Last week in this series, we covered storm: a mechanic that allows you to copy spells and often win the game with them. But storm isn’t the only keyword that allows you to copy spells. This week, we’re learning about a little-known mechanic called ripple!
What is Ripple?
Ripple is a triggered ability that goes off when a card with ripple is cast. Ripple always comes with a number after it, so you’ll see it on cards as “Ripple X.” So far, all cards that have been printed with ripple have Ripple 4, but if the mechanic ever comes around again, that could change.
When you cast a spell with Ripple 4, you reveal the top four cards of your library (or as many cards as you have left, if you have fewer than four). If you reveal a card with the same name as the original spell, you can then cast that card for free — and since that card will also have Ripple 4, you then do it again. Any other cards you reveal this way go on the bottom of your library in any order.
If a spell were to have multiple instances of ripple (technically possible with Thrumming Stone), then each instance of ripple triggers separately, one after the other. Thrumming Stone also allows for shenanigans with cards like Relentless Rats or Persistent Petitioners. If you pack a deck with enough copies of the same card, you can theoretically dump a ton of copies of them just by casting one.
Ripple is a mechanic is meant to reward playing multiple copies of the same card in your deck, so keep it in mind if there’s a card you love!
LEARN MORE!
Check out the rest of our keyword ability primers:
Banding
Cascade
Companion
Crew
Cycling
Deathtouch
Defender
Enchant
Encore
Equip
First Strike & Double Strike
Flash
Flying & Reach
Haste
Hexproof
Indestructible
Kicker
Lifelink
Menace
Mill
Mutate
Partner
Phasing
Prowess
Prowl
Trample
Vigilance