kicker cost more than once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If you put a permanent with a kicker ability onto the battlefield without casting it, you can't kick it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy a kicked spell on the stack, the copy is also kicked. If the copied spell is a permanent spell, the token the copy of that spell becomes when it enters is also kicked.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If a card or token enters as a copy of a permanent, the new permanent isn't kicked, even if the original was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
To determine a spell's total cost, start with the mana cost (or an alternative cost if another card's effect allows you to pay one instead), add any cost increases (such as kicker), then apply any cost reductions. The spell's mana value remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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