Crashing Tide

Crashing Tide was originally released as a common card in the Rivals of Ixalan expansion for Magic: The Gathering, launched in January 2018. The set centered on the plane of Ixalan, a world inspired by Mesoamerican cultures, seafaring exploration, and primordial wildlife. As a blue spell, the card was designed to support the set's tribal themes, specifically interacting with Merfolk and pirates, while offering a simple utility effect that fit the aquatic aesthetic of the expansion.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Igor Kieryluk, who has contributed extensively to the Magic: The Gathering visual identity. His design focuses on the chaotic, elemental power of water, aiming to visually represent the card's mechanical ability to return a creature to its owner's hand. When it later appeared in The List—a curated collection of reprints included in Set Boosters—it became a staple of the secondary market, serving as a reminder of the foundational mechanics that defined the Ixalan block.