The art of Tideturner from Riftbound TCG

The first thing that hits you about Tideturner is the sheer movement in the image.

It’s a card that feels like it’s already doing something the moment you look at it. A powerful horned figure—part bull, part shaman—presses his palm into a whirl of magic, sending shockwaves through space itself.

His companion, caught mid-action, echoes his pose, as if both beings are mirroring each other across a watery divide. It’s not just action. It’s intent. You can feel the twist of tide and strategy.

Illustration Breakdown

The composition is split, almost literally. On the left, you have Tideturner—a calm but imposing presence, centered and grounded in saturated blues and purples.

His expression is focused, calm, determined. But it’s the right side of the frame where the energy bursts loose. A spectral double charges forward, trailing trails of mist and foam, caught in a cyclone of light and motion.

The use of color draws the eye in a loop: from Tideturner’s trident to the swirl of magic and back around to the original body.

This is art that captures exchange. It’s teleportation without sci-fi tech. It’s strategy in motion. It says: “I move where I’m needed, and I leave no trace behind.”

Gameplay Integration

Mechanically, Tideturner is subtle but deadly. As a Bilgewater Unit with Hidden, it enters the game unseen—an anchor you don’t even know is there.

Once triggered, it lets you choose a friendly unit, swap positions with it, and mess with every assumption your opponent just made.

This effect isn’t just trickery—it’s control. You can:

• Pull a fragile backline unit out of danger.

• Shift buffs or debuffs between units via movement.

• Trigger positional synergies or disrupt enemy targeting.

The fact that Tideturner does this with just a 2 Energy / 2 Power / 2 Health statline means it’s not flashy—but that’s the point.

Like the tides it channels, its power is in timing and placement.

Collector Details / Value Mention

Tideturner is card 199/298, and based on its mechanics and design complexity, it likely sits at the Uncommon tier.

While it hasn’t been revealed with an alt-art or foil variant yet, its artwork by Kudos Productions is striking enough that a premium version wouldn’t surprise anyone.

There’s no flashy keyword combos or big finishers here—but don’t sleep on it. In the hands of smart players, Tideturner will become a meta staple.

And collectors chasing full Bilgewater control builds may want playsets sooner rather than later.

Read more – The art of Stacked Deck from Riftbound TCG