Kiora, the Rising Tide
Legendary Creature — Merfolk Noble
When Kiora enters, draw two cards, then discard two cards.
Threshold — Whenever Kiora attacks, if there are seven or more cards in your graveyard, you may create Scion of the Deep, a legendary 8/8 blue Octopus creature token.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Foundations Promos
- Price
- $0.45
- EDHREC rank
- #3688
Kiora, the Rising Tide hits the board as a four-mana planeswalker that immediately untaps a permanent and threatens to draw cards or grow your creatures every turn. The cost is that her loyalty sits low enough that she needs protection, and Captain Howler, Sea Scourge decks are the ones most willing to provide it.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
Kiora, the Rising Tide appears in 44% of Captain Howler, Sea Scourge decks because the untap ability accelerates the mana needed to replay threats and keep the pirate engine churning. She's the highest-synergy planeswalker in the archetype for exactly that reason.
Emet-Selch, Unsundered
Emet-Selch, Unsundered rewards casting expensive spells and recurring permanents from the graveyard, and Kiora, the Rising Tide's untap effect lets the deck double up on mana or reuse key permanents in the same turn cycle.
Neerdiv, Devious Diver
Neerdiv, Devious Diver wants to connect with combat repeatedly, and Kiora, the Rising Tide's ability to untap a creature or land gives the deck both a threat to pressure loyalty walkers and an engine to keep up mana for interaction.
The Ancient One
The Ancient One cares about large creatures and generating mana surges, and Kiora, the Rising Tide's untap ability converts a single high-powered land into an effectively doubled mana source — exactly what the deck wants to accelerate its timelines.
Octavia, Living Thesis
Octavia, Living Thesis is an instant-and-sorcery-heavy deck that frequently wants more blue mana open, and Kiora, the Rising Tide provides both an untap effect to fund spells and a loyalty sink that rewards the deck's natural spell density.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Kiora, the Rising Tide earns her slot by untapping mana rocks or creatures and generating card advantage or counters over multiple turns — she's a value engine in blue-green midrange and combo decks that can protect a planeswalker. In competitive 1v1 formats like Modern and Pioneer, a four-mana planeswalker with low starting loyalty faces a demanding board state requirement; she's not a staple there but is playable in dedicated ramp or big-creature shells. Legacy and Vintage have access to far more efficient threats, so Kiora, the Rising Tide rarely shows up in those formats except as a niche inclusion. Standard-legal windows are where she can spike in demand if the format slows down enough to support her.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.45 bulk tier
At $0.45, Kiora, the Rising Tide is firmly bulk — easy to pick up without hesitation. She's unlikely to jump in price unless a specific combo or competitive deck pushes demand, so treat her as a cheap role-player rather than a sleeper.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
- Emet-Selch, Unsundered
- Neerdiv, Devious Diver
- The Ancient One
- Octavia, Living Thesis
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.