Budget Alternatives to Call Forth the Tempest
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Call Forth the Tempest ($25.53)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Mana Accelerator & Ramp role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Call Forth the Tempest at a Glance
Let the Galaxy Burn
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 2 less mana (6 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast.
Into the Time Vortex
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 3 less mana (5 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.
Maelstrom Colossus
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery and shares the exact same mana value (8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.

Call Forth the Tempest
30-day $25.53–$25.53 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Call Forth the Tempest and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Forth the Tempest (Original) | Sorcery | $25.53 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Let the Galaxy Burn | Sorcery (6 MV) | $0.61 | $24.92 | 98% | Very strong match |
| #2 Maelstrom Colossus | Artifact Creature (8 MV) | $0.44 | $25.09 | 98% | Strong match |
| #3 Into the Time Vortex | Sorcery (5 MV) | $0.26 | $25.27 | 99% | Strong match |
| #4 Ingenuity Engine | Artifact (7 MV) | $0.28 | $25.25 | 99% | Strong match |
| #5 Volcanic Torrent | Sorcery (5 MV) | $0.34 | $25.19 | 99% | Strong match |
| #6 Throes of Chaos | Sorcery (4 MV) | $0.28 | $25.25 | 99% | Strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Call Forth the Tempest
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Let the Galaxy Burn
(Sorcery • 6 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) Let the Galaxy Burn deals X plus 2 damage to each creature that didn't enter this turn.
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 2 less mana (6 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast.
- • Costs $0.61 (98% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (6 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Overlaps 5 of 8 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Maelstrom Colossus
(Artifact Creature — Golem • 8 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.)
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery and shares the exact same mana value (8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.
- • Costs $0.44 (98% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Into the Time Vortex
(Sorcery • 5 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 3 less mana (5 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.
- • Costs $0.26 (99% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 8 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Ingenuity Engine
(Artifact • 7 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) {1}, {T}, Sacrifice an artifact: Return target artifact you control to its owner's hand.
Acts as a Artifact alternative to Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery and costs 1 less mana (7 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.
- • Costs $0.28 (99% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (7 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Volcanic Torrent
(Sorcery • 5 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) Volcanic Torrent deals X damage to each creature and planeswalker your opponents control, where X is the number of spells you've cast this turn.
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 3 less mana (5 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast.
- • Costs $0.34 (99% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (5 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Overlaps 6 of 8 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Throes of Chaos
(Sorcery • 4 MV)
Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom in a random order.) Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Matches Call Forth the Tempest's Sorcery card type and costs 4 less mana (4 MV vs 8 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #cast-trigger-self, #consult-cast, #free-cast-another.
- • Costs $0.28 (99% savings over Call Forth the Tempest)
- • Fills the Sorcery curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (4 MV vs 8 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 8 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Call Forth the Tempest's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Call Forth the Tempest Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Call Forth the Tempest's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $25.53 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Call Forth the Tempest Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Call Forth the Tempest?+
Let the Galaxy Burn ($0.61) is the best overall alternative to Call Forth the Tempest ($25.53), saving $24.92 (98% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Call Forth the Tempest in MTG?+
Cards like Call Forth the Tempest include Let the Galaxy Burn ($0.61), Maelstrom Colossus ($0.44), Into the Time Vortex ($0.26), Ingenuity Engine ($0.28). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Call Forth the Tempest?+
Into the Time Vortex ($0.26) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 99% compared to Call Forth the Tempest.
Why would a player want a replacement for Call Forth the Tempest?+
At $25.53, Call Forth the Tempest represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Call Forth the Tempest?+
The closest pick, Let the Galaxy Burn, still has limits: overlaps 5 of 8 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
Explore More Budget MTG Guides & Tools
Continue optimizing your deck with our dedicated strategy hubs, card replacement engines, and price filters.
Find Swaps for Any Card with the MTGCheap Engine
Use our local PostgreSQL pgvector engine to search any card in Magic: The Gathering and filter by custom price ceilings, strict card types, and Commander color identity.
