When should you cast Tidal Wave?
On your turn, before you attack, once your opponent has two or more entities costing 3 or less in their Garden. It clears their Defenders out of your attacks’ way and leaves only their bigger entities to attack you next turn.
Step by step
- Count what it takes: entities costing 3 or less in their Garden. In the community Fire and Lightning lists that is nearly everything except Scarlett, Scorchveil Shinobi, Suzuka, Enzo, Tenmoku Daiki and Ed in Fire, and Mo, the 5-cost Indra, Trade Guild Cavalry, Black Jade Brawler, Piko and the 6-cost Raizan entity in Lightning.
- Cast Tidal Wave before attacking. Foamback Crab and Penny go to the Alley, so nothing redirects your attacks on their leader.
- With 7 IKZ, follow with Gathering Tide, Rowan: their Alley now holds 2 or more entities, so it costs 2.
- On their turn, their Gate brings back one entity, with cooldown. The rest wait in the Alley.
Good to know
Against one cheap entity, Lotus of the Mizuryuu or Mizuryuu’s Torrent removes it for good for less. Our read, pending a ruling: if displaced entities would overflow the Alley’s 5 slots, your opponent replaces entities there and the replaced cards go to their discard pile.
Fractured Domains isn’t out until November 20, 2026. This is our read of the revealed card text, not an official ruling.
